Swollen hen foot, need treatment advice

[MIchickenlady]

When I let my 6 hens out this morning, one remained on the perch, Ethel. Yesterday she ran around fine. She is the lowest on the pecking order, and has had an issue with shaking her head and walking backwards for several months.
She eats drinks and is in good health. She will not stand on her swollen foot, which I've soaked, cleaned and applied ointment. She is in a separate small coop by herself with food and water.

What should be my next steps to help her swollen foot???
I'm thinking get vererycin spray, Prid slave, some sticky vet wrap for her foot? Can she have any baby aspirin? She was panting when I had her in the house earlier, I think shes hurting

1) Easter Egger, almost 1 yr old, dont know weight-on thin side.
2)This morn when I let girls out she was still on perch, refuses to walk, standing on one leg or laying in one place.
3) She was running fine yesterday.
4) Other birds all fine.
5) See pic of foot swelling and redness.
6) I have no idea what caused this.
7) Feed Organic grower for the higher protein with oystershell and treats. Shes eating and drinking fine today. Added poultry cell to her water today.
8) poop looks normal, lil runny.
9) I soaked her feet, cleaned, applied antibiotic ointment. separated her.
10 ) I'd like to treat myself if possible, if her condition worsens I will find a local avian vet.
11) Posted pics are of her today holding the affected leg up, one of her normal foot and one of the bad foot.
12) 2x4 wide perch that is 18 inches from the coop floor, 2 inches sand on coop floor, in the run is mixture of leaves, grass, bark, its pretty cushy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you take a picture of both feet from the front as she is standing? I don’t see any evidence of bumblefoot on either foot pad, but we can’t see the tops of the feet or the ankles. A sprained foot or ankle might be a problem if she jumped and landed wrong.

 

[Eggcessive]

I also forgot to mention that frostbite could be a possibility, and can cause swelling and pain.

 

[MIchickenlady]

I also forgot to mention that frostbite could be a possibility, and can cause swelling and pain.

Thank you! I will look at her feet some more, try to get another pic.
What is to be done for a sprain? if thats what it is?

 

[Criticalicious]

Since you're in Michigan I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's been cold outside. So when you brought her inside, she may have been panting from the heat. 70 degrees is comfortable for us but feels hot for chickens used to being outside in freezing temperatures.

 

[Eggcessive]

A sprain may cause swelling in a joint. Sometimes resting the leg for a weeks or two may help it heal.

 

[MIchickenlady]

Here is Ethel in her hen hospital for the night.
She insists on a perch, its 2 inches off the floor.
Shes not walking at all, so I moved food & water next to her.
Shes pooping ok.
I got veterycin spray, Prid salve, some baby aspirin and self sticking wrap...
I'm going to soak her foot in epsom salts water for a while tonight, prid salve it and see how she is tomorrow.
Any further advice would be awesome as this is my first chicken foot swelling/injury.
Should I give the aspirin? How much?
Thanks!!

 

[aart]

What is to be done for a sprain? if thats what it is?

Have had a few limpers that appeared to have a strain/sprain.
If limp is really bothering them by inhibiting their normal activities too much, I will isolate them in a crate to 'force' rest for a day or two. Letting them out late in day, an hour before roost time, to give them a stretch and evaluate their mobility, then decide if they need another day and put them back in crate off roost after dark. Repeat stretch and eval the next day until they are better. Keep crate in coop so bird can remain 'with' the flock. It can take weeks for limp to totally go away.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[MIchickenlady]

Have had a few limpers that appeared to have a strain/sprain.
If limp is really bothering them by inhibiting their normal activities too much, I will isolate them in a crate to 'force' rest for a day or two. Letting them out late in day, an hour before roost time, to give them a stretch and evaluate their mobility, then decide if they need another day and put them back in crate off roost after dark. Repeat stretch and eval the next day until they are better. Keep crate in coop so bird can remain 'with' the flock. It can take weeks for limp to totally go away.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Thank you!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Is there any way you can get a picture of her feet tomorrow, to see the swollen leg? Is there a break in the skin somewhere that needs all of the treatment? The dog crate suggestion by aart is good to force rest.