sudden multiple problems

[orange tomato]

I just discovered 2 of my cochin roosters swollen feather folicles and they are quite red, though not bleeding. they have been pruning themselves and taking dust baths, but upon inspection I found no sign of mites (or at least visible ones). I also noticed that they have red skin near their breasts and last week none of this existed. Otherwise they seem perfectly healthy.

In researching in my chicken health book all I could find was swollen feather follicles under a symptom of Merks. Anyone think that this might be the prob?

In addition I have a hen (she is 2 years old)that suddenly started limping on one foot. The bad foot is curling at the toes and she is starting to drag it. There was a complete drop in egg production, then after 4 days she laid an egg. The egg shell was healthy looking, and when I broke it open, there were no blood spots or anything unusual- it looked totally normal. Any ideas on if this could be a related thing? My hen has no swollen follicles or redness like my cochin roosters do.
I only have 11 adult birds and have (5) 2-wk old chicks. The chicks are perfectly fine as is its mom. Could this be Merks disease? Should I have my hen culled (I have an appt. to bring her to the vet, but they are not avian specialist.

 

[SandyNest]

I'm afraid I have no help to offer, but a bump to the top, for someone who might be able to offer help. I would be interested to hear what you find out.

 

[Renee]

I'm sorry, I don't know either, but I have been reading about foot-dragging on other posts and it appears that it is often a vitamin deficiency.
Renee

 

[orange tomato]

Thanks Renee and Sandyfoot for your replies. I have been giving my hen (who was limping and whose toes were curling under) an antibiotic (Terramycin). She is doing better, in that her toes are not longer curling under, but now she has these little things that look like callouses on the bottom of her feet. She is walking much better and is laying eggs again. In addition her "poop" is looking more normal.

My Rooster (Cochins) do not limp but they still have the enflamed feather follicles. I completely sanitized their coup with gallon solution of warm water and two caps of bleach, and a mite and flea dilluted solution. The rooster also got a dip into warm flea and tick dilluted solution (only up to mid body though) when it was 80 degrees and sunny outside. If this was a mite problem, that should have solved it, however it has been 2 days and they still have those swollen feather follicles on their legs.