Poultry with sore feet are very common, there are several conditions that lead to sore feet. Some are easily cured, others are a challenge.


Where do I start with a lame bird?

Firstly you need to find out exactly where the bird is sore. Careful examination is needed of ALL the joints and bones in both feet. Learn the art of comparing one side to the other. Slowly feel the legs from the hips all the way down to the claws, comparing sides as you go. Conditions such as cuts, swellings, broken bones, and skin infections should be obvious. Feel for heat and swelling particularly around the joints. Birds are prone to joint infections and the early signs are a hot, swollen painful joint.



Do not forget to look and feel carefully on the soles of the feet. Ducks in particular commonly get breaks in the skin and infections over the joints on the bottom of the foot. These are usually due to the birds being housed on either concrete or sharp gravel. If untreated these joint infections can lead to the destruction of a joint and permanent lameness.



If you cannot find any obvious cause of the lameness it may be that the bird has a kidney infection. Blood from the feet of birds drains back through the kidney on the same side, as well as the sciatic nerve passing through the kidney tissue. If a bird develops a kidney infection the kidney will swell and put pressure on the sciatic nerve causing lameness.



What simple treatments can I use ?



Most lame birds can be treated simply and effectively once you know what the problem is.



Cuts, abrasions, skin infections: carefully wash the area with a disinfectant

( Avisafe 1:100 ). Make sure there is no bleeding - bleeding is stopped by pressure applied for 5 - 10 minutes. If feathers are matted with blood, discharge or dropping pluck the area. We do not use creams or lotions on birds as a rule because they make a dreadful mess. I prefer to keep the area clean with a disinfectant wash daily and then let it dry out. If contamination is a problem then a simple bandage is used.

For more severe skin infections it is best to use an antibiotic. For all poultry Amtyl Caplets are the way to go. At a dose rate of one caplet per 2 Kg bird weight they are very convenient and very effective. Us e the Caplets for at least 5 days, in nasty skin lesions 10 days is required.



Broken bones or claws: provided the bone is not through the skin breaks can be splinted and will heal well. Make sure you pad under the splint to stop skin damage. Use things like small strips of ply wood or high tensile wire bent to shape as the splint. Bind with “ Rigid Tape “, available at Pharmacists.



If the skin is broken there is a big chance of infection and the bird needs veterinary attention.



Joint infections : are common in the little joints of the claws. These infections are normally started by abrasions that let bacteria into the joint. Treat with antibiotics for at least 10 days, often these joints need to be surgically drained - you will need an avian vet to do this as this area bleeds profusely.

Sometimes the best and quickest way to treat claw joint infections is to amputate the affected claw. Not good for show birds but is practical for breeders.



Bumblefoot:: is a term describes a combined skin, tissue and joint infection on the sole of the foot. Raptors ( hawks, eagles, owls ) are very prone to this problem in captivity. The bird develops a swollen, hot, painful foot that may have a weeping sore. Treatment needs to be very aggressive, scraping out infected tissue, powerful antibiotics, and bandaging are necessary. It is important to look at the environment and diet of birds with this problem to try and prevent it occurring.



Scaly Leg: Caused by the Scaly Leg mite ( Cnemidocoptes ) this disfiguring condition is a pain to everyone. Birds with mild infections do not become lame but severe infections can be complicated with secondary bacterial invasion leading to lameness. Although relatively easy to kill the mite will reinfest birds quite readily.



To treat birds with the infection, apply Scatt, as directed. The active will kill the mite and has a residual effect. To remove the scale is time consuming and is only necessary for show birds. The scale will fall off as new skin grows from underneath but this takes some weeks.



Probably the easiest thing is to treat the whole flock a couple of times a year with Scatt and not have to worry.



A good diet and decent conditions in the pens and cages will prevent most lameness in birds. If you have a lame bird follow the simple ideas above and most will recover.