new roo - badly swolllen feet

[Vickir73]

Got a new flock in about 3 weeks ago (kept them segregated, etc - have received new NPIP test (passed) for new and old birds - no worries about a disease spreading throughout the flock) and about a week after getting them, we noticed the roo's feet were badly swollen and they appear to be getting worse. At first I thought scaly leg mites and have been treating him for that, but the scales do not appear to be sticking out or separating (like I've seen in other pictures and I do have a hen with this problem and his legs are completely different than her legs and he had no access to her before we noticed his legs). I cannot find any signs of injury and do not see anything that might be foreign that would need to be cut out. No pus, no oozing or bleeding.

Please give me suggestions on what I can do to help him. The swelling appears to be getting worse and he is in quite a bit of pain. He appears to be a great roo so I'd hate to put him down if I don't have to.

 

[RhodeIslandRedFan]

I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking you're dealing with a severe case of bumblefoot that will need systemic antibiotics. Do you have a vet nearby that will treat chickens? If not, I don't have enough experience to give you advice about which antibiotics to use for this if you can't get him to a vet. You might want to soak his feet in epsom salt mixed in warm water, to clean his feet so you can better see what's going on. Hoping others with more experience will give you some additional advice. Wish I could do more for you.....good luck with him

Edited to add: Here's a link to a thread on this site that describes gout causing foot swelling. This could be what you're dealing with, since I don't see any scabs on your roo's feet to indicate bumblefoot. You might want to search more under gout, until someone with more experience than I comes along. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/667080/swollen-feet-on-hen

 

[Vickir73]

bumblefoot -that's the word that's been at the tip of my tongue for days and haven't been able to remember. Yes, I haven't been able to find any scabs that would indicate bumblefoot. Vets in my area will not treat chickens. They say chickens are a waste of time I will definitely read the thread you listed and if any others want to throw their ideas out it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Red

 

[Vickir73]

ok after reading the thread Red posted it does sound more like gout than bumblefoot, but I will soak them tonight in epsom salt and clean them really well to make sure there is not scab (even tho I'm pretty sure there's not one). If it is gout, what penicillin and dosage do I give him? for how long? how often? just when swelling gets bad? I will search the thread for gout in the meantime to see what I can find.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

That's almost certainly a staphylococcosis infection, as it can actually set into joints as well. Infectious synovitis is another possibility, but ... I'd bet my least favorite hen that it's staph.

​

See: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/204200.htm for further details.

 

[what did I do]

I have one that looks like that but I'm sure mine is due to her feet getting frostbitten. She stayed out one very cold night. Have you had any very cold weather?

 

[Vickir73]

Cowcreek, could be an infection, but article doesn't say what type of antibiotic or how much and I have no idea.

What, we have had a few cold night, but they have been completely enclosed and I'm pretty sure it's not frostbite. my coop is completely enclosed from the weather (no wind exposure) and the way the roosts are, their feet are completely covered by their bodies at night.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Cowcreek, could be an infection, but article doesn't say what type of antibiotic or how much and I have no idea.

What, we have had a few cold night, but they have been completely enclosed and I'm pretty sure it's not frostbite. my coop is completely enclosed from the weather (no wind exposure) and the way the roosts are, their feet are completely covered by their bodies at night.

I haven't seen frostbite not leave other signs (blackening, necrotic tissue, reddening, etc.) and swelling would (I think) be indicative of infection.

As to the coop? Cold 'n dry is far better than warm 'n wet ... better to acclimate them to the temperatures, 'n let a bit of air flow through.

Ast to the article? It's further down the page, under Treatment: "Staphylococcosis can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but a sensitivity test should be performed because antibiotic resistance is common. Antibiotics used to treat Staphylococcus infections include penicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin."

A caution: Some Staph is resistant, and staph in some places is very hard to get the antibiotic to ... two factor which may limit this bird's response to treatment.

 

[RhodeIslandRedFan]

Here is a link to another thread on this site dealing with gout. I don't have any first hand experience with this, but I still think based in everything I've read that you could be dealing with gout. The thread in this link contains another link in post #5 that provides some good information and pictures of swelling from gout. Your chicken's condition might be best assessed by a vet who can determine just what is going on and prescribe the proper treatment. Any vets in your area that treat chickens? Unfortunately, they're hard to find. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/702495/swollen-feet-on-cockerel

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Here is a link to another thread on this site dealing with gout. I don't have any first hand experience with this, but I still think based in everything I've read that you could be dealing with gout. The thread in this link contains another link in post #5 that provides some good information and pictures of swelling from gout. Your chicken's condition might be best assessed by a vet who can determine just what is going on and prescribe the proper treatment. Any vets in your area that treat chickens? Unfortunately, they're hard to find. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/702495/swollen-feet-on-cockerel

No heat or lameness knocks a bit of probability outta my theory, and puts my least favorite hen at risk of loss to Vickir73
(was bettin' it'd turn out to be Staph ~'-)

The link from that thread, originally provided by dawg53, and now RhodeIslandRedFan:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/232/gout