Brumblefoot

Housemom408

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Hi I am new to chickens. Just got my first starter flock 2 weeks ago. I have one chick that has what looks like the start of brumblefoot. My question is how do I care for it? We got the chickens to raise for meat and eggs. I don't want to spend $30.00 on medicine, however I don't want it to suffer also. Any help would be great!
 
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Welcome to BYC!

I am sorry about your bird. Bumblefoot needs to be treated or it can become so infected as to kill the bird. But first you need to post a pic so we can have a look see to make sure this bird does have a pad infection.

If the bird does have bumblefoot, this is what I do....

You will need: Alcohol Wipes, sterilized tweezers and scapels (you can get the scapel at most feed stores) hydrogen peroxide, vet wrap, guaze, empty syringe and neosporin without the pain killer.

The general practice for bumblefoot is to do surgery on it. It doesn't cost much money, only time. You will want to clean off the foot in warm water in a low tub. Scrub all the crud off. Towel the bird and lay in your lap. Wipe the area with the alcohol wipe. Start with the scapel and tweezers and peel off the scab... and dig, pick and squeeze all the gunk out of the pad. Sometimes there is a core pus ball, sometimes not. Just keep working til you think you have it all out. Suck up some peroxide and squeeze it deep into the hole. Let it set and then squeeze out some neosporin on to your finger and press into the hole. Don't put the tip of the tube in the hole as you will ruin the sporin. Then place a small piece of precut gauze over the hole and wrap with precut vet wrap. (you can slice the roll into 1 inch slices). Start on the leg above the foot joint and wrap down and around the foot pad, around the toes and back up the leg. It is self sealing. Sort of squeeze into place to keep dirt out. Check the foot for warmth 5 mins later as if it is cold you wrapped too tightly. If so, re wrap.

Check the foot pad the next day and have all your instruments cleaned and read in case you need them. If the scab is reddening, then you got it all and you would apply more sporin, gauze and rewrap. If it is yellow pus colored, you will need to go back in and repeat the process.

Check it daily for one week. Then you can go down to every 3 or 4 days. Keep it bandaged for about a month, or til the scab falls off.

There are tons of threads here on the emergency section on doing a bumblefoot surgery. You can also post in our emergency section for more help....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=bumblefoot+surgery

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck with your flock and if you have any other questions, that is what we are here for!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about your chick that has bumblefoot, TwoCrows gave you some great instructions on caring for it. X2 on posting in the Emergencies forum and posting a picture for advice on what you are dealing with. How old is the chick now that has the problem?
 
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great to have you joining the BYC flock
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Egg's, hard boiled with the shell removed and egg mashed then
served two a day morning and evening for a week after you follow
Two Crows advice or if you don't as the egg has every thing your
little chick need's
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BYC has a very useful learning center
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Thanks for the advice. Here is a picture. The foot still feels soft, like there is no hard kernel in there yet.
 

Thanks for the advice. Here is a picture. The foot still feels soft, like there is no hard kernel in there yet.
Ok...that doesn't look really bad yet and I personally wouldn't do any surgery on it.. So what I would do at this point is wipe it with alcohol and put some sporin on it and keep it wrapped. Check it every 3 days and resporin and bandage. It should heal well as long as it stays clean and dry. The neosporin will help to prevent any further infection.

I think in about 2 weeks, it should be healed.
 
That's great! I didn't want to have to do surgery on it. Should I keep it separated from the others until I can get treatment started? Which will be tomorrow. It is not happy being away from the others.
 
That's great! I didn't want to have to do surgery on it. Should I keep it separated from the others until I can get treatment started? Which will be tomorrow. It is not happy being away from the others.
No, it is not contagious or anything so she can be with the others. She will be fine til tomorrow. Get it cleaned well, some sporin on it with gauze, wrap it, check to make sure it is not too tight, recheck and treat every 3 or so days and it should be completely healed in about 2 weeks!

Keep us posted. :-)
 

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