Toes stiff, wont bend

[Sheriloo3]

Hey all!
I did some searching before posting, to see if I could find the answer to my issue, but I didn't come across anything that was quite right, or maybe I wasn't asking the right question?

Anyway, I have a bunch of little birds (D'uccle/Serama mix). They have all decided that their preferred roosting spot is on the barn rafters, which are 8ft high. I have tried making roosts lower for them but the big birds take them and they don't seem to be interested in them anyway. I have never had a problem with them roosting up there, but I fear one of my hens may have been injured recently and I'm not sure how to help any more than I already am.
About 2 weeks ago, I went to the barn to tuck everyone in for the night and noticed one of the littles stirring all by herself on the bench we have in the barn. This was out of the ordinary, as they all roosting up high but she was not. I didn't think much of it, until the next day when I went in to feed them and saw a bunch of the littles in the corner of the barn. This seemed odd to me, as they all always come running when I come in with food, knowing I also have treats.

As I walked closer, some of them scattered and I saw this little lady stumbling and tripping over her feet. I scooped her up and brought her inside to investigate. No obvious signs of injury, no cuts, scrapes, abrasions of any kind. Nothing felt hot or was discolored. Nothing appeared broken or out of place.

She limps and keeps her right leg up to her body, obviously favoring that one. When I look at her feet, I can see a good amount of scale loss. It doesn't appear to be mite related, but I can't be sure I guess. The toes on that foot also don't bend, at all. I press on them to try and make them move and they are stiff as tooth picks. Thr little "thumb" toe seems to work ok, but the others don't move at all.

I have been giving her about a quarter of a baby aspirin for about 1.5 weeks. She seems to move around a little better after that but is still quite lame. Today, I forgot to give her the meds and I csn see an obvious difference in her mobility. She isn't using that leg at all and is hopping to get from point A to B.

She eats and drinks totally fine, color is good, eyes are clear, and she doesn't seem to be in any distress, aside from walking.

Did she just sprain her leg or foot and it will take a while for it to fully heal? Could she have broken those toes or maybe gotten frostbite (it's spring now but the Temps do dip down overnight still)?

Am I doing all I can do or should I be adding more vitamins or supplements for faster healing?

Thoughts?

Thank in advance!!

Sheri

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Can you post some photos of her toes and foot?

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Can you post some photos of her toes and foot?

Agreed pics would help

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you post any pictures of the feet? Frostbite can be common if a foot gets wet in freezing temps or if they roost on something metal.

 

[Sheriloo3]

Hey all!
I did some searching before posting, to see if I could find the answer to my issue, but I didn't come across anything that was quite right, or maybe I wasn't asking the right question?

Anyway, I have a bunch of little birds (D'uccle/Serama mix). They have all decided that their preferred roosting spot is on the barn rafters, which are 8ft high. I have tried making roosts lower for them but the big birds take them and they don't seem to be interested in them anyway. I have never had a problem with them roosting up there, but I fear one of my hens may have been injured recently and I'm not sure how to help any more than I already am.
About 2 weeks ago, I went to the barn to tuck everyone in for the night and noticed one of the littles stirring all by herself on the bench we have in the barn. This was out of the ordinary, as they all roosting up high but she was not. I didn't think much of it, until the next day when I went in to feed them and saw a bunch of the littles in the corner of the barn. This seemed odd to me, as they all always come running when I come in with food, knowing I also have treats.

As I walked closer, some of them scattered and I saw this little lady stumbling and tripping over her feet. I scooped her up and brought her inside to investigate. No obvious signs of injury, no cuts, scrapes, abrasions of any kind. Nothing felt hot or was discolored. Nothing appeared broken or out of place.

She limps and keeps her right leg up to her body, obviously favoring that one. When I look at her feet, I can see a good amount of scale loss. It doesn't appear to be mite related, but I can't be sure I guess. The toes on that foot also don't bend, at all. I press on them to try and make them move and they are stiff as tooth picks. Thr little "thumb" toe seems to work ok, but the others don't move at all.

I have been giving her about a quarter of a baby aspirin for about 1.5 weeks. She seems to move around a little better after that but is still quite lame. Today, I forgot to give her the meds and I csn see an obvious difference in her mobility. She isn't using that leg at all and is hopping to get from point A to B.

She eats and drinks totally fine, color is good, eyes are clear, and she doesn't seem to be in any distress, aside from walking.

Did she just sprain her leg or foot and it will take a while for it to fully heal? Could she have broken those toes or maybe gotten frostbite (it's spring now but the Temps do dip down overnight still)?

Am I doing all I can do or should I be adding more vitamins or supplements for faster healing?

Thoughts?

Thank in advance!!

Sheri

Adding some photos for reference. I've labeled them as "injured" and "not injured", so you can better see which one she is not using at the moment. Both of them look funky with the scales peeling but as I took the pics from different angles, I also noticed that the injured foot seems to be much skinnier than the other. It look almost atrophied to me, now that I'm seeing it from a different angle. The skin underneath the peeling scales looks very clean and healthy to me, so im hoping that is the case.

I wonder if it is possible that it was frostbitten or inured at some point and she just didn't really have too much of an issue with it till the toes stopped bending? It's just strange to me. There's is nothing jumping out at me in terms of a leg or foot injury, other than the appearance of the scales and now the skinny toes.

 

[Sheriloo3]

Can you post any pictures of the feet? Frostbite can be common if a foot gets wet in freezing temps or if they roost on something metal.

Added some pics. Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[Sheriloo3]

Can you post some photos of her toes and foot?

Added some pics, thank you for any help you might be able to provide.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I have a question about the left foot you say is Not injured. The two inner toes appear to be swollen just above the "line" where the lower blue/black toe color changes to white/pink. Are those two toes swollen, or is the photo misleading? Did you try to bend all the toes on the left foot?

Your suspicion that frostbite is the reason for her stiff toes (and pain) is likely correct. The fact the toes appear "atrophied" to you is another clue. Frostbite damage often takes a few weeks to visually show up, so no surprise you are just now noticing. Keep giving the baby aspirin, and in addition daily epsom salt soaks can be very soothing.

She will almost definitely lose her right stiff toes. Before they detach, you will notice the healthy tissue above the dead toes will noticeably swell. (That is the reason I asked about the possible swelling on her left/"uninjured" foot.)

 

[Sheriloo3]

I have a question about the left foot you say is Not injured. The two inner toes appear to be swollen just above the "line" where the lower blue/black toe color changes to white/pink. Are those two toes swollen, or is the photo misleading? Did you try to bend all the toes on the left foot?

Your suspicion that frostbite is the reason for her stiff toes (and pain) is likely correct. The fact the toes appear "atrophied" to you is another clue. Frostbite damage often takes a few weeks to visually show up, so no surprise you are just now noticing. Keep giving the baby aspirin, and in addition daily epsom salt soaks can be very soothing.

She will almost definitely lose her right stiff toes. Before they detach, you will notice the healthy tissue above the dead toes will noticeably swell. (That is the reason I asked about the possible swelling on her left/"uninjured" foot.)

That is interesting and very helpful. The pictures may be a little misleading on the uninjured foot but I will most certainly take a second look tomorrow to confirm that. She has already put herself to bed in the crate so I don't want to disturb her. Haha!

As for the peeling scales, would that also be a result of frostbite? The skin underneath looks nice and healthy, so I assume it's just sloughing off the dead stuff now, but I'm curious if the scales will come back normal after?

I do have Epsom salt and will try the soaking starting tomorrow to see if that helps at all. If she loses those toes, what is the likelihood that she will be mobile enough to be out with the main flock? Will she just be a house chicken forever?

Honestly, I have had a few different "house chickens", some for a short time, some for months and months. Of all of them, she is the most amazing! She doesn't poo in her crate, at all! She waits till I let her out in the morning, goes to a little towel I have for her on the floor, leaves a giant pile, then goes to eat and drink. Then, she typically sits at my feet under my desk (I work from home) for the rest of the day. She only goes to the bathroom on the towel and puts herself to bed in the evening when the sun goes down. She is a housebroken bird for sure!!

I just want to make sure that once this process is finished, and she loses the toes, will she continue to be in pain? Will she be able to rejoin the flock? Will she live a normal life? I would hate to put her down but if it means saving her from a painful life that is not well lived, then I wonder if it might be the best idea?

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Yes the sloughing scales on the healthy tissue are completely normal. The scales will grow back, but probably not until she molts again.

Once her toes detach and the remaining live tissue heals, she will not be in pain, and will be able to do most everything she could do before. (Except for the possible exception of roosting, depending on how many toes she loses.) You can decide if you think she needs extra wrapping/padding for better comfort and mobility once healing is complete.

There are several ongoing threads here on byc where chickens have lost their feet due to frostbite. Their healing and recovery is ongoing, but they are going to be fine.

This is the story of my hen who got frostbite in February 2021 and lost her feet last spring.

Thread 'Matilda is going to lose her feet. ' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/