Back Toe Callus?

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:18 pm

This finch was an adult when I got him, but I don't know his age. His back toe seems to have an abnormally large "callus" on the back (opposite where his toe would touch the perch). His feet seem normal, no redness, no sores. His other toe also has a bit of a bump (as does the other nun's) so it appears normal.

Everyone has been treated recently for mites...do you think it may be mites still? Here is a pretty good picture of the toe in question (in the gallery and in post below).

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:29 pm

I have no idea about you finch problem...

but about the picture problem, maybe .bmp won't accept ... I pulled up your website on and it shows a picture, so I have no idea.

You may have to use different html writings with .bmp???

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:45 pm

Trying with a jpeg:

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:01 pm

Yep... I think that was the prob. with the picture

Dingo4207 · Post by **Dingo4207** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:31 pm

Not sure of anything so this is mainly a suggestion... But, can you feel the bump? It doesn't look anything like the mites I've seen. Usually if it is mites on birds, they will build a casing for their "safety." Not a hard one, rather a chalky build-up... You probably know all this... But if it is mites you would be able to gently scrape it off of the scales without any pain. However if the skin starts to come up and doesn't seperate easily, I have no idea... It could just be a callous like you thought... Or maybe some kind of weird scale growth. Anyway, this is stuff that I learned with doves and chickens... Crystal is the one in vet school she could help more probably. Good luck...

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:30 pm

My nuns - especially the black heads - have what I think of as "dragon's scales" on their feet. They don't seem to bother them, and all of the black heads I've had (from different sources) have the same thing. It seems more pronounced on the older birds. I may be wrong, but I've decided it's the norm for that species.

Nice tri color!

tursiopschic · Post by **tursiopschic** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:36 pm

Thank you Hilary, that makes me feel better. Dragon-scales is exactly right. The back of the toe has a very distinct stair-like profile. I thought this was probably "normal" since both my nuns have it and have no problems that i can see, but wanted to make sure since the one toe on this particular nun is more pronounced/thicker than both his other toe and the other nun's toes.

It feels like regular skin, not flaky or anything. I probably need a loupe or something to really get a good look at it. Feet otherwise look healthy...except for the fact that their toe nails grow like weeds.

edited for grammar

Post by **Hilary** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:37 pm

No kidding! My older BH nun needs trimming about once a month!