1-2 week old chick with spot on foot

[JeffEdgar87]

We have 17 chicks in a brooder inside and when i was cleaning out the brooder yesterday i was noticing a lot of the chicks had bits of dried poop on their nails/feet. I have been using pee pads for flooring and there has definitely been an uptick in waste over the last few days as they are getting older. This time the pads were messier then they typically have been, likely because it had been close to 2 days since changing the bedding instead of 1. I went through and moved all the chicks out of the brooder and replaced the bedding with pine shavings instead of the pads, and started cleaning off the mess on all of their feet as i put them back in the brooder. One of the chicks seems to have a spot on their foot pad that initially i thought was poop, but does not seem to be just cleaning off like the others. It's the only chick that has something like this so i want to make sure i get it taken care of.

Looking online the most likely option seems like bumblefoot, but it doesn't look quite like any of the other pictures I'm seeing. I would just keep picking to try and get it off, but don't want to cause any unnecessary pain or sores. Does this look like bumblefoot or do i just need to clean a bit more thoroughly?

 

[Ecarroll]

We have 17 chicks in a brooder inside and when i was cleaning out the brooder yesterday i was noticing a lot of the chicks had bits of dried poop on their nails/feet. I have been using pee pads for flooring and there has definitely been an uptick in waste over the last few days as they are getting older. This time the pads were messier then they typically have been, likely because it had been close to 2 days since changing the bedding instead of 1. I went through and moved all the chicks out of the brooder and replaced the bedding with pine shavings instead of the pads, and started cleaning off the mess on all of their feet as i put them back in the brooder. One of the chicks seems to have a spot on their foot pad that initially i thought was poop, but does not seem to be just cleaning off like the others. It's the only chick that has something like this so i want to make sure i get it taken care of.

Looking online the most likely option seems like bumblefoot, but it doesn't look quite like any of the other pictures I'm seeing. I would just keep picking to try and get it off, but don't want to cause any unnecessary pain or sores. Does this look like bumblefoot or do i just need to clean a bit more thoroughly?

Could you post a picture?

 

[JeffEdgar87]

Could you post a picture?

Sorry about that, i guess i was too impatient and didnt allow the image to upload all.the way. I posted another thats a bit closer of a picture as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes that is bumblefoot (pododermatitis.) I would soak the feet daily in warm water with a bit of Hibiclens or Betadine (Equate First AidAntiseptic,) both available at WalMart first aid aisle. You could also use Epsom salts or even a little Dawn. Dry the foot well and apply some Betadine or the Hibiclens on the sore afterward. Sand can be a very good soft bedding for chicks if you change it again. But keep their bedding clean and dry, stirring it and adding fresh often. Make sure it it big enough since they double their size once or twice a week.

 

[JeffEdgar87]

Yes that is bumblefoot (pododermatitis.) I would soak the feet daily in warm water with a bit of Hibiclens or Betadine (Equate First AidAntiseptic,) both available at WalMart first aid aisle. You could also use Epsom salts or even a little Dawn. Dry the foot well and apply some Betadine or the Hibiclens on the sore afterward. Sand can be a very good soft bedding for chicks if you change it again. But keep their bedding clean and dry, stirring it and adding fresh often. Make sure it it big enough since they double their size once or twice a week.

Great, thanks for the confirmation! For the soaking, how long would you soak it and for how many days typically?

They are currently in a 2x4 ft dog crate with a solid bottom with a layer of plastic and pine shavings. I plan to move the crate out into our covered run soon, and butt another crate about the same size up to it to give them a larger protected space near where the other chickens spend their time so they can start the familiarization process.

 

[NatJ]

I think it's just got poop stuck on the foot.

But if you soak the foot (like suggested for bumblefoot), that should answer the question. Poop will come off with soaking and the foot will look normal afterward.

Soaking in plain water for a few minutes would probably be enough to find out if it is just poop (comes off) or bumblefoot (needs some treatment.)