If you’ve noticed that your chicken has developed a swollen foot, it is important to identify the cause. While Bumblefoot is the most common reason a chicken would develop a swollen foot, there are other ailments that could be causing a swollen foot.
Swelling in the legs could be caused by a variety of different illness, bacterial infections, or injuries. In this article, we’ll discuss several ailments that are not Bumblefoot that could be causing your chicken’s foot to swell up. We’ll also talk about what your plan of action should be and when it is severe enough to visit the veterinarian.
In all cases, it is important to understand how your chicken’s overall well-being is being impacted. Swollen legs can easily make movement very painful and even worsen into other, more severe conditions.
Why does my chicken have a swollen foot besides bumblefoot?
Besides bumblefoot, you chicken can have a swollen foot caused by leg mites, gout, Mycoplasma synovia, and injury.
Leg Mites
Leg mites are a very plausible explanation that could cause your chicken’s foot to swell up. Leg mites or Knemidocoptes mutans, are very common among chickens. They are too small to be seen by the eye, and they bury themselves underneath the scales on chicken’s legs.
After some time of them occupying your chicken’s legs, they will cause enough debris buildup that the affected leg will begin to swell. The scales of your chicken’s leg will also likely become very dry and flaky. This can also cause your chicken to gasp for air.
The infection will slowly move from one leg to the other, and then it will spread to other chickens. If you suspect that your chicken has leg mites, you should visit your local veterinarian to get confirmation.
From there, your veterinarian can prescribe you medication that will kill of the leg mites. Leg mites are contagious, so if you have multiple chickens, you should keep your eyes out for any spreading. Mites and parasites can also cause Marek’s disease in chickens.
Gout
Your chicken’s swollen leg might not be caused by an external force like mites or bacteria, but instead from an internal infection. Gout, a symptom of kidney disease and a form of arthritis, can also cause inflammation in the legs.
Gout indicates that uric acid crystals have formed within your chicken’s joints, and it can be very painful for your chicken. You may notice that your chicken is not moving as often, is quite stiff, and is not active during the mornings.
Gout is a symptom of a very serious medical issue, so you should take your chicken to the veterinarian quickly. It could be one of the signs that a baby chick is dying.
Mycoplasma synovia
If your chicken has a swollen leg and does not have Bumblefoot, they may have Mycoplasma synovia. This bacterial disease is very contagious, so you will need to isolate your chicken from other chickens as soon as possible.
It can cause very painful blisters, impact movement, and cause severe swelling. You may also notice that your chicken has a harder time breathing.
There are antibiotics that can significantly reduce the symptoms of Mycoplasma synovia. If your chickens are not breeding chickens, you may also want to consider a vaccine. Talk to your veterinarian for more information.
Injury
Your chicken’s leg swelling could also be caused by an external injury to the leg. This could be a cut, a bruise, or a broken bone. This can be common if you keep your baby chicks with roosters. All of these conditions need to be treated quickly.
Cuts that are left exposed will easily allow Bumblefoot to enter your chicken’s system. Furthermore, injuries that are left untreated could easily deteriorate and lead to more severe health issues.
If your chicken has a noticeable injury, get them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the source of your chicken’s leg swelling, your chicken is likely experiencing a lot of discomfort. An inflamed leg can make it very difficult for your chicken to move around and may strongly interfere with their well-being.
Therefore, it is very important to take a swollen leg seriously and try to diagnose the problem quickly. Depending on the severity and duration of the swelling, you will probably need to take your chicken to the veterinarian to get professional information.
The most important thing is your chicken’s well-being, so make sure to keep a close eye on any swelling and watch their behavior closely to evaluate how much pain they are in. Leg injuries can be very serious, so you should try to diagnose and treat the problem quickly.
