What to do with this foot?

[MissChick@dee]

You are going to likely need to do several soaks in warm epsom salts to try to loosen up some of that build up. If you don't have epsom salts you can use dish washing liquid in warm water to soak. Remove gently what you can after each soak, don't force it off or you will likely do more damage to the skin. Between soaks apply any kind of vegetable oil (I personally like castor oil) and work it in to any remaining raised scales, and then cover that with vaseline. Using a SOFT toothbrush gently may help. The oil will probably help soften some of that also. Once they are all cleaned up you will need to keep applying the oil/vaseline a couple of times a week until the scales start to look normal again, this may take quite a while. She may possibly lose a couple of toe parts, depends on how it looks once it's cleaned up. She can adapt to that. Some of those toe nails also need to be trimmed, she will be more comfortable. If she's low weight that might be contributing to the shivering. Hopefully you can get some weight on her. If she can't stand then you may try a chicken sling for periods to help keep her upright and able to eat and drink, some examples below. If you have some poultry nutri drench I would give her some of that also.
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Loving the dog crate sling!

 

[Cyprus]

You can give her 5 baby aspirin diluted in 1 gal of water for painkiller

 

[Eggcessive]

You might want to give the castor oil a try at some point. It is less messy, may only need to apply it less often once healing starts, is anti-inflammatory and promotes tissue growth. You can find it in larger bottles sometimes.

 

[Kris5902]

Thank you all for the help, and lack of judgemental comments! I’m new to the farm as of last year, this is what I came into and have been trying to improve. I really appreciate all the support and information I’m getting. You’re helping me make life better for these chickens.

I thought the mites were well under control and treated when I started my own chickens, thinking they would be ok. Today I realized how wrong I was! I should’ve known better with how the chickens were when I got here.

Going forward I will personally be checking these girls daily as well, until I can get them full time in my care... I’ll just have to maintain separate clothes and shower well between them and my girls at the other end of our property! And time to reinstate chicken pedicures for the other girls in this coop as well.

Due to the lice, mites, and who knows what else, once a chicken goes into this coop it’s not going to leave this group... I’m trying to improve their husbandry, but I don’t want to risk infecting my new girls/boys in the process.

Again thank you ALL! I’ve never seen a foot this bad before and just panicked! I mean the poor thing lost a TOE FFS!!! And no one noticed anything was wrong here??? OMG

 

[Eggcessive]

I have noticed that most chickens may have healthy legs, but there can be one or two sickly birds who can get legs mites. It could be because those birds do not dust bathe, or have some underlying problem.

 

[coach723]

When scaly leg mites get really bad the build up of gunk can actually cause loss of circulation, it's just really hard and gets tight just like when mud balls build up, which is probably what happened to those toes. Best of luck with her, and with time and care hopefully she will recover well.

 

[ShannonR]

Are you treating only the obviously effected birds in that coop for the leg mites, or the whole flock? I have had good luck treating the entire flock, whether or not they look like they need it. More work, but less repeating the work in the long run. Oiling wood surfaces inside the coop as well as the chicken legs and feet can help a bunch too, same with cleaning all the bedding out. I know some will cringe at the idea, but used motor oil can be put to good use for chicken coops.

 

[Fishkeeper]

That's a horrific infestation. Get the strongest anti-mite stuff you can find that's suitable here.
For any who have a mild infestation, or a suspect infestation, slather their legs in vaseline/petrolium jelly. A thick layer, at least a millimeter everywhere, applied stroking against how the scales lay so it goes up under them. Repeat every day for a few days, and that will smother the mites. If that's not practical, go with something chemical, but for minor cases it's always worth trying something gentler.

 

[ShannonR]

That's a horrific infestation. Get the strongest anti-mite stuff you can find that's suitable here.
For any who have a mild infestation, or a suspect infestation, slather their legs in vaseline/petrolium jelly. A thick layer, at least a millimeter everywhere, applied stroking against how the scales lay so it goes up under them. Repeat every day for a few days, and that will smother the mites. If that's not practical, go with something chemical, but for minor cases it's always worth trying something gentler.

You know what I was thinking? What about using the normal oil/grease on their legs, and mixing some Ivermectrin pour on wormer into the oil? That would do a better job than the oil alone, while also treating other external or internal creepy crawlies. I do think that this is a case where I'd break out the big guns.... this type of wormer is oil based and should mix up well. Just an idea.

 

[Kris5902]

I have noticed that most chickens may have healthy legs, but there can be one or two sickly birds who can get legs mites. It could be because those birds do not dust bathe, or have some underlying problem.

All the older birds have it, to varying degrees of severity... they don’t really have access to a decent dust bath. They are 11 birds confined full time in a 6x5 foot coop, no run or outside access. There isn’t floor space, so I added a raised dusting box, but they roost in it because they don’t have enough roost space either. She was hiding under it when I saw her. Again, not my birds and I’m trying to help them as best I can!

Are you treating only the obviously effected birds in that coop for the leg mites, or the whole flock. Oiling wood surfaces inside the coop as well as the chicken legs and feet can help a bunch too, same with cleaning all the bedding out.

I was treating the entire flock religiously this summer, and it looked like the problem was gone. The coop was cleaned out as well as possible, but it’s ancient and there’s just no way to totally sanitize it enough. Nor will the owner put that much effort in. She really isn’t fond of chickens, just eggs.

That's a horrific infestation. Get the strongest anti-mite stuff you can find that's suitable here.
For any who have a mild infestation, or a suspect infestation, slather their legs in vaseline/petrolium jelly.

There are major issues getting pesticides and medications here right now, due to a shortage of vets that will treat livestock and changes to our regulations on them. And yes the infestation is awful, She’s also covered in lice, well... we both were by the time I was done soaking her poor little feet (so crawlie and gross!).

I just treated her today, but I will be getting everyone in the coop done in the next couple of days. I was just shocked and horrified at the state of her and wanted to make sure the way I had proceeded before was still the best. I’ve never seen anything this bad before. Some of the built up scales peeled off a bit, but she started to bleed near one of her toenails. I blu koted it well. I’m pretty sure she’s going to lose a few more toe joints.