Can bumblefoot start at the hock

I have a 12 week old pullet(?) that at 7 weeks began to walk funny. I looked up lots of BYC info, and decided that she may have a vitamin deficiency as there were no noticeable injuries, her sisters(?) were all fine, and except for not wanting to walk "right" - I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Because I was a little worried that she may have an infection, I gave her (3) doses of Tylan 50 over 3 days and supplemented her (and the others) water with Sav-A-chick & probiotics/electrolytes. After a week, she seemed just a little wobbly, but I thought maybe she just wasn't getting enough exercise, so she got to be in a bigger area with just one flock mate. Five days ago, she came down with a very bad respiratory infection and her legs went out at angles, with the feet seeming to be very contracted. More research produced little results, except made me think that again, she is affected by a vitamin deficiency - so I have really stepped up the chick vits & have started to give her some Vit D3, Calcium, and potassium - hopefully in the right doses and today is her 5th dose of Tylan 50 (so, no more from what I understand) - and of course I isolated her from the others. Something is working, as she is still alive and her mouth breathing and rattles/crackling has really subsided. BUT her legs concern me. When this first happened, I thought one of her hocks (at the joint, if that isn't the joint) might be a little hot and seemed slightly bigger, but other than that - no injury. Today, I had her flipped on her side, just checking her out, and I saw that there was some bubbles/fizzing coming out of the hock that and it is noticeable bigger than the other one.

Can bumblefoot start at the hock? I am going to check the feet, but since her feet seem more contracted than having any noticeable sores, I don't think it originated from there. I am going now to set her in a warm Epson salt bath, and then apply bacitracin on the opening I did find (very small, maybe 2 mm at the most). I'm hoping my pictures will attach - so that you can see what I am looking at. The one up close at her hock (joint?) is blurry, but this gal has not lost her fight - in fact, I may just name her Ms. Piggy if she survives, as she is eating like I have been starving her - and that is far from the truth!

Since I got her at 3 weeks, she and the others were on medicated chick starter (Southern States) - and that's it. From what I've read, it isn't good to give them treats when they are young, so I just haven't. Her poops were normal, except on the initial doses of Tylan, and still, all her sisters are fine. I was thinking of taking her to the chicken vet, once she recuperated from her cold, as I would like to keep someone else's bird from getting sick to. I've got some powdered antibodics that I might start her on, now that she has received as much Tylan as is allowed. Any thoughts on that? Also, she tries to stay on her butt - and now that she seems to be better from her cold, she is trying to fly some when I have her out of her sick den.

ktpaco said:

I have a 12 week old pullet(?) that at 7 weeks began to walk funny. I looked up lots of BYC info, and decided that she may have a vitamin deficiency as there were no noticeable injuries, her sisters(?) were all fine, and except for not wanting to walk "right" - I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Because I was a little worried that she may have an infection, I gave her (3) doses of Tylan 50 over 3 days and supplemented her (and the others) water with Sav-A-chick & probiotics/electrolytes. After a week, she seemed just a little wobbly, but I thought maybe she just wasn't getting enough exercise, so she got to be in a bigger area with just one flock mate. Five days ago, she came down with a very bad respiratory infection and her legs went out at angles, with the feet seeming to be very contracted. More research produced little results, except made me think that again, she is affected by a vitamin deficiency - so I have really stepped up the chick vits & have started to give her some Vit D3, Calcium, and potassium - hopefully in the right doses and today is her 5th dose of Tylan 50 (so, no more from what I understand) - and of course I isolated her from the others. Something is working, as she is still alive and her mouth breathing and rattles/crackling has really subsided. BUT her legs concern me. When this first happened, I thought one of her hocks (at the joint, if that isn't the joint) might be a little hot and seemed slightly bigger, but other than that - no injury. Today, I had her flipped on her side, just checking her out, and I saw that there was some bubbles/fizzing coming out of the hock that and it is noticeable bigger than the other one.

Can bumblefoot start at the hock? I am going to check the feet, but since her feet seem more contracted than having any noticeable sores, I don't think it originated from there. I am going now to set her in a warm Epson salt bath, and then apply bacitracin on the opening I did find (very small, maybe 2 mm at the most). I'm hoping my pictures will attach - so that you can see what I am looking at. The one up close at her hock (joint?) is blurry, but this gal has not lost her fight - in fact, I may just name her Ms. Piggy if she survives, as she is eating like I have been starving her - and that is far from the truth!

Since I got her at 3 weeks, she and the others were on medicated chick starter (Southern States) - and that's it. From what I've read, it isn't good to give them treats when they are young, so I just haven't. Her poops were normal, except on the initial doses of Tylan, and still, all her sisters are fine. I was thinking of taking her to the chicken vet, once she recuperated from her cold, as I would like to keep someone else's bird from getting sick to. I've got some powdered antibodics that I might start her on, now that she has received as much Tylan as is allowed. Any thoughts on that? Also, she tries to stay on her butt - and now that she seems to be better from her cold, she is trying to fly some when I have her out of her sick den.

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Do you have better pictures of the hock and the "opening" you found? And is the wound itself bubbling/fizzing - is it pus filled? Where exactly is it located?

The respiratory infection is concerning, it could possibly be MS (Mycoplasma synoviae ) The joint/feet problems could fit with this illness as well. Treatment is listed in the link as well.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044


If you are still thinking it is totally a vitamin deficiency I would be look at B deficiencies. Looks like Durvet would be the complex you would want to try for Riboflavin/B2 deficiency.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/
http://www.tillysnest.com/2014/03/vitamin-deficiencies-in-backyard-chicks-html/

I have nurti drench ordered, and ordered the durvet, so that is now also coming. Am I able to administer both of these at the same time? There are two vitamin deficiencies listed on the website that fit her symptom to a tee - one treated with nurti drench, the other with durvet. I will try to get a better pic tonight, but she really is a wiggler and she doesn't make it easy for one person to do. After her Epsom salt bath, I looked at the "wound" at the hock/joint and it had stopped it's bubbling and just appeared open. No sores on either foot to indicate bumblefoot. The left side is way more affected than the right, and is very crooked. Hopefully a vet visit will help me determine what is the actual cause, and if there is any hope for recovery of her legs.

ktpaco said:

I have nurti drench ordered, and ordered the durvet, so that is now also coming. Am I able to administer both of these at the same time? There are two vitamin deficiencies listed on the website that fit her symptom to a tee - one treated with nurti drench, the other with durvet. I will try to get a better pic tonight, but she really is a wiggler and she doesn't make it easy for one person to do. After her Epsom salt bath, I looked at the "wound" at the hock/joint and it had stopped it's bubbling and just appeared open. No sores on either foot to indicate bumblefoot. The left side is way more affected than the right, and is very crooked. Hopefully a vet visit will help me determine what is the actual cause, and if there is any hope for recovery of her legs.

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Yes, if you can take her to a vet, that is always best.
Which two deficiencies fit her symptoms? Which vitamins?
I would study the specific vitamins/minerals/ingredients in both the nutri-drench and durvet to make sure there isn't to much of an overlap ingredients. I believe the Durvet has the riboflavin/b2 in it where the nutri-drench may not.
Does the wound on her hock look like it has pus in it?

Choline and vitamin b2/riboflavin seem to fit the bill. She has an appointment on Saturday. I wouldn't call it pus, as it is clear bubbles, and I found a little softer spot on the hock that if I push on it, the thin/clear bubbles come out a little more. No pus though. I'm repeating the 20 minute salt soak her ina few minutes, and tonight will try to wrap the area with gaze/tape.

@ktpaco I think I found what it is.
It really does sound like Mycoplasma synoviae instead of a vitamin deficiency. The link I am providing you has photos, as well as a more detailed description. There is a photo of a joint/hock which sounds like what you describe. I highly recommend when you take her to the vet you have her tested for MS. I would take the info with you so the vet can see the link, it may help them to determine what test to administer.
Hope this helps.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...synovitis.html?qt=Mycoplasma synoviae &alt=sh

Please keep us updated especially if you go to the vet. I have a 3 month old pullet that is doing the same.

ktpaco said:

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Poor thing.
It does look like it's putting quite a bit of pressure on the joints, especially if she isn't up and moving much.
You may want to put her in a sling for at least several hours a day to get her off her bum and relieve some of the pressure on the sore. I don't know if I would wrap it, but you could put just a small amount of neosporin or vetericyn ointment on it, just to help keep it clean.

Here are some pics of slings, they look fairly easy to assemble:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/713499/my-chicken-sling-pic

WycChickenguy said:

Please keep us updated especially if you go to the vet. I have a 3 month old pullet that is doing the same.

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@WycChickenguy if you would like, start a new thread about your pullet in the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum. Include photos, description of symptoms, what type of food/treats you use, how long she has been like this etc. I am sure someone would be happy to give you some input.