Swollen feet! STILL SWOLLEN! SCALES ARE BLACK. MITES???

[mrbstephens]

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/232/gout

I think I just threw up in my mouth. Those are some discusting photos!

 

[mrbstephens]

I just don't see this as scaly leg mites. The scales are raised when they have that because the mites burrow under the scales and secrete this substance, kinda crusty stuff, that pushes the scales upward. I would look more toward the frostbite or gout investigation. The swelling would naturally push the scales outward. Is it mushy swelling or hard?

What if it is frostbite? What kind of damage should I expect to see in the end?

What if it's gout? Can it be fixed?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
http://www.avianweb.com/gout.html
here is one link on gout I found- again I have no experience with it but the link might help

Please note that the link is not just for chickens but for birds in general so all information might not be pertinent.

 

[mrbstephens]

I also wanted to add that her appetite is fine, but she limps a little and favor one leg over the other.

 

[mrbstephens]

I soaked her feet again. I think the swelling may have gone down a bit. The scales are hard and coming up a bit. There's dirt under them and that, I think, is why they look black. I'm surprised that with the soaking that there is still dirt under them. I still see no sign of black spots, scabs or wounds. I felt the feet and they are just squishy, but not super squishy. I didn't feel that there were any knobs or crunchy deposits under the skin. They're just....swollen. Like a pregnant woman's feet. I gave her a treat of oats and greens. I'm hoping if I keep doing this that it will just clear up.

 

[klmclain1]

I see you've posted pictures of everything but the bottom of her foot... would you mind taking and posting one of the bottom??

 

[mrbstephens]

I see you've posted pictures of everything but the bottom of her foot... would you mind taking and posting one of the bottom??

I'll take pics of the bottoms tomorrow, but they're clean.

 

[mrbstephens]

Is it possible her feet just got so dirty it became irritating? I had a thought. She finished molting not too long ago. When they molt, they also molt scales on their feet right? Maybe the molt didn't finish on her feet, dirt got stuck in there and caused an irritation? I don't feel there is an infection. It's more irritated and the swelling is like water retention.

 

[welasharon]

No, I don't think so. The chickens I worked on lived in mud half the time and they had mud balls on the ends of their toes but no swelling like that. I live in Florida so frostbite is not common here but I would think that if it is that they swelling should peak soon and start to recede. If the scales are turning black then chances are they will fall off. Her toes look good though. That is just so odd. Did any of the gout things say anything about scale issues? How many days have they been swollen?

ETA: if you read about frostbite it mentions swelling as a symptom

 

[sherylreno]

It actually looks more like frostnip but it can be frostbite too, here's something I found about frostbite in chickens:

http://www.ehow.com/list_6906829_treatments-frostbite-chickens_.html