Just when I was getting lulled in to a false sense of security thinking all was well in Chickensville, I noticed today that Basil, my almost 2 year old cockerel and king of the garden was limping badly. Close inspection has revealed a sort of growth on the top of his foot, slightly oval shaped and about the size of a very small bean, greyish white in colour, taut and a little shiny, almost like soft toe nail tissue but in the wrong place. I took a picture but it hasn't come out very clearly so will try and take another tomorrow and paste it up. Does anyone have any idea what it could be and how I can treat it - it's clearly quite painful for him? There doesn't appear to be any other damage to his foot, no signs of a cut or anything.
Strange growth(?) on cockerel's foot
- Thread starter elmdene
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
Well I'm speculating wildly without a photo Elmdene but is it on a joint, in which case it could be a sprain or even dislocation? Or is it along a toe bone, in which case it could be a break with a swelling which needs splinting. It could be surface damage and infection, like something stuck in it. Doubt it's a sting this time of year but it could be a sleepy queen wasp as I've seen some around here. We've had experience of bumble foot and fungal infections in the pad or underside, but nothing on the top although Bottom did have a sprain and swelling of his tendons once. Can he close his foot and grip? Perhaps a vet trip is in order for an X-ray.
Can you get a photo tonight while he is sleepy- two person job obviously with camera on close-up?
Can you get a photo tonight while he is sleepy- two person job obviously with camera on close-up?
foxy
Active member
Or possibly scaly leg mite. I have seen them develop into a growth like lump.
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
it's not a tick is it? 
19
19Reading your description, tick was what was going through my mind too. Not sure if chickens can pick them up like dogs etc but I guess they could latch on between the scales. If it is that you will need to be careful how you remove it and not leave the head attached as it will possibly get infected. Perhaps the photo will give better idea. Poor Basil.
When my dog gets a tick I dab it with Frontline and it dies within 24 hours and either drops off or is easy to remove with the special little tick hook.
foxy
Active member
I have never heard of ticks affecting poultry in the UK, I know they are a pest, although not common in warmer climates.
Have you got a good chicken vet, Elmdene?
Yes - I think I'll phone them today. Have just had another look and it doesn't look like an abcess to me, but couldn't be 100% certain. It has a tiny dark spot but again, it doesn't feel like a head - not raised or anything so might just be a mark. It's white and sort of arc -ed which made me think of a toenail, and quite hard. It's on the top of the outside part of his foot so nothing to do with his toes. Will take a photo when I have someone else here to hold him. It's not helped by the fact that he is a pekin so getting all his feathers out of the way is a challenge! He doesn't seem to be limping as badly as yesterday but it's definitely still there.
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
ticks love birds! if they can get on them. usually ones in coops and gardens don't but free rangers do from the hedges and trees! 
Chooks usually find them first though and eat them before they become a problem. wild birds get them a lot, especially fledglings. pulled a couple off a little one last spring that my cat caught. treated and released it. it still comes to the garden and still has a scar on it's face from the cat injury.
Chooks usually find them first though and eat them before they become a problem. wild birds get them a lot, especially fledglings. pulled a couple off a little one last spring that my cat caught. treated and released it. it still comes to the garden and still has a scar on it's face from the cat injury.I have now had a bit of a pick and the spot was a little scab, although it was healed underneath so nothing came out and I didn't want to squeeze it. However, it is looking more like an abcess or possibly a sting, so a trip to the vet is in order later this pm. I will report back!
Bertie & The Chooks said:ticks love birds! if they can get on them. usually ones in coops and gardens don't but free rangers do from the hedges and trees!
My husband used to be a bird ringer, and on one occasion we caught a blackbird with its head and body almost totally covered with ticks. We removed 53, but had to leave a few because the poor bird was in shock. But I would have thought body was a more likely target than legs, all the same, and it's just not the tick time of year yet, surely?
chrismahon
Well-known member
I'm sure we would all still like to see a photo Elmdene, before he goes to the vet. Just to add to our experience.
The vet lanced the lump and it turned out to be an ingrowing feather - all curled up inside with a big plug of hardened pus. It left a huge hole which she washed out and he is now on 8ml Baytril for 3 days. I would upload the photo but the file is too big and I can't work out how to reduce it - will try to do so tomorrow, but if you put your left hand palm downwards and imagine your fingers as chickens toes, it was right on the side of your hand between your little finger and wrist. Thanks for everyone's input.
Oh, poor boy! So glad you got it sorted. What a strange thing to happen.
foxy
Active member
Ahhh I have just spotted he is a pekin! I had one of my cochins with this problem, looked like a blister but felt hard, I removed the feather and irrigated, he recovered really well and stopped limping the next day
chrismahon
Well-known member
We've had a small version of this on a leg, of an Orpington! Just broke the skin and pulled it out with tweasers.
Bertie & The Chooks
New member
ouch! i get those things myself, they hurt! (but with hair of course not feathers lol)
Funnily enough, that's what the vet said!
Here is the photo - the maximum allowed size - at last, after several attempts, so I hope it's clear enough to see what's going on. The lump was quite hard, not squishy, which is what made me think it was toenail tissue initially. Basil seems fine today and it looks like it's healing well, although I'm not looking forward to having to bathe it later and get 8ml of Baytril down him! Actually he was as good as gold at the vets - quite a star.
I will also put the photo up separately under another heading, for research purposes!
Here is the photo - the maximum allowed size - at last, after several attempts, so I hope it's clear enough to see what's going on. The lump was quite hard, not squishy, which is what made me think it was toenail tissue initially. Basil seems fine today and it looks like it's healing well, although I'm not looking forward to having to bathe it later and get 8ml of Baytril down him! Actually he was as good as gold at the vets - quite a star.
I will also put the photo up separately under another heading, for research purposes!
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chrismahon
Well-known member
It must be 0.8mL Elmdene, of 2% solution daily for 7 -10 days. Just check the bottle.
0.1 mL of 10% solution is per Kg bird weight -that's what we are prescribed anyway. Seem to remember Foxy is expert on these Baytril solution doses.
No issues about Baytril from the vet? We had a thread on the subject few months ago saying it was being phased out.
0.1 mL of 10% solution is per Kg bird weight -that's what we are prescribed anyway. Seem to remember Foxy is expert on these Baytril solution doses.
No issues about Baytril from the vet? We had a thread on the subject few months ago saying it was being phased out.
