Baby chick with swollen foot - what in the world? PLEASE HELP........

[RobinFarmGirl]

Hello Everyone,

I have a chick that is about 2 weeks old and noticed today that it's left foot is swollen. The left leg has some bumps at the elbow of that leg. The right foot appears ok but the right leg looks like it has some bumps on it. What in the world can this be?

I keep it and the other chicks in a plastic tub with "Eco-Flake Animal Bedding" that is fine wood chips. I do not see anywhere on the pad/top of foot like it has been stabbed by any wood chips. I see no markings like the foot has been cut or pecked (no scabbing, etc.).

The chick walks fine (no limp) and while outside today, it walked around and pecked like normal. However, it didn't move about as much as the others that have no foot issues.

I am aware of bumblefoot and I don't think I can do my own surgery (if that's the case). I don't know of a chicken vet nearby but if I need one, I will search one out....

I've included photos. Let me know if more info is needed. Please help!!!

Thank you!
Robin










See bumps on leg between my thumb & fingers (not very clear tho, sorry)





Awful picture but on leg in middle of picture, you can see bumps on the middle toe.

 

[chicken11602]

Research bumble foot

 

[Eggcessive]

That is very odd for such a young chick. What are the dark spots on the other leg? Some diseases such as mycoplasma synoviae (MS,) and gout can cause swelling of the foot, but this seems a little young for symptoms. Staph or other bacterial infection could also be a problem. I see that there could have been a possible case of Mareks in the flock earlier from a previous post, but I don't know if that could be of any connection to this. I'm hoping that you can keep this thread alive so that we may help you.

 

[chicken11602]

 

[Eggcessive]

Some antibiotics that can be used to treat staph infections in the bone are penicillin, LS50 (lincomycin and spectinomycin,)and Gallimycin. If a vet is possible, you might get some expert advice on treatment.

 

[RobinFarmGirl]

Thank you for the responses!

These chicks are not from my flock; we bought them from someone else. The black spots on the leg are poo I know, dirty.... There are nine of them and I really try hard at keeping the brooder clean by cleaning the bedding often & sifting out the poo. He is the only one with this problem. When I see it on their feet, I wipe it off. I just didn't get it off his leg this time.

What about the bumps on the legs? That is not a symptom of bumblefoot, correct?

Unfortunately, I don't have a chicken Vet nearby! And at the moment, I do not have antibiotics on hand. I have VetRx and Tylan-50 which may be old (does it go bad?)

Robin

 

[chicken11602]

I think so. If you read the picture, it has instruction on how to heal it. You have to pop the puss out of the foot

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes the Tylan can be outdated--check the vial for the date--6 months out of date would still be used by me. I would use a more specific staph infection antibiotic if possible. Tylan is broad spectrum, but mostly is used in respiratory or intestinal infections. I don't know what the bumbs are, but they are probably related to the foot problem. I justdon't have experience with this sort of thing in a chick. Bumblefoot, yes, but this, no. Have you seen any respiratory disease in your flock before, because mycoplasma synoviae is actually a respiratory disease that affects the bones, and related to MG.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would look up footpad dermatitis as well. More than likely it would be on both feet, since it is caused by feet exposed to excessive droppings. Perhaps it is early bumblefoot, but the bumps worry me, and antibiotics might be helpful. Be sure and post tomorrow morning--maybe someone tomorrow will have seen this before. I worry about it being possibly MS or mycoplasma.

 

[RobinFarmGirl]

Okay, thank you Eggcessive for your responses!

These chicks have not been physically exposed to my flock outside. However, I do have 3 silver duckwing bantam roosters that spend the day outside in a pen (near the flock's coop) and then come inside at night to plastic totes in the same room as the chicks.

I have a silver duckwing bantam hen that I have brought into the kitchen to administer VetRx to. Her sinuses are swollen (which is another issue that we can't seem to get rid of....).

The chicks are in a bedroom down the hall from the kitchen. This is now starting to drive me crazy; illness,etc.... Have I done something? I try very hard at not to spread stuff. I clean the outside coop first then wash hands & come inside to clean the chicks brooder.

My goodness