romahunter
In the Brooder
Hi! After turning cold (we live in Massachusetts), in the last couple of weeks, I noticed that one of my chickens started to develop redness between her toes. Nothing too dramatic, just pinker/darker than usual. No swelling, no lesions, no scale, no apparent parasites. Definitely not bumblefoot. She is also walking in an affected manner. Still putting weight on her feet, but picking them up and holding them under her belly before putting down. Like she is stepping over something, that sort of motion and her steps are slow and deliberate. If she is running for something, i.e., treat, she doesn't do this, just when she meanders around the run. Both feet are the same, she doesn't favor one over the other. When she stands, she also will tuck one foot under her belly. And she is also puffing her feathers out more, what is left of them. She is moulting, quite dramatically and stopped laying.
My initial thought was that her feet are cold and she is doing this to keep them warm. But I didn't see her do this last year and none of my other gals are doing it. They are all moulting but she is the least feathered of them all right now, so definitely has less insulation. I am a new chicken owner (had them for 1.5 years) and this is my first time dealing with moulting.
Any thoughts on what this might be?
My initial thought was that her feet are cold and she is doing this to keep them warm. But I didn't see her do this last year and none of my other gals are doing it. They are all moulting but she is the least feathered of them all right now, so definitely has less insulation. I am a new chicken owner (had them for 1.5 years) and this is my first time dealing with moulting.
Any thoughts on what this might be?
