Chicken Feet - Normal or Not Normal?

[Rachel_liz15]

I need a little advice. I have a 3&1/2 YO Plymouth Rock hen, Winnifred, that is going through a HARD molt right now. I noticed her legs and feet looked much paler than those of her sisters and I believe her feet look a little swollen. I have never seen bumblefoot in person before, but it doesn't look like she has that; and there isn't any lifting of her scales so I don't believe its scaly leg mites. I'm not sure if this is normal for a molting hen or not. I did read something about a "bleaching sequence", but I'm not really sure if that's it. Also like I said earlier, her feet look a little swollen to me. I have pictures of Winnifred's feet and her sister Ethel's feet for comparison. If Ethel is molting right now, it's not noticeable, much unlike my poor raggedy Winnifred.

Winnifred (unhealthy?)

Ethel (healthy)

Thank you!

 

[azygous]

From the top, the feet look pretty normal. How about the underside of the feet and toes? If you see any black scabs, the would be bumblefoot. If the bottoms are clear, the feet are fine.

I've never heard of "bleaching sequence". Molt shouldn't affect the appearance of the feet. The color of legs and feet can vary from individual to individual.

 

[Ecarroll]

I need a little advice. I have a 3&1/2 YO Plymouth Rock hen, Winnifred, that is going through a HARD molt right now. I noticed her legs and feet looked much paler than those of her sisters and I believe her feet look a little swollen. I have never seen bumblefoot in person before, but it doesn't look like she has that; and there isn't any lifting of her scales so I don't believe its scaly leg mites. I'm not sure if this is normal for a molting hen or not. I did read something about a "bleaching sequence", but I'm not really sure if that's it. Also like I said earlier, her feet look a little swollen to me. I have pictures of Winnifred's feet and her sister Ethel's feet for comparison. If Ethel is molting right now, it's not noticeable, much unlike my poor raggedy Winnifred.

Winnifred (unhealthy?)
View attachment 4009205

Ethel (healthy)
View attachment 4009207

Thank you!

Some chickens feet can just be paler than others, if nutrients and dyes (colorful plants ie marigold and such) are being used up in something else (heavy molt or lots of egg laying), the legs can appear pale. In the colder winter times, their feet can appear reddish from the cold.

 

[townchicks]

It looks like she has shed her leg scales. New scales underneath will look pinkish for a while, until they harden up. A normal part of the molting process.