Bad bumblefoot!

[henlady]

Oh Carla that was an awful case of it. Poor bird. I'll keep my eyes on everyone's feet to head off disasters in the future. I had a large barred rock (15lbs!) with it last year. Her foot hole never healed over but the infection was all gone. Every few days I had to lift her foot to squeeze out the dirt and debris. She was so accustomed to me doing it that she'd raise her foot to me when I knelt down near her! It was really impressive. Must've made her feel better.

 

[mainchick]

I have had only bantams so far and this hasn't presented as a problem. I work at a shelter where we have some large breeds and -HOW WEIRD IS THIS- I just discovered a large ameraucana with big scabs and a little puffiness on the bottom of her feet yesterday! i can't believe that I found this post today. the vet at the shelter said NOT to pull the scabs but I don't believe she ever really deals with chickens. I am going to have to "educate" her about foot therapy.
so, I pull off the scabs. what if they are bloody? do you still squeeze the foot? then soak and pack? What about using Blu-coat for the bottoms of the feet?

 

[horsejody]

I used to have a 40+ pound turkey that got bumblefoot once. We had to cut the bumble open and clean it out every day for about a week (I think - but it was a long time ago) and keep it bandaged. Once it was healed, it didn't come back.

 

[breezy2u]

I have two girls from my original flock that have had bumble foot in both feet for over a year. I have treated them with everything short of antibiotics since they are two of my best layers. One doesn't seem to be bothered much by it so I just check her occasionally to make sure it isn't getting worse. But my easter egger will get to the point where she starts limping and that's when I know I have to put her through another round of treatment. It's such a shame though because these were two girls who used to love to climb up on my lap to be held and now they are just afraid when I pick them up that it is time for another surgery. My guess is the original infection was caused by walking through thistle plants in the lawn. I have started pulling them out as soon as I see them, but they seem to be impossible to get rid of as well. None of my newer girls have gotten the infection so at least it isn't spreading. It just seems like a constant battle.