Injured foot or deformity??

[Lochmorechickens]

Hi everyone sorry in advance if this is going to be long.

I'm looking for any support or advice for a chicken I have with a odd looking foot.

The chicken in question appears to have no mobility in one foot and hops around. she can lift the leg but that is it. She can't grip anything meaning shes sleeping in one of the nesting boxes as she is unable to roost. The toe in the center bends up at a funny angle.

I've been treating her with weekly Epson salt baths, soaking her foot which I believe helps as she is able to bend her foot slightly afterwards. She is fed away from the flock due to bullying and is fed twice a day as she is unable to go scavenging and foraging. She spends most of her time resting in her little hut but will come out for food and water, or if the sun is shining. I have found that she ends up curling her toes underneath herself sometimes, when this happens I make a splint and trim her claws. I'll leave the splint on for a week this sets her foot back.

I'm assuming she might have broken her toe at some point or a possible deformity. I even thought she might have curly toe paralysis so add supplements to her diet. She's a sweet friendly bird, comes out the coop to me every morning and again every evening ready for bed. I'm no stranger to having hens who need extra care if needed.

If anyone has any ideas as to what could be wrong with her foot please let me know and any advice would be much appreciated the photos attached are the more recent ones from her last bath and wrapped up with a splint after finding her toes curling under.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

@Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like a deformity from hatch. Sometimes it can be fixed with a shoe and toe splint if done the first couple of days. It probably is not fixable at this time, and it may be painful to splint.

 

[Just2chickens]

Hi, I don´t know what is the cause but I had a chicken with a once broken foot (Whitey, she´s the front one in my profilepic. She came from a egg-farm) and she acted the same way (sleeping in the nestbox, staying in the coop almost all day). She also had bumblefoot quite often because of it.
I think you´re doing a very good job already with the separate feeding and the baths... looks like she likes the warmth of the sun also... I don´t know if her foot hurts but warmth is often helping with that.
What I found is that Whitey wasn´t quite able to clean her fluffy bud because she would loose her footing when turning, and dustbathing was also a bit problematic, so I helped her.
Because walking was painfull, she stayed in the coop (I think her hips suffered from the limping), but she found a way to let me know
(took me a while) and I would carry her with me, sat her down where I was working in the garden, that way she could find worms/insects or greens and feel safe, I just had 1 other hen (the other hen in my profile) but she was very friendly to Whitey and much younger, she would just follow and stay with us. (Whitey died at almost 5 years old, Suzy is still with us, with 2 new friends)
How does she walk with the splint ? (just curious) That she comes out to you in the morning and evening is really sweet...

 

[Lochmorechickens]

It looks like a deformity from hatch. Sometimes it can be fixed with a shoe and toe splint if done the first couple of days. It probably is not fixable at this time, and it may be painful to splint.

Thank you! I did start to wonder if it was a deformity rather than injury. The splint was just to prevent the other toes from curling under, she only wore it for a week and then I removed it again. She didn't seem to mind and it didn't effect her movement too much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you! I did start to wonder if it was a deformity rather than injury. The splint was just to prevent the other toes from curling under, she only wore it for a week and then I removed it again. She didn't seem to mind and it didn't effect her movement too much.

Is she on any riboflavin or human B complex? Curled under toes, walking on hocks, and curled toe paralysis are common with riboflavin (B2) deficiency. Usually, it affects both feet. It needs to be treated right away or it becomes permanent. Sometimes an injury to the leg nerve can cause it in one leg. But since this seems to be from a deformity, it may not be treated.

 

[Lochmorechickens]

Hi, I don´t know what is the cause but I had a chicken with a once broken foot (Whitey, she´s the front one in my profilepic. She came from a egg-farm) and she acted the same way (sleeping in the nestbox, staying in the coop almost all day). She also had bumblefoot quite often because of it.
I think you´re doing a very good job already with the separate feeding and the baths... looks like she likes the warmth of the sun also... I don´t know if her foot hurts but warmth is often helping with that.
What I found is that Whitey wasn´t quite able to clean her fluffy bud because she would loose her footing when turning, and dustbathing was also a bit problematic, so I helped her.
Because walking was painfull, she stayed in the coop (I think her hips suffered from the limping), but she found a way to let me know
(took me a while) and I would carry her with me, sat her down where I was working in the garden, that way she could find worms/insects or greens and feel safe, I just had 1 other hen (the other hen in my profile) but she was very friendly to Whitey and much younger, she would just follow and stay with us. (Whitey died at almost 5 years old, Suzy is still with us, with 2 new friends)
How does she walk with the splint ? (just curious) That she comes out to you in the morning and evening is really sweet...

She also had bumblefoot (on the other foot) when I first got her. She was from a farm who were downsizing, and with over 50 hens I think she slipped under the radar. She was very small and skinny when she first came so there's been a big difference and she is looking lots healthier.
She has no problem grooming herself, dust bathing is a little struggle but she manages to get the job done. Sometimes I'll help If I feel the need to.
Her movement with the splint didn't change too much, the first day she was a little reluctant to move but from there she still managed to move about.
She's definitely my favorite

 

[Lochmorechickens]

Is she on any riboflavin or human B complex? Curled under toes, walking on hocks, and curled toe paralysis are common with riboflavin (B2) deficiency. Usually, it affects both feet. It needs to be treated right away or it becomes permanent. Sometimes an injury to the leg nerve can cause it in one leg. But since this seems to be from a deformity, it may not be treated.

Yes, I added supplements to her water and feed when I first noticed the curling toes. She is still on the supplements. I add multivitamin support to her feed as well from time to time due to her fact she can't forage and get the foods she needs.

 

[Eggcessive]

Not all vitamins have riboflavin (B2) in them. Pouktry NutriDrench is one that does not. It should say on your labels.

 

[Lochmorechickens]

Not all vitamins have riboflavin (B2) in them. Pouktry NutriDrench is one that does not. It should say on your labels.

I wasn't aware, I assumed they all had it. I've just checked the stuff I add to her feed and it has vitamin B2 listed. I'll double check the supplement I add to her water tomorrow.
Thanks for mentioning it