Hans is a 1 year old Bielefelder rooster. His rear toes looked a little inflamed a few weeks ago. I suspected SLM and so I dipped his (and most of the rest of the flock) legs in vegetable oil a few times. This seemed to be the most efficient option for the amount of chickens. No one else had swollen toes, but a few older hens had a couple funky looking scales so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to just dip everyone’s legs.
Anyway, after I few dips, I guess I didn’t look closely at his legs for a week or so, and then I saw his one rear toe was entirely engorged. It’s swollen like a balloon. The other rear toe is partially swollen on the tip near the nail.
So I started covering his feet and legs with vasoline. My good foot soak bucket got cracked, and he’s not really been compliant enough to use any other means for a leg soak, so I haven’t done an Epsom salt soak yet.
No noticeable sign of a bumble or wound on either toe, but I think it’s getting worst. These photos are from 5/17 and they’re more swollen in spite of the vasoline applications. So if it’s not SLM, what else might it be?
In researching, I read something about frostbite. But the only cold snap we had was 4 months ago. And I read that the nail usually comes off. His nails seem fine, but the source of the swelling seems to be the end of the toe with the nail. No swelling in the shanks or other toes. Their coop got down to the upper teens (Fahrenheit) a few times over the winter but never colder. No sign of frostbite on other birds or on large combs.
Does this look like SLM for anyone who’s dealt with it before? Or does annyone have any ideas what else this could be or other ways to treat?
I do plan to try epsom salt soaks again… I just haven’t had success yet.
ETA coop info- he roosts on a 2x4 above a “poop tray.” Bedding in the coop is deep pine shavings. The run is sand on one side and dirt/bare ground on the other (the sand washed away from the upper half… will be adding mulch once the run expansion is completed). Poop tray and run are scooped every 1-3 days.
Anyway, after I few dips, I guess I didn’t look closely at his legs for a week or so, and then I saw his one rear toe was entirely engorged. It’s swollen like a balloon. The other rear toe is partially swollen on the tip near the nail.
So I started covering his feet and legs with vasoline. My good foot soak bucket got cracked, and he’s not really been compliant enough to use any other means for a leg soak, so I haven’t done an Epsom salt soak yet.
No noticeable sign of a bumble or wound on either toe, but I think it’s getting worst. These photos are from 5/17 and they’re more swollen in spite of the vasoline applications. So if it’s not SLM, what else might it be?
In researching, I read something about frostbite. But the only cold snap we had was 4 months ago. And I read that the nail usually comes off. His nails seem fine, but the source of the swelling seems to be the end of the toe with the nail. No swelling in the shanks or other toes. Their coop got down to the upper teens (Fahrenheit) a few times over the winter but never colder. No sign of frostbite on other birds or on large combs.
Does this look like SLM for anyone who’s dealt with it before? Or does annyone have any ideas what else this could be or other ways to treat?
I do plan to try epsom salt soaks again… I just haven’t had success yet.
ETA coop info- he roosts on a 2x4 above a “poop tray.” Bedding in the coop is deep pine shavings. The run is sand on one side and dirt/bare ground on the other (the sand washed away from the upper half… will be adding mulch once the run expansion is completed). Poop tray and run are scooped every 1-3 days.
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