Sore foot

Karen_H · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:20 pm

Hi All

I have an Isa Brown (I have had her about 3 years now, bought at auction so have no idea how old she actually is) that has a huge growth on her foot. She has had it about 6 months now. We read up on some stuff, cut a lot of the dead stuff away (a number of months ago and treated it with ebsolm salts and antiseptic etc, bandaged it to it healed). It was good for a while but it has now grown back and is bigger than before. She does not appear to be ill in any other way - her comb looks good, she eats and drinks well, hobbles around and flaps her wings for balance at times and is not being picked on by the others. It obviously bothers her a bit though as she often stands on the good leg. Does anyone have any idea what it could be or what we could do to help her?

I have put photos in the 'What's wrong' album.

Cheers

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:42 pm

Are they scaly leg mites?

I use olive oil or petroleum jelly as a preventative on my birds legs both caged and poultry, you can also get drops to treat them from your vet or perhaps the local stockfeed.

PS

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Looks like a growth of some sort, does it bleed when you rub it etc? When you cut if off last time did it come back in the same spot? Sounds as though its a type of tumor, you can try cutting it off as before but it may continue to grow back. It is an old age problem though. I wonder if you take it off again but keep her legs as clean as possible, I mean taking regular time to care for her legs ie moisturise (I know that sounds silly but we do it to show birds so that they have no scales on their legs) it might help slow down the regrowth? There is stuff we use on horses with proud flesh which eats away the flesh that is sticking out but I don't know if I'd recommend it for a chook, you'd have to cut some first then apply it and keep a really close eye.

Karen_H · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:20 pm

I think you are on the right track Sebducks - it does seem to be some sort of tumor. It did not bleed last time, had like a thick 'cheese' in it. We cut it back as far as we could until it was obvious it was too much for the poor dear. It has grown back in exactly the same spot. I think I will take your advice and clean it up, cut it back again etc and see how we go. I have got some of that stuff for the proud flesh - I know it is safe for dogs will check the info on the side and see if they mention poultry

Thanks again to both you and Hens and Hobbits for your replies :-D

OakA · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2011 7:48 am

Karen_H,
What you have is "scaly leg mite".
What you removed was the crusty residue where the mite has burrowed under the leg scales and left a yellowish spongy material.
If left untreated it will/can cause the legs to be permanently scared and at times the loss or deformity of toes etc.
It is easily treated with a fine oil (Goanna Oil is ideal) mixed with Malathion (any flea treatment for dogs that has MAL in it's name) at TICK strength, it penetrates deep to where the mite lives.
You may need to do a 2nd treatment in a couple of weeks to be sure.The treatment needs to be applied or the whole leg dipped in the remedy up to and just over the hocks (the whole scale covered leg area).
It is contagious, ie is passed to other birds in a pen or flock so it would be advisable to treat the rest as a preventative.
It is not life threatening but a persistant nuisance that makes life very uncomfortable and as said can result in permanent scaring of the scaled areas.
The single greatest cause of transmission is by a hen with it to chickens raised under her.
The use of just plain oil or petroleum jelly relies on it smothering the mite which is rarely of any use, you need an insecticide delivered to where they are living deep under the scales and to kill them.
The advantage of Malathion in fine oil is it penetrates deep and is readily available, cheap to say nothing of it being effective.

LOOLOO · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:11 pm

I put your other picture here for you Karen

Looks like scaly leg to me also but its look a little more swollen then I have seen before

LooLoo

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Even though my trio are my first chookies, I have always kept caged birds and it looks your hen has like a bad dose of scaly leg mites to me. Scaly Leg Mite can be cripplingly and I imagine quite painful for the hens who are suffering from it. Those dastardly leg mites burrow deep and cause great pain to the bird, please seek appropriate poultry treatment for them.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:36 pm

Hi, Karen_H,

I am not a poultry expert, but after many years of raising and keeping caged birds, in my most humble n00b opinion, they did look like a poultry version of Scaly Leg Mites. Please follow advice of those more experienced than I.

Hens and Hobbits

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

Hello KarenH, I found it hard to tell from the photo where the lump was , but two things stood out , as the other folk pointed out she is definitely suffering from a scaly leg mite infestation(Oaklands has covered the treatment well). The other thing that stood out was that she needs a manicure rather badly.
Regarding that lump that you mentioned, two things have been mentioned. A tumour and scaly leg. You say that you have cut it out previously , what did it look like?
Scaly leg mite infestation build up resembles a friable honeycomb substance whereas a tumour looks like a dry stringy like substance not disimilar to mozzerella cheese when it's pulled apart and has a rather strong smell.
I hope this helps

Karen_H · **Posted:** Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:46 pm

Thanks All - I haven't been on here for about a week and just saw your replies! I will definitely get something to treat it with as i can only imagine how annoying it must be

Yes, she and a couple of the others need a manicure too - it's a job for this afternoon when I get home from work. My 13 year old son will help me

The 'lump' when cut open before was like a thick light yellow substance, solidish but without a strong smell. Possibly an infection from the leg mites?

Again, thank you all for you help - it is much appreciated!!!!

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