Swollen feet and knees with sores as well as sores on body.

[Miranda M]

I found one of my 12 wk old pullets with swollen feet this evening. There are sores on the top of both feet one is more swollen than the other. I thought she may have been accidentally stepped on. When we feed they tend to crowd around and it wouldn't be far fetched to assume. So I brought her in and soaked her feet in an Epsom salt bath. Upon further inspection I noticed her knees were swollen and had sores as well. Also found a few sores on her body and a few mites. I check my ladies often for health, thick breasts, full crops, clean bums, bumble foot, mites, etcetera. But with 73 birds I can't get them all every day. The rest of my hens look fine. What could cause this? Could the mites cause this swelling and sores? I've never had mites before. What is the best treatment? Dust or some spray? How would you treat the swelling and sores?

 

[dawg53]

I think it would be best if you had bloodwork drawn and tested for mycoplasma synoviae (MS.)

 

[Saaniya]

Seems bad lil girl you should let her blood test done
It maybe avian gout and do dust her for lice

 

[Miranda M]

Sorry it has taken a while for me to get back with y'all. I've been so busy with sick and hurt babies. This has been a week from chicken hadies Sunday I had a roo tear the skin off the top of the head and back of my 8wk old pullet (she is quite a trooper and doing good) then tues this girl so we've been busy doctoring. I went by my vets and spoke to him through his tech. Told him what was going on and showed pics. He did not give me a diagnosis but said to continue with the aspirin, give her tylan 50, 5cc per gal water, only source of water, soak and salve. If she's not better by monday I will talk with him again. Thank you all for your help and advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

Give the Tylan 50 orally, 0.2 ml per pound 3 times a day for 5 days. If you can only give it twice a day, give her 0.3 ml per pound. You will never give her enough putting it in her water. Do you know how much she weighs?

 

[Miranda M]

I'm not sure how much she weighs maybe a lb to a lb and a half. She has lost some weight fore sure. Would I give this in addition to the water or don't put it in the water at all? We are soaking her now in an Epsom salt bath and I'm gonna attempt lancing the sore on her thigh. It looks like a big pimple so I think if I can barely break the skin it may go on its own with minimum pain.

 

[Miranda M]

So sad to report my sweet lil henny penny passed as I was soaking her and preparing to dress her sores. I took her straight to my vet and he looked her over to find that her hip and foot was broken and this was an infection due to the hip. I don't know what could have done that. I would have never guessed a broken leg would cause all this. He said she looks really healthy other wise. The sore on her side was the bone trying to protrude out. This absolutely breaks my heart I really don't know what could have or how her leg got broke

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I would keep an eye out for any other pullets that have swollen joints. The ankles may be the first ones to spot, and also look at the hocks. The state vet or poultry lab can do testing for mycoplasma synovitis (MS,) if you should lose any others. Hopefully, this was just an injury.