So I've had Chester for a little less than five years, and this winter, he ran off to join the neighbor's flock. We thought a coon got him (one of our pullets was taken by a coon a week earlier) so we didn't look too hard.
Apparently, the neighbors took about as much care as you'd expect of an elderly, non-laying chicken, and Chester finally decided to return for some feed tonight, just when I happened to be closing the coop door. I promptly captured him and found that he was absolutely infested with mites. One bath later, I was going over him with a blow-dryer and noticed that Chester's back claw on his right foot was broken off right where the skin ends.
The claw is broken off flush with the skin. The end of the claw is black. The skin around the claw and toe is pinker than normal, and the toe is swollen to about twice normal size. The swelling does not appear to extend anywhere else, and the toe is not warm to the touch. It feels solid.
I'll post pictures later, but I would really appreciate some suggestions on causes and possible cures.
Apparently, the neighbors took about as much care as you'd expect of an elderly, non-laying chicken, and Chester finally decided to return for some feed tonight, just when I happened to be closing the coop door. I promptly captured him and found that he was absolutely infested with mites. One bath later, I was going over him with a blow-dryer and noticed that Chester's back claw on his right foot was broken off right where the skin ends.
The claw is broken off flush with the skin. The end of the claw is black. The skin around the claw and toe is pinker than normal, and the toe is swollen to about twice normal size. The swelling does not appear to extend anywhere else, and the toe is not warm to the touch. It feels solid.
I'll post pictures later, but I would really appreciate some suggestions on causes and possible cures.
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