Sores on my Polish Hen’s legs :(

[Frizzled-n-Sizzled]

I usually check my girls really good at least 2x a week... if not daily for anything odd. I noticied today one of my sweet polish hens had weird sores on her legs and the bottom of her feet had scabs the right foot was/is worse. I washed and soaked her legs in Epson salt, dawn antibacterial soap and as I was gently rubbing them and the scabs fell off... the one on the bottom of her foot it was bleeding a bit when scab came off. I thought it was bumblefoot, I looked closely and saw no pus under the scab… there was no smells… So I cleaned it (antibacterial soap, peroxide) then put Neosporin and blue kote on it (thus the blue legs in the pictures)... could this be bumblefoot? or scale mites? She is a clean girl and I do not visually see mites on her body. We are located in central Florida and the weather has been all over the place recently from wet from the hurricane and then cool and dry. However, our girls have a clean dry horse stall converted coop and an outdoor covered run (sandy).

A friend said I should lance the foot… but, I honestly don’t feel comfortable doing it at this point. I’m not even sure it is warranted or not a this point. Since there doesn’t seem to be any pus plug… Also, her legs do not feel hot.

 

[azygous]

The bumblefoot lesions do not appear serious enough to warrant surgery. The lesions on the legs mystify me. It looks like something, rodents perhaps, are nibbling on the leg scales at night. Could mice and rats be a problem in the barn?

Soaking each day for twenty minutes in warm Epsom salts and Betadine or other antiseptic cleanser would be what I would recommend. When dry, coat the legs and feet with coconut oil or castor oil. But if you have rodents, this may make the legs even more appetizing. If you suspect rodents are running wild at night in the barn, probably Blu-cote would be safer, although it dries out the tissues, and keeping the lesions moist is better for speedier healing.

If you have a rodent problem, I suggest you look into setting up roller bucket traps. https://www.amazon.com/Odesos-Roden...wicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ==&sr=8-7

 

[Frizzled-n-Sizzled]

The bumblefoot lesions do not appear serious enough to warrant surgery. The lesions on the legs mystify me. It looks like something, rodents perhaps, are nibbling on the leg scales at night. Could mice and rats be a problem in the barn?

Soaking each day for twenty minutes in warm Epsom salts and Betadine or other antiseptic cleanser would be what I would recommend. When dry, coat the legs and feet with coconut oil or castor oil. But if you have rodents, this may make the legs even more appetizing. If you suspect rodents are running wild at night in the barn, probably Blu-cote would be safer, although it dries out the tissues, and keeping the lesions moist is better for speedier healing.

If you have a rodent problem, I suggest you look into setting up roller bucket traps. https://www.amazon.com/Odesos-Rodents-Control-Children-Outdoors/dp/B07FTQ6SM1/ref=sr_1_7?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyKfbsM7P-gIVAxd9Ch0g8QAKEAAYASAAEgKsn_D_BwE&hvadid=583888793519&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9029086&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4860376203614055019&hvtargid=kwd-518512022304&hydadcr=290_1014988561&keywords=roller+mouse+trap+bucket&qid=1665197054&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ==&sr=8-7

Thank you for your suggestions. I don’t think mice/rats are an issue. She roostes with our 12 others and is usually in the middle. No other one has these types of issues. I have noticed other hens pecking at each others feet at times. idk it blaffles me too. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and also try coconut oil on her legs too. Glad rhe bumble foot doesnt look to bad as well.

 

[azygous]

I thought of pecking wounds, but that usually occurs with baby chicks. Adults usually don't engage in that behavior - pecking legs and feet.

The problem is if it gets infected with staph bacteria. Then you can have a very serious issue. Staph can spread to others. It is important to identify the perpetrator and take steps to stop the behavior. Pinless peepers can sometimes help to curb this.

 

[Frizzled-n-Sizzled]

I thought of pecking wounds, but that usually occurs with baby chicks. Adults usually don't engage in that behavior - pecking legs and feet.

The problem is if it gets infected with staph bacteria. Then you can have a very serious issue. Staph can spread to others. It is important to identify the perpetrator and take steps to stop the behavior. Pinless peepers can sometimes help to curb this.

We just recently lost one hen (not due to an illness) and they were readjusting… but it is odd. I definitely do not want to deal with Staph… dangerous for people too!

 

[azygous]

Do you have a game cam you could set up in the coop? Or where the chickens hang out during the day? If not, pulling up a comfortable chair and casually observing the flock some lazy afternoon might produce the identity of the villain. It's often at roosting time and afternoon loafing time that this behavior is most common. Once you identify the chicken doing this, pinless peepers for a couple months might stop it.

 

[Eggcessive]

What are you using for bedding in the coop and in your run?

 

[Frizzled-n-Sizzled]

What are you using for bedding in the coop and in your run?

Our 12x12 Coop floor has Pine flakes/fine bedding and no recent changes. Runs are clay, sand and grass… She may have gotten into ants… We put DE down and those suckers keep moving. She has a tendancy to be so chill and with her head in the clouds that it takes a few seconds to kick in. So idk… I wonder if it could be some kind of dermatitis? The sores look better after soaking. I also have cameras up as well. We borderline obsess over our peeps. Lol Thank you @azygous and @Eggcessive for your suggestions and time

 

[Frizzled-n-Sizzled]

Do you have a game cam you could set up in the coop? Or where the chickens hang out during the day? If not, pulling up a comfortable chair and casually observing the flock some lazy afternoon might produce the identity of the villain. It's often at roosting time and afternoon loafing time that this behavior is most common. Once you identify the chicken doing this, pinless peepers for a couple months might stop it.

I definitely see them pecking at each others heads and legs at times. They even do it to me! Ouch!!! I have some scabs from them too. Ugh… Some of the girls combs have scabs as well. Which I’m linking to the pecking… its usually in the evening when its time to roost or early morning when they wake up. We have multiple feed buckets and waterers to minimize any picking and the game cams on 24-7… they were all hatched at the same time you think they’d be nice. Haha

 

[Frizzled-n-Sizzled]

update:
Our hen seems to be doing ok. She enjoys her spa time… it’s just a process…. I am not sure if this is related or not but, I just notice some black scabs on our outdoor rooster’s face (he was fine yesterday) and one scab on his lip… One of our hens had this but it when away. Thought she got pecked good or something but it’s been long time healed. Anyway, I was able to catch him and I looked inside his mouth and I saw this. I was able to remove the scab/plug. ‍ What is happening to my birds?! I hatched them all as chicks except for the polish and Silkies we have. He has been outside roaming our pasture… and at night we move him inside a coop. So all of chickens may have eating and drank out of the same bowls. ‍ if this is cankerous or like chicken herpes would it be contagious to humans too? Any more thoughts? bumblefoot in the mouth? Or injury? He was pecking through wires to get to our other rooster… I’m feeling defeated… and grossed out! FYI no bad smell came from him…@azygous @Eggcessive