I went out to the coop to get eggs the day before yesterday and my rooster scratched my leg with his back 'claw'. He was very testy and cranky....

I noticed his feet were very pink. (They are normally a willow green). The next day he behaved, but his feet were really red. I was mortified....I thought, my heavens, does he have erythromelagia? PN? Do I call the vet for a chicken??

Nope.....he has 'Spring Fever'....which doesn't need any other treatment than a few good looking hens. Thank goodness for the internet.

Granted, we are a ways from Spring.

Oh my, to think I almost tried to 'treat' his feet.

I was put on some low dose prednisone last week and it made a big difference for me....now what, I ask, as I pop the last one??

Hi cyclelops,

What was it prescribed for, and how/in what way(s) did it make a difference?

a rooster, it'd be 'natural' to assert his turf?
Can I ask, how COLD it was out in the coop? Could the Temp change the color of his feet? What I know about Chickens is zilch... had parakeets tho and I don't think that counts, except when they were either in breeding mode or moulting their beek noses would change color....
Just watch YOUR scratches, PLEASE! It's those little ones that can evolve into nasty ones if your'e not careful!
Remember? Each day now is longer than the one before! There is hope for a SPRING!!!! Hugs etc. - j

That rooster would have been dinner!! LOL

when I was just about 4 & visiting gmas farm, a hen did go after me, and she was dinner!

LOL, he almost was dinner....except he is my best rooster.....he really defends my flock, against hawks, or whatever.....he was basically enamoured with my fleece pants blowin' in the wind, lol. Thought I was some fancy hen, I guess.

As for the coop temp....they have an insulated coop with a 250 watt heat lamp....and really chickens don't need it....think wild turkeys! Rooster feet get red when they are smitten.

As for the prednisone, I have some autoimmune process going on....got so stiff I would have qualified for a perch in a museum. Moving was like pulling very stiff taffy.

I looked and felt like a rusty cartoon Transformer going up the stairs....boom, boom, click, boom. It's better now. Now I have new problems, but I will take the mobility and energy the low dose prednisone afforded.

I have heard of other people who have been put on prednisone for another reason then neuropathy but it helps with the PN pain too. I wonder why doctors don't try this med more for PN?
That is neat you have a little farm and eat the eggs from it.