Is this just a vitamin deficiency?

[dmartin101]

I would appreciate any insight on my hen's ongoing foot issue. The problem foot is circled in black, the healthy one in yellow.

About a year ago, her toes started curling. After I did some research, I started giving her vitamin B supplements. Her toes straightened back out quickly. This cycle repeated every couple of weeks last winter. She had no problems in the spring and summer. The issue started up again this fall.

I'm now giving her a two vitamin B pills every 3-4 days or so. I cut them into smaller pieces and she eats them out of my hand so I know she's getting them.

I've noticed her two outer toes are getting more swollen and knobby. She has a slight limp but as long as I give her the vitamins, the toes stay uncurled and she doesn't seem too bothered. She laid all summer and eats, drinks, and chickens like normal.

She's a 2.5 year old Speckled Sussex. No signs of any other issue like mites or bumblefoot. I feed layer pellets with rooster booster added. Oyster shell and grit is also available. Minimal treats or scraps. She's in a run/coop most days but I do let the whole flock out to free range whenever possible - usually at least 1-2 full days a week plus an hour or so most mornings.

Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

B complex can help with curled under toes. Crooked toes is a condition that is caused by incubation issues or hereditary. It doesn’t respond to vitamins (riboflavin/b2.) if not treated in the first day or two of life, it is usually not treatable. I had 2 speckled Sussex who had curled toes, and they got a little more noticeable with age. However, it didn’t affect walking or roosting.

If you could get clearer picture close up where we could see her feet and legs, and any scabs on the bottoms, to see if we notice anything, that would be good. It does look like she has some knobby appearance to the left foot. It might be that she has injured the foot somehow. Something like gout might be possible, but that usually affects both feet.

What Rooster Booster product are you using? The powder vitamins with electrolytes or what? She probably doesn’t need a lot of extra vitamins as long as she is getting the balanced feed.

 

[dmartin101]

B complex can help with curled under toes. Crooked toes is a condition that is caused by incubation issues or hereditary. It doesn’t respond to vitamins (riboflavin/b2.) if not treated in the first day or two of life, it is usually not treatable. I had 2 speckled Sussex who had curled toes, and they got a little more noticeable with age. However, it didn’t affect walking or roosting.

If you could get clearer picture close up where we could see her feet and legs, and any scabs on the bottoms, to see if we notice anything, that would be good. It does look like she has some knobby appearance to the left foot. It might be that she has injured the foot somehow. Something like gout might be possible, but that usually affects both feet.

What Rooster Booster product are you using? The powder vitamins with electrolytes or what? She probably doesn’t need a lot of extra vitamins as long as she is getting the balanced feed.

Thanks for responding! She didn't have an issue when she was a chick or pullet. It started when she was about 1.5 years old, stopped over the summer and restarted in October. If I stop giving her the vitamins, her outer two toes start curling again and go back to normal within 24 hours or less after getting vitamins.

I'll post a closer picture. She doesn't have any scabs or signs of any other issues anywhere on her foot.

I add the rooster booster vitamin and mineral supplement powder to their layer feed.

 

[dmartin101]

Here's some closer pictures.