Chicken Leg Diseases

The leg of a chicken is made up of the tibia, femur, shank and fibula. The femur is the upper leg bone located in the thigh of the chicken, the fibula is a small bone in the lower leg, the tibia is the larger lower leg bone and the shank is the part of the leg below the hock joint. The chicken leg is usually scaly with four claw-like toes. There are some diseases which affect chicken legs.

  1. Scaly Leg

    • In scaly leg, mites burrow under the scales.

      Scaly leg is a disease caused by the parasitic mite Knemidocoptes mutans, which burrows under the scales on the chicken's legs. This causes the scales to become raised: the longer the mite has infested the chicken, depositing debris under the scales, the more raised the scales will appear. Severe affliction of these parasitic mites can lead to difficulty in walking for the chicken. The common method of treatment of this disease is the application of an oily substance like petroleum jelly or Vaseline, which will suffocate the dust mites. Also, insecticides may be used to kill the dust mites. It is also important to treat the pens, perches and nesting areas of the chickens with insecticide in order to kill any other dust mites and prevent a repeat infestation.

    Osteoporosis

    • Osteoporosis causes fractures that can lead to paralysis.

      Osteoporosis is a condition, common among caged hens, that leads to spontaneous bone fractures, especially of the keel, thoracic vertebrae and costocondral junction of the ribs. The fracture is the result of excessive brittleness of the bones caused by cage layer fatigue. Caged hens that produce many eggs are especially vulnerable to this disease. Vertebral fractures damage the spinal cord, causing the hens to be unable to use their legs. This condition is worsened by a lack of phosphorus, calcium and vitamin D. Osteoporosis in hens can be prevented by allowing the hens to have more freedom to engage in physical activities, which will strengthen their bones.

    Cholera

    • Cholera causes the legs, joints and footpads to swell.

      Fowl cholera is caused by a gram-negative, spore-forming bacterium, Pasturella multocida. It is usually spread from infected chicken to uninfected chicken by contact or by infected feed, but rodents can also act as carriers. Fowl cholera causes an enlargement of the legs, footpads, joints, wattles, combs and wing joints. This disease can be prevented with a bacterin or a live vaccine.