Rooster limping- Scaly Leg Mites? PICS INCLUDED

[SJK]

My roo, Max, who is probably about 5-7 years old now, seems to be having a leg or foot issue. I noticed him lying down (on his belly, head up) on the ground in the run the day before yesterday, which is very unlike him as he always wants to be running about patrolling and watching over his 3 girls. My chix are pets. It has been super hot out, though, so I figured he was just resting. Then yesterday I noticed that when he stood up and walked he was limping and putting one wing down to help him balance. Today he was just lying down on the ground on his belly again and had his beak open, looked distressed to me, so I brought him into the house in the bathroom and turned him over to look for signs of bumblefoot. I don't see any tell-tale black dot. The only thing I see is what looks like maybe a cut or a missing scale on the top side of one of the toes (see pix). I'm also not sure whether he might have scaly leg mites, though his legs have always been rough-scaled like this and it has not gotten any worse over the 4 years I've had him, so I'm not sure that's the issue. If it looks like leg mites to more experienced members, can those actually cause a limp and unwillingness to stand? Other health info: His crop feels like it is mostly (but not totally) empty, but he ate some of what I put out for him in the bathtub where he is currently resting. I gave him a small dose of Rimadyl (Carprofen) to help with any pain and also to maybe reduce swelling in case he just sprained the leg or something. I was able to feel all along both legs and gently extend and retract them without anything seeming out of place or broken. I checked his vent and it looked normal and when he pooped in the tub, the poop looked completely fine. I am including a bunch of pix. I am relatively inexperienced but really want to help him so any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

This is going sound super ignorant, because for as much as I know about chickens, I didn't realize rooster's spurs were so huge! I have a roo, but he's a cochin and so feathered you can hardly see his feet at all.

If it were me, I'd wait 1-2 days and monitor him. He could have just stressed something by jumping down from a great height, but it I agree that I don't see anything outwardly wrong with his feet. Thus far I've battled bumblefoot twice and I agree it doesn't look like bumble.

 

[SJK]

Thanks so much, humblehillsfarm. I am sure I know less than you do... does it look like he has scaly leg mites to you? As for the spurs, I've read some stuff about removing them, but since Max is uncommonly gentle with his girls it has never seemed necessary. This might be irrelevant, but Max was originally rescued by an animal shelter (where I worked at the time) from a cock-fighting case, along with 60+ other roos and hens. They were all pure or mixed Asil (aka Aseel), which is traditionally an aggressive "fighting" or "game" breed, so perhaps his spurs are extra big? I've never had another roo, so I have nothing to compare them to. Amazingly, he is a really good boy-- not aggressive with us, and very generous and solicitous towards his ladies, despite his breed and his origins. A good lesson in "don't judge a book..." I guess!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Thanks so much, humblehillsfarm. I am sure I know less than you do... does it look like he has scaly leg mites to you? As for the spurs, I've read some stuff about removing them, but since Max is uncommonly gentle with his girls it has never seemed necessary. This might be irrelevant, but Max was originally rescued by an animal shelter (where I worked at the time) from a cock-fighting case, along with 60+ other roos and hens. They were all pure or mixed Asil (aka Aseel), which is traditionally an aggressive "fighting" or "game" breed, so perhaps his spurs are extra big? I've never had another roo, so I have nothing to compare them to. Amazingly, he is a really good boy-- not aggressive with us, and very generous and solicitous towards his ladies, despite his breed and his origins. A good lesson in "don't judge a book..." I guess!

As far as I am aware, I’ve never had a case of leg mites so I am not sure what it looks like. Wow he has an interesting story! I’m glad he’s sweet. Comment tomorrow with an update on how he’s doing.

 

[SJK]

Anyone who has seen scaly leg mites in person and can tell me if that is what it looks like? Please?

 

[ListenToYourChicken]

Mites do cause chickens to be in pain and they do normally have a limp if it is bad.
Is there a gap between any of the scales on his legs?
It looks like the legs need to be treated for mites though.

If there is a big gap between the scales as in scales sticking out a millimetre or so then you should treat him.
I prefer to use petroleum jelly on the legs of my chickens because compared to smothering the the chickens legs in oils it is much easier to cover them with petroleum jelly. By covering Max's legs with jelly, it will stop air coming into the scales so the mites will die from lack of oxygen.
Smother Max's legs with petroleum jelly each day until his legs look like the other chickens (unless they have mites too) and then you can stop
legs with mites

healthy legs

 

[Neggative]

looks like mites to me.....

 

[Neggative]

definetely not! bumble foot!

 

[SJK]

Thank you for your replies. You may see my other more recent message-- I am treating him for scaly leg mites but also discovered large scabs at the tops of his legs where other members have suggested he may have injured himself with his own long, curved spurs. I have trimmed his spurs now and am trying to treat the scabs/infection now (while also treating the leg mites). Hopefully he will be feeling better soon. I really appreciate your input.