Swollen feet

[Southern Ann]

I have a two year old hen I bought in the summer and it's feet have been swollen since I've bought it. The swelling won't go down with a new diet or medicine. Any suggestions?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a two year old hen I bought in the summer and it's feet have been swollen since I've bought it. The swelling won't go down with a new diet or medicine. Any suggestions?

What type of new diet and medicine have you tried?
Is there any scabbing on the bottom of the feet? Does she have difficulty walking?

They do appear to be a bit red between the toes. I'm assuming since the feet are so clean, that you have been washing/soaking them. You can try adding epsom salts to the soaking water to see if that helps with inflammation.

Unless she has obvious scabbing on the bottom of the feet that would indicate Bumblefoot, you may want to have a vet see her. She may be suffering from something like gout - do you know what kind of feed and conditions she lived in prior to you getting her?

 

[Kiki]

Do you have an update on this girl?

 

[Southern Ann]

Do you have an update on this girl?

I have had tried everything and her feet are still the same. Some days the feet are more swollen than the day before.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you see the question earlier about any scabs on the bottoms of the feet? Scabs might indicate bumblefoot, but the swollen feet could be caused by articular gout, as suggested earlier by Wyorp Rock. Another cause of swollen feet is possible mycoplasma synovitis or MS. Gout can be caused by many different things, such as aflatoxin poisoning, high protein or sodium diets, and other causes. There is not a lot that can be done for it. MS which tends to cause ankle and hock swelling, is a mycoplasma infection of the joints, and hard to treat, though antibiotics such as Tylan and oxytetracycline can be used to treat symptoms. MS is contagious.