I rescued 2 chickens today - Help me treat plz - GOOD NEWS UPDATE

[Eggcellent]

I found a craigslist ad for a free pair of silver duckwing OEGBs. They were close to work so I decided to go take a look at them. The gentleman who was giving them away was pleasant enough so I was optimistic they would be decent birds. He led me out to some completely exposed open wire rabbit hutches and in one of the rabbit hutches were 2 very sweet OEG birds. It was kind of dark but I could immediately see problems with their legs. Incredibly scaly and black or missing nails/toes. I asked him if he knew what the problem was and he said they had leg mites that did permanent damage to them over the summer. He said they have been treated with sevin but never got better.

I didn't want to leave them there in that cage (it is getting below freezing here in Michigan now) so I took them... They had wire on 3 sides of the cage plus the floor. I have them quarantined of course. I put vaseline on their legs to hopefully start treating them. I did notice some balding spots on the hen's underside. I don't know if that is from living a life in a cage or a possible case of lice/mites? I can get some pictures if you guys need them.

I think these birds can be saved and I would like to try because both of them are very docile and easily handled. Any help you guys/gals can give would be awesome.

 

[Schultz]

Sounds like you are on the right track. Glad you saved them. Please do post photos so that we can see the issues to help make recommendations

 

[Eggcellent]

Thanks Shultz's,

Here are some pictures. The yellowish clingy stuff is sawdust from the board (I think). They already look a lot better after 45 mins of vaseline on them.


Here is a photo of them - they really are sweet to each other and seem to like people.

Picture of both of their feet. They walk really funny on the board. I am not sure if it is because their feet hurt or because they have always been caged and it feels 'weird' to them

Here is the hens underside. You can see some pink skin

Here is a closeup of the roo's feet. He really seems to be in pain on the one he is holding up in the photo. I can't believe how much better the scales are from what they were like an hour ago. Does it normally work that quick?

 

[Eggcellent]

One other question... Should I put down some wood shavings for bedding or will they cling to and dry out the feet too much?

 

[poultrypatch]

First, THANK YOU for rescuing them !! Very pretty little birds. Those feet look soooo sore ! Can't offer any suggestions but I'm sure plenty of these good folks can. Best of luck and hope you get them all better.
Liz
Rochester, MA

 

[thequackpack]

so ok id prob tell you to find a vet who would see them or prescribe some routine antibiotics.. the skin is in rough shape and may need some cleaning up removing some dead tissue etc.. best done by the vet and antibiotics as well. Im sure they are sore! poor things.. lucky for them you came along.

SO vet.. for sure.. you also might let them know they were rescues..
YOu can also try local chicken farmers or hatcheries they may be willing to help you out as well and would have meds on stock.
Another option is a local Vet school if you have one near. University?
Yu near Eastern MIch or U mich?

Not sure what you are feeding them but a reg feed is good and lots of clean drinking water. Layena feed from Purina or another Non medicated feed for birds from a feed mill is good.

They probably still have mites. Also prob some infection as well maybe even fungus.. so all have to be treated.

Feel free to email me if youneed help fidning someplace to take them we have many contact and I can prob help you with that

Also keep teh area they are stnading on very clean . :0)

 

[Eggcellent]

Quote:
Thanks quackpack. I am at least 2 hours away from either university so I don't think a vet school is an option. I will call my vet and see if she can get some meds. She usually likes to see the animals before she does a prescription so it will likely mean an office call. I was reading that you can wash their feet with soapy water so I am going to try that tonight. Maybe get a better picture of what I am dealing with. Their feet look bad enough but they look worse in the photos due to the sawdust sticking to the vaseline.

The rooster's feet looked considerably better this morning. He was strutting around pretty good and crowing this morning. Didn't seem to be favoring that leg anymore. I have been feeding them a mixture of layena crumbles and a layer feed from a local mill. I do have medicated start&grow around. Do you think I should feed them some of that?

I will send you an PM about finding some place that I can take them for treatment. My vet mostly does family pets and large livestock. I don't know if she will even see a chicken.

Should I put some wood shavings down to make it easier to keep the area clean? I can scrape the poo off the board they are on, but I can't imagine it would be "clean" per se.

 

[goldeneggtees]

aaawww, so glad you are helping them, they look so cute together! Thanks!

 

[possumqueen]

I've had experience with scale mites, and they ARE a BEAR to get rid of!!!

You are dead right to keep them away from your flock until you're SURE the mites are totally gone.

Don't worry too much about having bedding in there yet because the vaseline will make it clump up on their feet.

the vaseline has worked quickly to soften up the scales and make them look better, but the mites and mite bites will itch for quite a while, and the legs will be sore because of the infections and bites and walking on wire.

Keep at it with the vaseline.

Also be aware that the mites don't live on the birds. They're like fleas. They live in the surroundings. So clean EVERYTHING every day. Roosts, floors, corners, everything. We all love our birds, and we know they ain't the best housekeepers in the world, but this is a case of cleaner the better.

Bantams don't usually get bumblefoot because they're so light on their feet, but keep an eye out for it with THESE birds because they've had it rough, and they're footsore already.

Give them greens. Kale is good, shredded carrot is great. Anything that will give them nutrients to recover and regrow the scales.

Keep a sharp eye and nose for infection. Don't hesitate to take them to a vet in case you even THINK there's gangrene or anything like that.

And keep us posted! We will of COURSE want progress pics! You KNOW that, don't you?

 

[Eggcellent]

Well my wife just called me here at work... She was cleaning some of the sawdust and dried up poo off the hen's foot and one of the deep cracks near a joint broke open. She was bleeding pretty badly but my wife is a pretty quick thinker and great with animal care. She got the bleeding stopped with direct pressure and then put a drop of superglue on the crack to keep it from splitting open.

I'll tell you... It's a good thing someone didn't get these birds as pets not knowing how healthy chicken legs should look.

Thanks for the advice possumqueen. We currently have them in a dog kennel in the garage. Should I put them in a smaller area that is easier to clean and treat for mites?