Necrotic toes? (graphic pics)

[Kedreeva]

Hi guys... I have a weird one.

A friend of mine just purchased peafowl last summer so this is her first winter with them. The adults she got are in an outdoor enclosure, but she has two younger ones in a heated indoor enclosure. The outdoor birds are all fine, and the hen in the indoor enclosure is fine, but the boy in the indoor enclosure has toes that have started to do this:







This is the boy's feet next to the hen's feet.



Normally I would say frostbite, but as he is indoors, I don't think that can be the case. I've never seen this before, and have no idea what to suggest she do for it. Anyone have anything??

 

[new 2 pfowl]

I wonder if this might be relevant:

Prevent Frostbite on Feet

Similar to frostbite in humans. May heal if not too severe. Places on toes & feet will turn dark if gangrene sets in.

• Coops without enough ventilation increase risk of frostbite, because of the increased risk from humid conditions. 'Wet' cold causes more frostbite vulnerability than 'dry' cold, and chickens' breathing & droppings can build up quite a lot of dampness in the air. To prevent problems, provide enough air circulation for the number of chickens, via small openings in the coop even during the cold of winter. The openings should be in locations sheltered from breezes (such as underneath roof eaves), and covered with wire to keep predators out.

Excerpt from https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[zazouse]

I wonder if this might be relevant:

Prevent Frostbite on Feet

Similar to frostbite in humans. May heal if not too severe. Places on toes & feet will turn dark if gangrene sets in.

• Coops without enough ventilation increase risk of frostbite, because of the increased risk from humid conditions. 'Wet' cold causes more frostbite vulnerability than 'dry' cold, and chickens' breathing & droppings can build up quite a lot of dampness in the air. To prevent problems, provide enough air circulation for the number of chickens, via small openings in the coop even during the cold of winter. The openings should be in locations sheltered from breezes (such as underneath roof eaves), and covered with wire to keep predators out.

Excerpt from https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

Looks like frost bit to me .

I lived in a house one time and the power went out for a week in an ice storm, the water in my toilet froze it was so cold in my house

 

[Kedreeva]

I would have said frostbite as well, but remember that they're in a heated indoor enclosure.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Of course I know nothing about this, but from that site I quoted above, it seems as though even if they are indoors, humidity can cause problems?
Hopefully someone else here has real experience and can help your friend, I feel bad for that poor boy.

By the way, that same site says:
Special shoes may help birds that lose parts of their feet to frostbite. You can buy neoprene Chicken or Duck Shoes at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PartyFowl?section_id=12239516. When you place your order, describe your bird's condition, to help select the most appropriate shoes.

You might pass this info along, in any case...

 

[frenchblackcopper]

If the toes would have been frostbitten the toenails will eventually fall off.We had a Marans Rooster a few years ago that lost all his toenails to frostbite but got around just fine.The pics above seems to show the toe tissue before the nail is black and a lot smaller and in your second picture it appears his outside toe has already lost half it's original length.I would bet the middle toe also loses the end up to where the toe is the original size yet.It looks like the outer layer of skin on the inside toe in the second picture is sloughing off too.It looks as tho over 1/2 of the center toes will,or are gone already and the outer toes have been reduced to less than 1/2 their original size as well.
My old Marans rooster had some difficulty walking the next spring for awhile but then again,he only lost his toenails,,not 1/2 or more of the toes.This pea may have some difficulty standing in a strong breeze and won't be able to use a perch but will adapt as best it can with what it has left.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Is it possible they were caught in something as they seem to be "damaged" at the same point on the foot. Maybe he got them caught and hung by his feet for a period of time thus killing the toes? It is a shot in the dark but we once found a cat that had somehow gotten it hind leg caught in a fence. It had hung there for a few days and the leg died and fell off. Gruesome I know.

 

[DylansMom]

Those look like every picture of frost bitten toes I've ever seen. I hope he does okay, I have a friend with a mature male who is missing half of almost every toe, he was like that when my friend got him, and he does just fine with walking, roosting and everything else.

 

[AugeredIn]

Frostbite. Maybe even from last year. Just took some time for the gangrene to set in. The good new is that they adapt well.

 

[MinxFox]

To make you feel better here are some photos I found a year or so ago of a peacock at a zoo missing most of his toes and he seems to be doing well:




It looks like he still has good balance!