Round balls coming out of chickens feet

[Watermeat]

Two of my hens are having a little issue. One of them has not been walking for two days now, and one has been limping for around the same amount of time.

I inspected them for injury and found these round black-brown balls that pulled out from between their toes (the one not walking only had one and the one limping had one on each foot). They pulled out pretty easily from the bottom of the foot. Taking them out seemed to cause discomfort, but not pain. It didn't bleed or tear, it just left an empty pocket of skin that I have been trying to keep clean. I thought maybe it could have been bumblefoot but they're not infected, swollen, and it came out from between their skin, not exactly out of it.

The hen not walking had hers pulled out about 24 hours ago and she still is not walking. They both seem alert, and they eat and drink well. Everything is normal except for their little walking problem. What's going on with their feet and how do I get them better again?

Their breeds are Barred Rock and California White for anyone who needs to know, and they are just over a year old.

 

[Kiki]

Can you post a few clear pictures?

 

[eggsandhens]

Do you have any pictures or videos? If not of the black/brown balls, then of them right now (walking)?

 

[Watermeat]

Can you post a few clear pictures?

Here's a picture of the pocket in her foot. It's probably 1/4 inch deep. As you can see it isn't red or inflammed or anything like that. I would think she would be fine now, but that isn't so.

 

[Kiki]

Can you take a video of these two birds and upload it to Youtube?


Do you have other birds besides these two?
Have you brought home any birds in the last two months?

 

[Watermeat]

Do you have any pictures or videos? If not of the black/brown balls, then of them right now (walking)?

I couldn't get her to walk, but I'll post the video of my attempt anyway. She just flops back down when she's placed on her feet. I didn't get any pictures of the balls, but basically they looked like round pebbles. They were pretty hard but they still broke apart, so my guess is that it was compacted dirt.

Can you take a video of these two birds and upload it to Youtube?


Do you have other birds besides these two?
Have you brought home any birds in the last two months?

I tried to get her to walk and she always just flops back over, but I uploaded it anyways.

I bought her, along with seven other chickens and two ducks at the same time a bit over a year ago and I haven't added any new members at all. They have never met any other birds other than each other.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I inspected them for injury and found these round black-brown balls that pulled out from between their toes (the one not walking only had one and the one limping had one on each foot). They pulled out pretty easily from the bottom of the foot. Taking them out seemed to cause discomfort, but not pain. It didn't bleed or tear, it just left an empty pocket of skin that I have been trying to keep clean. I thought maybe it could have been bumblefoot but they're not infected, swollen, and it came out from between their skin, not exactly out of it.

One of them has not been walking for two days now, and one has been limping for around the same amount of time.

She was not able to walk before you pulled the poop balls out of the feet?
What do you feed?
Has she laid any eggs recently? Any swelling/bloat or fluid in the abdomen?
What's the poop like? Photos?

I would say the poop/debris balls are coincidental and not what has caused her the loss of the use of her legs.

Poop balls in the nooks/crannies of the feet are not too uncommon.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...acted-pockets-in-chickens-toe-webbing.950954/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumble-foot.1292460/

 

[Watermeat]

She was not able to walk before you pulled the poop balls out of the feet?
What do you feed?
Has she laid any eggs recently? Any swelling/bloat or fluid in the abdomen?
What's the poop like? Photos?

I would say the poop/debris balls are coincidental and not what has caused her the loss of the use of her legs.

Poop balls in the nooks/crannies of the feet are not too uncommon.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...acted-pockets-in-chickens-toe-webbing.950954/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bumble-foot.1292460/

She had been acting weird for a few hours before I pulled them out. At first I thought she had a stuck egg, but when that was ruled out I checked her feet and that's what I found. They eat laying mash, and yes she's laying. I just checked her abdomen in comparison to some of the other hens and couldn't feel anything unusual. Her stools seem runny though. I can add that the foot that I pulled the ball out of she likes to keep curled up.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She had been acting weird for a few hours before I pulled them out. At first I thought she had a stuck egg, but when that was ruled out I checked her feet and that's what I found. They eat laying mash, and yes she's laying. I just checked her abdomen in comparison to some of the other hens and couldn't feel anything unusual. Her stools seem runny though. I can add that the foot that I pulled the ball out of she likes to keep curled up.

Can you get some photos of her poop?

So you felt inside her vent about 1-2" for an egg just to make sure?