ackie
previously jwehl // dogs & cats & squirrels oh my!
Meet Martha, she is Whiting True Blue (i.e. "designer breed" cross between Ameraucana & a production white layer that McMurry sells) born in May last year. She is a full-sized chicken and doesnt seem lighter than the others.
One of her feet is obviously swollen.
I assumed it was bumblefoot but I dont see an obvious injury on the pad, so I dont want to go digging without a second option. I dont know how long it's been swollen. She doesnt seem to be limping or impeded. I've noticed I have multiple chickens that seem to have lost or broken nails including one who is missing a nail entirely and looks like the quick is all that is left. Its bleeding slightly. No one else appears to have swollen feet. It's a mixed breed flock so some feet are just generally less slender but I dont see any with a disparity between their two feet.
They all free range so she definitely could have injured it on something i.e. bumblefoot. She has a bit of a history - when she was much younger, she stopped walking and had one of her feet really curled up. (original thread with walking issues) I had resigned her to chicken hospice but after a full month she had learned how to walk again and was well enough to go back outside. At that point she was smaller than her same-age flockmates but eventually gained size and is no longer recognizably different. She did roost at full height at some point but has been roosting lower than the rest of the birds for awhile, with this guy. They both perch on the milk crate - shes down cause I moved her to take pictures - which is about waist height whereas everyone else roosts at about 6ft.
She eats layer pellets and whatever she finds free-range, including access to the compost pile. She has plain water and likely drinks out of muddy puddles if she wants to. I havent checked her poop.
I have done nothing so far except take pictures. I was going to dig out the infection but dont see a wound so just put her back for now. I wish to treat myself without vet help. I dont care if she ends up looking normal (i.e. if this is just her new normal, thats fine) as long as shes okay.
Their pen has a dirt floor with a mix of straw and leaves as bedding.
One of her feet is obviously swollen.
I assumed it was bumblefoot but I dont see an obvious injury on the pad, so I dont want to go digging without a second option. I dont know how long it's been swollen. She doesnt seem to be limping or impeded. I've noticed I have multiple chickens that seem to have lost or broken nails including one who is missing a nail entirely and looks like the quick is all that is left. Its bleeding slightly. No one else appears to have swollen feet. It's a mixed breed flock so some feet are just generally less slender but I dont see any with a disparity between their two feet.
They all free range so she definitely could have injured it on something i.e. bumblefoot. She has a bit of a history - when she was much younger, she stopped walking and had one of her feet really curled up. (original thread with walking issues) I had resigned her to chicken hospice but after a full month she had learned how to walk again and was well enough to go back outside. At that point she was smaller than her same-age flockmates but eventually gained size and is no longer recognizably different. She did roost at full height at some point but has been roosting lower than the rest of the birds for awhile, with this guy. They both perch on the milk crate - shes down cause I moved her to take pictures - which is about waist height whereas everyone else roosts at about 6ft.
She eats layer pellets and whatever she finds free-range, including access to the compost pile. She has plain water and likely drinks out of muddy puddles if she wants to. I havent checked her poop.
I have done nothing so far except take pictures. I was going to dig out the infection but dont see a wound so just put her back for now. I wish to treat myself without vet help. I dont care if she ends up looking normal (i.e. if this is just her new normal, thats fine) as long as shes okay.
Their pen has a dirt floor with a mix of straw and leaves as bedding.
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