hellotrixie
Songster
Hi chicken people!
My almost 1 year old Golden Comet Debbie has some scabs on her feet, and I am wondering if they are early bumblefoot? Also would like to hear any suggestions on how to improve on my current treatment, although I am not ready to proceed to surgery yet.
Symptoms
She has 2 scabs each on both feet, although one foot is worse than the other. I noticed these over the weekend while doing some basic health checks on all 4 of my hens. Currently there are no signs of limping or lameness. There is little to no redness/swelling/heat at this point. She is eating/drinking/laying/behaving normally and seems healthy. Here's a pic (sorry it is a little blurry, Debbie didn't want to cooperate with my photo shoot.
Treatment So Far
Since discovering these, I have been soaking her feet in a warm Epsom salt bath for 10 min each day, scrubbing before and after with a soft toothbrush. I then apply an antibacterial/antifungal/moisturing spray I had on hand for my dogs (I did check with the vet that this is ok for chickens). It contains 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate/2% Miconazole, plus lavender and lemongrass oil. I realize that bumblefoot is not fungal, but my vet said it would be ok to use this mostly for the antibacterial and skin-soothing properties. After the spray drys, I generously apply my homemade all-purpose salve, which is made with Chamomile-infused Coconut oil, Calendula-infused olive oil, Yellow beeswax, and Lavendar, Cedarwood, Tea tree, and Geranium essential oils. I have not been bandaging her feet.
The scabs already look smaller/softer/less noticeable today than yesterday. I have ordered Tricide-Neo for use as a foot soak and it should be here in a few days. I've read all the posts about surgery for bumblefoot, but I really don't want to start cutting on her yet, since she is showing no signs of lameness and I'm not sure the feet are infected.
Background
My girls live in a large coop/run and free range in our fenced backyard for 4 or more hours per day. I am an organic gardener and do not spray and pesticides/herbicides on the property. I have deep shavings > 4 in. in the coop and smooth routed edge perches. We use droppings boards, so the shavings stay pretty clean. I scoop out any stray droppings and add Sweet PDZ at least weekly. The run is a blend of sand/topsoil/pine bark fines/leaf mulch which I add to regularly. There's no foul smell out there, but it does smell a bit like chicken.
They eat Reedy Form Farm Certified Organic 17% Soy Free Layer feed (locally produced/sourced), and a few dried soldier worms here and there as a treat, plus whatever bugs/greens they find in the yard. They have multiple water sources that are changed daily.
TLDR;
My hen has foot scabs that could be early bumblefoot. No swelling or limping yet. Eating/drinking/free ranging/laying normally. Currently treating with epsom salt soaks and topicals. I think my coop/run and feed/water setup is pretty good. Opinions/advice solicited.
Thanks so much in advance!!!
My almost 1 year old Golden Comet Debbie has some scabs on her feet, and I am wondering if they are early bumblefoot? Also would like to hear any suggestions on how to improve on my current treatment, although I am not ready to proceed to surgery yet.
Symptoms
She has 2 scabs each on both feet, although one foot is worse than the other. I noticed these over the weekend while doing some basic health checks on all 4 of my hens. Currently there are no signs of limping or lameness. There is little to no redness/swelling/heat at this point. She is eating/drinking/laying/behaving normally and seems healthy. Here's a pic (sorry it is a little blurry, Debbie didn't want to cooperate with my photo shoot.
Treatment So Far
Since discovering these, I have been soaking her feet in a warm Epsom salt bath for 10 min each day, scrubbing before and after with a soft toothbrush. I then apply an antibacterial/antifungal/moisturing spray I had on hand for my dogs (I did check with the vet that this is ok for chickens). It contains 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate/2% Miconazole, plus lavender and lemongrass oil. I realize that bumblefoot is not fungal, but my vet said it would be ok to use this mostly for the antibacterial and skin-soothing properties. After the spray drys, I generously apply my homemade all-purpose salve, which is made with Chamomile-infused Coconut oil, Calendula-infused olive oil, Yellow beeswax, and Lavendar, Cedarwood, Tea tree, and Geranium essential oils. I have not been bandaging her feet.
The scabs already look smaller/softer/less noticeable today than yesterday. I have ordered Tricide-Neo for use as a foot soak and it should be here in a few days. I've read all the posts about surgery for bumblefoot, but I really don't want to start cutting on her yet, since she is showing no signs of lameness and I'm not sure the feet are infected.
Background
My girls live in a large coop/run and free range in our fenced backyard for 4 or more hours per day. I am an organic gardener and do not spray and pesticides/herbicides on the property. I have deep shavings > 4 in. in the coop and smooth routed edge perches. We use droppings boards, so the shavings stay pretty clean. I scoop out any stray droppings and add Sweet PDZ at least weekly. The run is a blend of sand/topsoil/pine bark fines/leaf mulch which I add to regularly. There's no foul smell out there, but it does smell a bit like chicken.
They eat Reedy Form Farm Certified Organic 17% Soy Free Layer feed (locally produced/sourced), and a few dried soldier worms here and there as a treat, plus whatever bugs/greens they find in the yard. They have multiple water sources that are changed daily.
TLDR;
My hen has foot scabs that could be early bumblefoot. No swelling or limping yet. Eating/drinking/free ranging/laying normally. Currently treating with epsom salt soaks and topicals. I think my coop/run and feed/water setup is pretty good. Opinions/advice solicited.
Thanks so much in advance!!!