Tender swollen feet

[fowltemptress]

I was advised to start a new thread on this to get more responses. I have a bantam cochin pullet . . . I'm waiting for my first egg from her any day now. For the past week she's been walking funny. She steps very gingerly, and the pad of her feet seem swollen. Everything I search about this leads me to bumble foot, except that she has no sign of redness and absolutely no scab. The feet look perfectly healthy and intact, other than the slight swelling. She eats and drinks normally, and still scratches for bugs, though, again, more gingerly than she normally would. I scoop the poop from the coop she shares with three other pullets daily, and they have access to the entire yard all day long. Their roost is very low, not much more than a foot off the floor, so there wouldn't be much impact from jumping. We just bought a house and there is no budget for taking chickens to a vet, and honestly, I'd avoid a vet even if I had the budget unless I thought this was something serious that could spread. Everything about her is normal except for the discomfort in her feet.

I was wondering if it could be early bumble foot? Or is there a type of bumble foot that doesn't develop a scab? We have moved to a new house, so could this be an allergic reaction to something new in her environment? We had a chemical plant burn down a few days ago that covered the town in a slightly toxic smoke, but we were on the edge of the evacuation zone and the chemical's main danger was to the respiratory system . . . I highly doubt that had anything to do with this. Would soaking her feet in epsom salts help her at all? I've read something about gout in chickens, but I'm not clear on the symptoms of that.

Thanks for any help. I know not wanting to take a chicken to the vet will automatically knock out some good advice, and I'm sorry for that. I'll appreciate it if no one tells me I shouldn't own chickens if I can't afford a vet visit. I love my chickens, and I hope to never generate doubt about that.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

I raised chickens 60 yrs and never did I take a chicken to a vet
so don't apoligize for that

I would say try the soaking the feet in warn epsom salts water
at least 5 tbsp per 1/2 gallon of water

I would say it is some kind of poison to the system from a chemical

I would definitely give the chickens a wet mash probiotic with vit's

HERE IS WHAT I WOULD DO

l there are two things with swollen legs and feet
1. is Bumble foot All birds Cuts or bruises on foot pad allow entrance of organisms. Lameness, swollen foot, scab on foot pad. P-Avoid high roosts, sharp litter. T-Open abscess with sharp knife, remove pus, paint with iodine or sulfa ointment.
with bumblr foot it means the chicken came down on his feet hard on something sharp
and caused a bruise
thus they say to cut the area on the pad of the foot and take out pus
THIS IS NOT YOUR TROUBLE

#2
there can be some scaley leg mites also that cuase swollen legs
NOT YOUR PROBLEM

now in actuality
I would think that the bird has some kind of vit'min deficiency AND CHEMICAL ON THE FOOT AREA
AFTER PUTTING FEET IN WARM EPSOM SALTS WATER
DO THIS

I would get some wet mash and make a probiotic
FOR ONE BIRD multiply by the amt of birds feed this
I would feed it to all the birds
wet mash probiotic
3 tbsp of dry feed
3 ybsp of milk
1 tbsp of yoguart

in this put some vit's

(1) Vit D 500 ,g crushed and add to the wet mash( this is for the arthritic problem caused by the swollen feet)
(2) Vit E 1-1000 mg ct the tip off the capsule and add it to the wet mash
(3) Vit B complex crush and add to the wet mash

(4) a diuretic is necessary to take off the fluid and salt from the chickens body
take two strong Cranberry tablets and crush and put in the wet mash
Mix all good and put 1 tbsp of apple sauce onver the wet mash probiotic so the chicken eats this

do this twice a day for two weeks
then three times a week and then if better do it once a week for some time

the birds body and gut flora and its nervous system should be healed

the cranberry is very important so go to walmart in vitamin's dept and buy cranberry tablets

I think the bird will come around fine

keep me posted as to how long it takes to clean her up

email with any questions

 

[purpletree23]

I agree with Glenda. Not everyone can afford a vet ( or want to take a chicken to a vet) and if someone on this forum can't be nice then they should find something else to do.

Anyway....You might want to make her an open sided box with bedding on the floor so she doesn't have to jump up on the roost for a few days. Make sure she doesn't have to walk too far for food or water and check on her feet a few times a day. Maybe something is starting that you just can't see yet. Other than that I'm stumped.

Keep us posted and you are a wonderful chicken owner doing the best you can.

 

[Judy]

What is her bedding? It's possible she has developed an allergy to it. I'd put her on a towel for a few days then try something different, just on the off chance. I'm also suspicious of the chemical spill, though.

Yes, there are people on here who get indignant if you say no vet, but I'd say the majority also avoid vets for chickens, at least as a rule. And flaming you for that would be inappropriate and against the rules. Not that it couldn't happen, of course. No need to apologize, anyway.