HELP - Frostbite on Feet

[oursmallhomestead]

Hi,

Our 4-year-old Brahma, approximately 3 lbs., appears to have frostbite on both of her feet. We had a thaw and then severe windchill, as we do each year. I'm not certain why this year is different. I noticed her limping about 5 days ago. Her feet are cracked and bleeding. We've done Epsom salt dips, given her a bath, and have her isolated indoors in a 2x4 tote with chickenwire top insert and wood shaving bedding. She seems healthy otherwise and is up occasionally but lays down the majority of the time due to painful feet. Her poop looks normal and she's eating 16% layer feed and drinking plenty of water. I would like to try to continue treating her on my own but wonder if it's at the point where I need to decide to get a vet involved. Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like the toes are drying up o.k. and will eventually fall off. How much of the foot pad (some/all) will dry up and fall off, time will tell.
It takes a long time for Frostbite to heal.

You may find these 2 threads helpful. The first is loaded with treatment info, photos and outcome, well worth reading.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite.1558605/

 

[oursmallhomestead]

Looks like the toes are drying up o.k. and will eventually fall off. How much of the foot pad (some/all) will dry up and fall off, time will tell.
It takes a long time for Frostbite to heal.

You may find these 2 threads helpful. The first is loaded with treatment info, photos and outcome, well worth reading.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite.1558605/

Thank you! I'm second guessing myself now, after noticing a lot of mites when giving her an ES dip today and learned that there's such a thing as scaly leg mites. Could it be that? Maybe a little of both? We use DE but it doesn't seem to have done much good.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you! I'm second guessing myself now, after noticing a lot of mites when giving her an ES dip today and learned that there's such a thing as scaly leg mites. Could it be that? Maybe a little of both? We use DE but it doesn't seem to have done much good.

If she has mites on her body, then use a Permethrin base poultry spray or dust to get rid of them. DE is not going to be effective against and infestation.
Check the rest of your flock and treat them and their housing as well. It will be a battle to rid everyone of mites, so you'll want to treat birds and housing in 5 day intervals.

As for your hen with Frostbite. She's feather footed, so sometimes scales can be a bit raised due to feather follicles and it's hard to determine if it's Scaly Leg Mites or. At first glance it does seem she may have SLM, so I'd apply vaseline or oil to the raised scales, working it underneath the scales to help smother the mites.

She does have toes that are dying. To me it looks like from Frostbite, but if an infestation of SLM is severe enough, then it's possible digits may be lost due to those, but it wouldn't happen near as quickly as it would with frostbite.