CONDITIONS THAT AFFECTS A CHICKENS LEGS, TOES AND CLAWS

In Part 3 of our Health and Well Being of the Chicken, Flock series was about conditions that affected a chicken’s feathers.

In Part 4 we are going to take a look at some of the conditions that affect the chicken’s legs, feet and claws

If you are a first-time flock owner, looking to become one or even a seasoned one have a read at some of our articles. There is something of benefit for everyone on our site.

CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT THE LEGS, TOES AND CLAWS

Swollen Joints

If you chicken shows no signs of a physical injury like cuts or bruises or broken bones but has hot, painful, swollen joints chances are that it may be a bacterial infection.
This could be caused by either Mycoplasma gallisepticum or MG. It could also be Infectious Synovitis or MS. They sign and symptoms for each are similar

Signs and Symptoms:

Lameness
Warm swollen joints and mainly, hocks and footpads
Coughing
Swelling of the face
Less appetite
Egg production will decrease and or will stop completely
They will have a nasal discharge
They may also have a watery eye discharge

Treatment:

As they are hard to determine they chicken that exhibits these signs must be taken to the vet.
If they have either of these bacterial infection chances are it will spread through the flock.
The vet will put the chicken on the best course of treatment
Isolate the infected chicken(s) from the flock for the required amount of time as recommended by the animal caregiver
Ensure the Chicken(s) have food and water accessible to them.

Fractures

Chickens can be clumsy and do suffer fractures. Especially chickens that have some problems that may cause them to have weakened bones. Like chickens, a person may have rescued from a battery. These hens, in particular, suffer from a lot of deficiency as they lay a very high number of eggs which puts a strain on their bodies.
There are various ways a chicken’s bone can fracture and many, many different types of fractures. A chicken can fracture any bone in their body as any type of animal can.
A compound fracture is a fracture where the bone actually breaks through the skin.
A green dislocation is when the bone does not come through the skin but leaves a bruise

Signs and Symptoms:

Lameness
Pain when touching the injury
Swelling
Bruising
The chicken will not try to stand or move
The chicken cannot put any weight on the injury
For a compound fracture, you will basically see an open wound
Bleeding

Treatment:

The chicken should immediately be removed from the rest of the flock
Any break injury needs to be treated by a vet
Depending on the severity or angle of the break the bird may require surgery
The bird usually needs a form of rehabilitation/Physiotherapy
It is important to keep the chicken away from the rest of the flock until it is completely healed.

Scaly legs

A chicken’s legs are usually smooth and have a basic sheen to them. Their scales like tight and flat against their legs.
Scaly legs are caused by a burrowing mite that gets under the scales of a chicken’s legs and feet. They are so tiny that sometimes they are hard to detect until they have formed rough scales on the chicken’s legs and feet.
These mites can cause other more serious bacterial and tissue inflammation.
They are introduced into the flock by rodents, wild birds or can be living in the soil in the garden.

Signs and Symptoms:

Lameness
Raised scales on the legs and feet
Crusty, flaky peeling scales
Swelling of the face
Can cause a deformity of the legs, feet and claws.

Treatment:

They mites need to be suffocated in order to kill them
There are many kinds of paraffin or topical oil-based products on the market or easily obtainable through your vet.
If they have not progressed to a more serious phase you can use something like Vaseline on the chicken’s leg. Vaseline also tends to encourage the scales to grow.
If they have either of these bacterial infection chances are it will spread through the flock.
The vet will put the chicken on the best course of treatment
Isolate the infected chicken(s) from the flock for the required amount of time as recommended by the animal caregiver
Ensure the Chicken(s) have food and water accessible to them.

Bumble Foot

Usually, this infection is caused by a bacterium known as Staphylococcus aureus. But it can also be caused by other bacteria such as Streptococcus, E. coli sp., Actinomyces sp., Candida sp. and a few others.
Bumblefoot is also known as pododermatitis and footpad dermatitis. It is an inflammation and or degradation of the bird’s foot. It is graded in 5 different stages of infection severity.
Bumblefoot is quite common in birds that are kept in any type of an enclosure or captivity in general. This condition can be likened to that of bed sores in humans.
It is contracted by the bird putting constant, uneven and excessive pressure on their feet. If they are constantly on the wet muddy ground this can cause the skin to become moist and soften. Eventually, with the constant pressure, the skin is broken open, much like that of a blister on a human’s foot. Once the skin is open it becomes a prime target for bacterial infections to invade and infest right to the tender inner tissues of the chicken’s foot/feet.

Signs and Symptoms:

Early signs there may be a tiny lesion on the base of the foot/feet
A rough abrasion or mild discoloration
Dark color scab on the underside of the chicken’s foot/feet
Lameness and or limping
Depression
Swelling
Loss of appetite
You may notice a change in the bird behavior
They will not want to move or put pressure on the infected foot

Severity Grades of Bumblefoot:

Severity Grade 1

Not infected but there is reddened shiny surface or a little lesion on the underside of the chicken’s foot.

Treatment Grade 1

This is easier to treat and may only require a topical cream, a few environmental changes to the ground upon which the chickens are walking.
A good foot soaks for the chicken in warm water with some Epsom salts in.
It is, however, advisable even at this stage to separate the chicken from the flock.
Make sure it is in a clean, dry environment with plenty of fresh water and a warm, well-ventilated place in order to aid its recovery.
Bandage with medial honey or some other topical cream advised by the vet.
The Vet may give a neoprene shoe, suggest a gauze wrap or vetwrap.

Severity Grade 2

The foot has become infected in the underlying tissues that are directly beneath the opened skin. At this stage that is only slight swelling.

Treatment Grade 2

The vet will advise pretty much the same treatment, albeit a little more aggressive, than with Grade 1.
It is, however, advisable even at this stage to separate the chicken from the flock.
Make sure it is in a clean, dry environment with plenty of fresh water and a warm, well-ventilated place in order to aid its recovery.
The chicken will be set to have a bandage with some anti-infection/anti-biotic topical cream and may give medicine to help with the inflammation.
They may give a neoprene shoe, suggest a gauze wrap or vetwrap.

Severity Grade 3

Is more severe at this stage the food has developed an abscess.
Be sure that the infected bird is kept on its own until it has fully recovered.

Treatment Grade 3

This is a serious infection for the chicken and it will probably need constant medical care until the abscess has been completely healed.The chicken will need antibiotics and to have the abscess drained
There are various treatments and therapies that the vet will use at this stage.
The vet will also discuss the management of the wound and the best environmental changes for the garden/coop/run.

Severity Grade 4

This is a very serve stage of the condition. At this stage, the chicken may start to show signs of other conditions such as arthritis, osteomyelitis or tenosynovitis.
Be sure that the infected bird is kept on its own until it has fully recovered.

Treatment Grade 3

The wound is considered to be chronic at this stage and may or may not need surgery.
It is very likely that the vet will keep the bird at the clinic for pre-operation and or post operation until they are happy that the entire infection has cleared.
At this stage there could be some side effects to the conditions such as a deformity of the foot and or claws, they may be a bit of lameness or some loss of foot function.

Severity Grade 5

Usually at this stage, it is very likely that the bird will have loss of function to its leg and severe deformity.

Treatment Grade 5

The vet may suggest an operation or a few operations.
The vet will discuss the various option available to the owner at this stage. It may be heartbreaking, or they may be able to do something for the chicken.
The best is to try and detect the condition early so it does not get to this crippling stage.

Treatment:

If caught early enough a good foot soak in warm water with some Epsom salts or even some Chamomile tea
Ensure you tend to the wound at least once a day
All dressings must be kept clean
The bird should be confined to a clean, warm and well-ventilated sick bay coop
Ensure the bird is getting all the nutrients and nourishment they need
Keep fresh water for it at all times
Follow the management protocols the vet has advised
Keep the chicken away from the rest of the flock until it is fully recovered
Investigate the environment the chickens are walking around on and see where and or how you can implement changes to avoid more outbreaks of the condition.

Rickets

Rickets is not a disease that can spread from one chicken to another. It also usually only affects baby chicks.
It is caused by a nutrient deficiency specifically that of Vitamin D3, Calcium and Phosphorus.

Signs and Symptoms:

Chicks with rickets usually have a pliable beak which is very soft
They have a stiff gait
They are unable to lift their little bodies up
Bad leg deformities
Stunted growth
Soft brittle bones

Treatment:

It is better to prevent rickets than try to treat it.
Change a chicken’s diet
Unless a person absolutely knows how to it is best to buy good quality nutritional food that is already mixed and not try mix your own brand.
The chickens will need about 3 times the recommended dosage of Vitamin D. There are water-soluble Vitamin D3 solutions available that is easy to administer.
Expose them to sunlight for an hour or two every day.
If possible move their broody box to a place that is exposed to sunlight for a good portion of the day. But ensure there are still adequate shady, cool spots for them to retreat to.

Curled Toe (paralysis)

Curled Toe paralysis also known as Riboflavin Deficiency or Hypovitaminosis B2 is another vitamin deficiency sign in young chickens.This is a deficiency of riboflavin or vitamin B2 which causes the chick’s toes to curl.
The lack of the vitamin causes nerve damage to the peripheral nerve due to the degeneration of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the nerve can be found at the back of the chicken’s leg. This nerve runs down the chicken’s leg to its foot.
A lot of chicks are born with this condition especially ones that are born from parent chickens that are deficient in vitamin B2.

Signs and Symptoms:

Perosis
Curled Toes
Try to walk on their wings
Growth is slower than normal
They are weak
They sit on their hocks
They try now to stand or walk
Diarrhea
Incoordination

Treatment:

Always isolate chicks/chickens that are not well or exhibit behavior that could indicate that they are not well or weak
Change the chicken’s diet
Use good quality nutritionally balanced feed
Splint the feet to try restoring the natural form of the foot/feet.
If the birds have diarrhea administer treatment according to a vet or a herbal remedy if you have dealt with this condition successfully previously.
Administer a bigger dose of Vitamin B complex. Once again unless you have successfully dealt with this condition it is best to seek the advice of a vet as to dosages, etc.
Make sure they are getting the needed amount of vitamin B2 in their diet.

END OF PART 4

This is the end of Part 4 of our “Health and Wellbeing of the chicken Flock” series.

Part 5 of the series will discuss conditions that affect the Skin.