Help! Hen not walking much and has black spots on legs. Scaley leg mites or???

[casunbum]

Ok so I've noticed in the last couple of weeks that my head hen has been lets just say lazy.. That's what I initially thought. She lays down a lot of the time and is not walking much. When she does walk, she seems to walk just fine but it seems like she avoids it. I've felt her legs up and down a few times and never noticed anything broken or out of normal. But now in the last week it's gotten to the point where she stays separate from the other girls just so she can sit. Or she will lay down while the flock forages around her. She is still eating and drinking, I've made sure of that. So after some research I thought she might be egg bound.. just gave her a warm bath in olive oil to relax her and feel around for any lumps.. I did not find any lumps of any kind but I did notice she now has these dark spots on her legs! I don't remember ever seeing this before.

Has anyone ever dealt with black spots on the legs? I thought maybe scaley leg mites, but the spots are not clear at all, they are definitely black. I've never dealt with scaley leg mites before though. What could it be? How do I help her? She is my head hen, I've separated her from the girls and they don't know what to do without her now. Poor thing. I would really like any advise you have.

Thank you!

 

[TTracy]

Does she have black spots on her comb as well? If she does then it could be avian pox.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/avian-pox-how-to-treat-your-chickens-for-avian-pox

 

[Eggcessive]

Is that a blister on her chest? Are the leg joints swollen at all? I'm not a vet, but there could be a possibility that she may have mycoplasma synoviae, which is a disease that can affect the bones. It can be treated with antibiotics such as Tylan, Gallimycin, and Duramycin. Here is a link about it: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis

 

[lularat]

Is that a blister on her chest? Are the leg joints swollen at all? I'm not a vet, but there could be a possibility that she may have mycoplasma synoviae, which is a disease that can affect the bones. Here is a link about it: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis

I was leaning more toward the scaly leg mites, but I am also wondering if that is some type of wound on her chest?

 

[casunbum]

Yes that is a small wound of some sort that I found while inspecting her. I thought it was a separate issue but I might be wrong. The scab is healing nicely and doesn't go deep. I have no idea where it came from or whether it has anything to do with how she's been acting. All I know is that I have felt her bones up and down all her body and compared her to the other hens and there is absolutely nothing abnormal. She doesn't flinch or shy away at all when I inspect the little scab or feel her bones so I thought it was maybe from her skin being severely dry because I've been dusting her with ash and DE... and then always laying down. She had lice about a month ago which I've been able to get rid of. Even my skin has became severely dry from all the dusting and started to crack and hurt real bad.

 

[casunbum]

I'm not sure it's a blister, looks more like a scab but I have no idea where it came from. It doesn't hurt her at all and no her legs are not swollen, I checked for that! Since she had dry skin from me dusting her with ash and DE and her spending so much time laying down I figured it was dry and cracked from all the tummy time.

 

[casunbum]

No black spots on her comb thank goodness! Her comb is nice and red and healthy. I rubbed both her legs and comb with oil today just in case she does have scaley leg mites.

 

[Eggcessive]

Your vet may be able to test for MS. The breast blister is common with MS due to lying on the sternum. Two Crows on BYC has experience with MS.

 

[ten chicks]

Have you checked her feet for bumblefoot?

Sore may be a pressure sore from laying down so much,clean and apply an antibiotic ointment to sore. Pressure sores are painful and can extend into deeper tissue if not treated. I'm wondering if this is why she is not walking. Check this daily to ensure it is not spreading. If she is inside,place a towel under her to alleviate pressure to this area.

 

[casunbum]

I had never heard of bumblefoot until now, I just looked it up and checked her for it... but there are no sores on the bottoms of her feet.