The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Doodle777]

Hi all!
I am new to BYC and chickens in general. Someone apparently dumped a Rooster on our land. I
When I was finally able to catch him, he was pretty beat up! Missing a ton of feathers, had large scabs on his skin and was very dehydrated.
That was about a month and a half ago. He seems to be doing really well now.
I am trying to go all natural with him. He gets organic food and organic fresh greens and herbs.
My question is, does anyone have any idea as to what is going on with his feet / legs? I'm pretty sure it's not scaly leg mites as I have been painting them with EVOO. Tonight I soaked them in warm water and put a ton of bag balm on them.
He is such a nice Rooster. I named him Doodle. He sits and even falls asleep in my lap sometimes.
I would really really appreciate any suggestions as to what it is and how to treat naturally.
Thank you in advance.

 

[MumsyII]

Hi all!
I am new to BYC and chickens in general. Someone apparently dumped a Rooster on our land. I
When I was finally able to catch him, he was pretty beat up! Missing a ton of feathers, had large scabs on his skin and was very dehydrated.
That was about a month and a half ago. He seems to be doing really well now.
I am trying to go all natural with him. He gets organic food and organic fresh greens and herbs.
My question is, does anyone have any idea as to what is going on with his feet / legs? I'm pretty sure it's not scaly leg mites as I have been painting them with EVOO. Tonight I soaked them in warm water and put a ton of bag balm on them.
He is such a nice Rooster. I named him Doodle. He sits and even falls asleep in my lap sometimes.
I would really really appreciate any suggestions as to what it is and how to treat naturally.
Thank you in advance.

Hello Doodle.

You are a kind person to give this cockerel a chance at life. I don't know what is wrong with his feet but my first reaction to this image is injury. As if he was tossed from a car and hit the pavement feet first. Or he was in a fight and lost. I would clean and soak them in epsom salt bath. This foot looks like it needs first aid treatment.

 

[Doodle777]

Thank you for the quick reply.
Both of his feet / legs look like this. Do you think it could possibly be hormones?
I will go out first thing in the morning and get Epsom salt. Is there anything else I can get to help?
It just looks like it must be very uncomfortable! I just want him to feel better and have a happy life! I can only imagine what he has been through!
Here is a picture of Doodle.

 

[loveourbirds]

it looks to me like he has some sort of infection on the top side of his foot. look for a scab that might need to be opened. as far as antibiotics, maybe penicillin - i dont think any of the water soluble will work. looking at the bottom pad of his foot, it looks like he may have had bumble foot in the past (2 dark spots on pad, may just be dirt).

 

[Doodle777]

After I soaked his feet in warm water tonight, I checked the bottom of his feet and didn't see any sores or wounds. Where can I get penicillin.
I just took this picture. There is a lot of bag balm on them.

 

[loveourbirds]

you can get penicillin from most feed stores, or tsc, rural king etc.

in the picture, on the left foot is there a lump between the middle toe and the last toe showing?

 

[armorfirelady]

Thank you for the quick reply.

Both of his feet / legs look like this. Do you think it could possibly be hormones?
I will go out first thing in the morning and get Epsom salt. Is there anything else I can get to help?
It just looks like it must be very uncomfortable! I just want him to feel better and have a happy life! I can only imagine what he has been through!
Here is a picture of Doodle.

Well his comb appears to be red. I agree something like an injury perhaps you cant see or maybe an infection with his feet that red. Normally roosters have pink in between their toes or some on their pads when their hormones are going but nothing that red. I would give him garlic and oregano. Both are good for their health and oregano is suppose to be a natural antibiotic. I would continue to soak his feet daily in the epsom salts and put nustock on his legs.

 

[Doodle777]

I just took a bunch more pictures so that maybe you can get a better view.

I can't figure out how to put more than one on at a time though. Ugh!

 

[Doodle777]

Another picture.

 

[loveourbirds]

if there is infection is more than likely in the boxed area, probably lower, but maybe higher on the leg. - again i am no expert here, just trying to help.