Swollen Shanks: Lameness or Infection?

[21hens-incharge]

OP stands for original poster. In this case that would be you @pinerchicken.

Pretty sure Azygous knows that clicking enlarges the pic.
When a small pic is displayed it gets blurry when expanded for many folks.


Please understand that we are trying to help you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have been feeding the same I fed the other 30 birds that are doing just fine. Doubt it would be the feed.

That's great! If you feel like feed is not a problem, then you can rule out too much calcium (usually from feeding layer feed), protein, sodium, D3 and A just to name a few things in excess that can cause some leg issues.

With chickens, sometimes it's very hard to determine the cause of an ailment, so you start trying to rule out common causes - so if nutrition isn't the problem, then you move on to disease as suggested in earlier posts or he may have some type of genetic defect or leg bone deformity. Contacting your state vet diagnostic lab http://cahfs.ucdavis.edu/
or an avian vet that treats poultry will give you better answers.

 

[pinerchicken]

As Wyorp Rock posted, that appears to possibly be osteopetrosis or marble leg disease. It is a type of lymphoid leukosis, a virus that chickens get that causes tumors and poor immunity. The osteopetrosis type is rare, so not a lot of current info about it. Signs are hard, enlarged legs, but normal sized feet.

Thank you so much. I'll do some research on it although it doesn't sound like there is a cure.

 

[pinerchicken]

OP stands for original poster. In this case that would be you @pinerchicken.

Pretty sure Azygous knows that clicking enlarges the pic.
When a small pic is displayed it gets blurry when expanded for many folks.


Please understand that we are trying to help you.

Ah ha. OP makes sense. Does it get blurry when you zoom in? It doesn't for me but I'm happy to go post again.

 

[pinerchicken]

That's great! If you feel like feed is not a problem, then you can rule out too much calcium (usually from feeding layer feed), protein, sodium, D3 and A just to name a few things in excess that can cause some leg issues.

With chickens, sometimes it's very hard to determine the cause of an ailment, so you start trying to rule out common causes - so if nutrition isn't the problem, then you move on to disease as suggested in earlier posts or he may have some type of genetic defect or leg bone deformity. Contacting your state vet diagnostic lab http://cahfs.ucdavis.edu/
or an avian vet that treats poultry will give you better answers.

Yes, it's a trial and error like any problem solving
The reason I don't think it is the feed is because these are pasture birds. Feed is more of a supplement to them rather then their main diet I would say.
Before I go to any doctor I like doing my homework so I can actually carry a conversation. It was suggested Osteosporosis so I'll investigate on that. Do you guys have any other suggestions as far as what disease could be causing it?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Ah ha. OP makes sense. Does it get blurry when you zoom in? It doesn't for me but I'm happy to go post again.

It depends on if I am on my desktop or my kindle. On the desktop it gets really blurry.

I am certainly not as knowledgeable as the people I tagged into this thread so them being able to see clearly is WAY more important.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, it's a trial and error like any problem solving
The reason I don't think it is the feed is because these are pasture birds. Feed is more of a supplement to them rather then their main diet I would say.
Before I go to any doctor I like doing my homework so I can actually carry a conversation. It was suggested Osteosporosis so I'll investigate on that. Do you guys have any other suggestions as far as what disease could be causing it?

I'm not being "snarky" at all, but if you do consult a vet, then use the correct spelling, it's
Osteopetrosis What you have written is Osteosporosis which is commonly known as "layer fatigue" in terms of poultry. 2 vastly different things.

It's wonderful you are able to pasture your birds.

I don't really have any other suggestions - leg bone deformities are usually not quite as "uniform" and gout is mainly seen as swelling of the feet. In your photos the feet look quite "normal", it's just the shanks. Mycoplasma Synoviae affects the legs, but the hocks and foot pads would both be swollen- hocks would most likely have lesions or watery blisters.

I hope you are able to find out what exactly this is, not only for your benefit, but if would be most helpful for us to learn from as well.

 

[pinerchicken]

I'm not being "snarky" at all, but if you do consult a vet, then use the correct spelling, it's
Osteopetrosis What you have written is Osteosporosis which is commonly known as "layer fatigue" in terms of poultry. 2 vastly different things.

It's wonderful you are able to pasture your birds.

I don't really have any other suggestions - leg bone deformities are usually not quite as "uniform" and gout is mainly seen as swelling of the feet. In your photos the feet look quite "normal", it's just the shanks. Mycoplasma Synoviae affects the legs, but the hocks and foot pads would both be swollen- hocks would most likely have lesions or watery blisters.

I hope you are able to find out what exactly this is, not only for your benefit, but if would be most helpful for us to learn from as well.

I definitely misunderstood when somebody first suggested "Osteopetrosis" (never heard of it). I'll keep you all posted after the vet visit.

 

[aart]

I definitely misunderstood when somebody first suggested "Osteopetrosis" (never heard of it).

Me too...love the highlight and right click to search google on Chrome.