Is this gout? Swollen ankles and feet.

[Mama_in_the_Dell]

This baby came from a breeder and hatched the end of May. She’s an Isabel Ameraucana. I bought 6 chicks and she is my only female. I noticed her feet looked a bit swollen a couple weeks ago but didn’t think much of it but now they are super swollen. First pic is from Wednesday night and second pic was from tonight (already so much worse from Wednesday). Her right foot is the one on the left. The other foot in the picture next to hers is her sibling. No one else seems to have swelling (definitely not to the extent of her feet) but I’m gonna do a more thorough inspection tomorrow. She is currently the only pullet in with a bunch of young cockerels not yet mating. I’m gonna bring her inside until I figure out what’s going on with her. Can young pullets get gout this bad so young? What else could it be. It’s soft and tender, warm to the touch. It does seem to bother her as she sits on the roost more than stand but she is roosting. About a month ago this pen was covered in mud after a bad rain before I added in the pelletized bedding. So I first wondered if that could have caused an infection.

 

[Kiki]

What exactly does she eat?
Can you get clear photos of the bottom of both feet?

 

[Kiki]

Does she or anyone else have swollen eye areas?

 

[Eggcessive]

Are the toes swollen or just the ankles? Better pictures may help. Gout will affect the whole foot and toes, while mycoplasma synovitis (MS) will cause swelling of the ankles and hock joints, but the toes may look normal. MS is a chronic bacterial disease of the joints.

 

[Mama_in_the_Dell]

Sorry I do not have better pictures at this time. These chickens are currently housed at my in-laws since I had so many roosters and wasn’t ready to get rid of them yet. That’s also why I didn’t catch it sooner and only have a few quick pictures at night. I’ll get better pictures when I go get her tomorrow. They eat Nutrena all flock pellets. I believe it’s 18% or 20% protein. I did the math and she is 20 weeks old now.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some links to read about MS:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-m-s-infectious-synovitis

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/mycoplasmosis/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-in-poultry

Here is a good link to read about articular gout:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/gout-management-in-poultry

 

[Mama_in_the_Dell]

I’ve got some new pictures. She’s got soft hay to stand on now but I snapped these a few days ago. Any ideas what I’m dealing with here.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not a vet, but just guessing that this looks more like gout than MS. Of course, it would be good to get testing with a necropsy if you should ever lose her, to confirm the disease. Gout has many possible causes which are listed in the link provided in post 6. Sour cherry extract has been mentioned as a treatment in humans and in chickens with gout to help with pain and walking. I have no experience with the disease though.

 

[Mama_in_the_Dell]

I let her out to roam today. She was so happy. She dust bathed and followed me around. Didn’t seem in pain. Is there a way to find out if she is contagious before a necropsy (obviously I’m hoping she doesn’t die on me and I don’t want her so lonely forever)?

 

[Eggcessive]

Gout is not contagious. If she had MS, and I think it is more likely to be gout, the others would have already have been exposed at the same time she would have been. So glad that she is happy and getting outside.