Infected red line up legs! What’s happening??

[Cryss]

That does look painful, poor guy. I wonder if epsom soaks might help with the inflammation.

I had a Cochin hen get a couple of infected feather shafts when molting. I just did what you did: helped them through the skin, expressed any pus, and applied ointment. But it was only 2 or 3 feathers.

I like coconut oil personally. It's calming to inflamed tissue and mildly antibacterial. When I wrap the legs with co wrap or vet wrap I only wrap firmly enough that it stays in place, not really tight at all. I have bandage scissors, they have a flat, blunt tip on the bottom and they slide easily under bandaging so you can cut it off without any pulling. I use them for bumblefoot bandage removal also, you can get them in many sizes from very large, to very small like nail scissors almost.
Another thought, which won't hurt anything, is to try sugardine. I've used it on really stubborn bumblefoot with very good results. A poultice of that applied to the leg and wrapped might help draw out some of that around the feather folicles. It's simply a paste of plain white sugar and betadine. It's used a lot on horse hoove issues. I tried it out of desperation on a really bad case of bumblefoot that absolutely nothing else worked for. It was surprisingly effective.

Yes to Epsom salt. After I wash his feet and legs I soak them in very warm Epsom salt water.
Yes to vetwrap and bandage scissors. That’s what I use also on bumble foot.
And double yes to sugardine. I’m an old time nurse. We used this on patients with bedsores back then when medical ointments didn’t work. I forgot to mention that in my list of available ointments.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sounds like you are doing everything. How long has he had this going on?

 

[Cryss]

Sounds like you are doing everything. How long has he had this going on?

About a week and a half. At first I was just doing every other day but quickly realized it wasn’t going away and was getting worse. I’ve never seen this before. After maybe 2 early treatments a feather started bleeding. That’s when I started experimenting with the VetRx.

 

[Cryss]

Last night it looked like there MIGHT be a bit less red. I did the usual Epsom salt soak after washing. This time I applied a mix of VetRx and coconut oil. I didn’t wrap the legs. Just touching them makes him flinch and sometimes cry . If I see a bit more improvement I might try it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I swear I've seen posts about similar issues, but I'll be darned if I can find them now. My internet sucks.

 

[Cryss]

I swear I've seen posts about similar issues, but I'll be darned if I can find them now. My internet sucks.

Yes I’ve looked too. I find everything from “it’s mereks (sp)” to tumors, abscesses, hormones, infected follicles, and mites. The infected follicles is the closest to what I’m seeing. Not sure about tumors.

 

[Thunder344]

I have a 2 brahmas and a couple Faverolles that i have noticed that have red lines underneath their feathers on their legs. I wonder if its the same thing.

 

[Cryss]

Henry is a Frizzle Cochin Bantam x Buff Brahma Bantam. He mostly looks like a Brahma Bantam. So you might be on to something. He just turned one year old in early august so this is his first mature molt. I’m really beginning to believe he’s having molting problems on his legs. I don’t see it anywhere else on his body. I hate seeing this. He’s just so special. He’s a clown and very protective of the full sized ladies. He is second in command behind Albert who is a BIG boy the same age. Even the 4.5 month old large sons of Albert respect him, all 5 of them. I hope you are able to get your Brahmas leg problems under control.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I’m really beginning to believe he’s having molting problems on his legs.

This makes sense to me. It can't be comfortable to have those push through those leg scales.

I hope that's it. If it is his molt, it'll clear up soon.

He's a beautiful boy!!!

 

[Cryss]

This makes sense to me. It can't be comfortable to have those push through those leg scales.

I hope that's it. If it is his molt, it'll clear up soon.

He's a beautiful boy!!!

Thank you! I can’t even tell you how much I (and my family!) love this miniature Don Juan/Napoleon/court jester. I’m thinking I’m seeing some minor improvement tonight but it’s still extremely painful to him and looks so nasty. It’s just a tiny bit smaller and maybe a bit less angry red.