What Are These Growths On Hen's Legs?

[skullgrrrl]

I have an 18 month old EE who has always been healthy. About 6 wks ago she just looked 'off' with no obvious cause. She was - and continues to - eat, drink and poop normally.

As time has progressed she is having difficulty walking. She walks with a limp, which hasn't gotten better. I've checked her for bumblefoot, cuts, breaks etc - nothing. She has had scaly leg mites and I'm treating her for that.

In addition, she seems to have two growths from the side of her legs (one bigger than the other) that look like weird little toes (but not spurs) that weren't there before. Any suggestions? Any ideas what those growths are?

 

[The Angry Hen]

Looks like spurs. You may think that only roosters have spurs, but every so often there is something with the genetics or hatchery hens that make them grow spurs. Quite a tricky concept to figure out, I have a hen with spurs, nothing wrong with it and that's why you can't sex depending on spur bumps. Good luck, God bless. Good evening!

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Tagging @aart @casportpony @duluthralphie @Eggcessive @21hens-incharge for an assist.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

@The Angry Hen these are growing out the sides of her legs though... still could be spurs?

 

[skullgrrrl]

Looks like spurs. You may think that only roosters have spurs, but every so often there is something with the genetics or hatchery hens that make them grow spurs. Quite a tricky concept to figure out, I have a hen with spurs, nothing wrong with it and that's why you can't sex depending on spur bumps. Good luck, God bless. Good evening!

I know that hens can have spurs but these don't look or feel hard like spurs. They look like odd toes (i.e. same colour and texture). One of them is long and thin and you can wiggle it.

I'd also like to know what's going on with her health, as I don't see any obvious issue causing her limp.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Scaly leg mites will cause both the odd looking growth and the limp. The growth is more then likely mite debris that is building up.

What are you using to treat?

The legs look swollen and that would be painful.

Are you treating everyone and the coop?

 

[Squishychicken]

what flooring is in her run and coop?

there is a shell over the spurr and if pulled off the underside is tender,flimsy and bleeds for a while but then it stops (if treated)

mabey she got it caught in something and pulled it off but then again you would see blood everywhere and she would probuly have bleed out so that idea is eliminated...

how old is she and how long have you had her

 

[skullgrrrl]

Scaly leg mites will cause both the odd looking growth and the limp. The growth is more then likely mite debris that is building up.

What are you using to treat?

The legs look swollen and that would be painful.

Are you treating everyone and the coop?

I dip their legs in veggie oil up to the shank 4-5 nights/row every month. I also have used vaseline to coat their legs. I try to treat as many as possible at one time,

 

[skullgrrrl]

what flooring is in her run and coop?

there is a shell over the spurr and if pulled off the underside is tender,flimsy and bleeds for a while but then it stops (if treated)

mabey she got it caught in something and pulled it off but then again you would see blood everywhere and she would probuly have bleed out so that idea is eliminated...


how old is she and how long have you had her

The coop floor is concrete covered with a good layer of wood shavings. The run is dirt - no sharp rocks.

I've seen photos of spur removal - the growths don't like that.

She was born March 2015, I've had her since she was 4 wks old. She's had no health issues until last month - she was laying regularly before then.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

Looks like spurs... but I could be wrong