Bumble foot cause mystery??

[farmdude]

The company I work for runs group homes for disabled adults. One of the programs has a farm with 3 dozen leghorn hens. 4 of the hens has bumble foot. It is not on the bottoms of their feet but more in between 2 toes. I've been working with other staff preparing for their treatment (surgery). We can't figure out how they have gotten it. The roosts are low and smooth. All the wood is painted. Could it be a parasite or a nutrition issue? And why between the toes with the scab on top of the swollen area?
Any advice or input would be appreciated!! I've googled the heck out of the subject and have read many of the posts here and I'm still at a loss for the cause.

 

[CMV]

Could they have been bitten by something? That's the only thing I can think of that would happen to the tops of the foot on several birds.

 

[farmdude]

I suppose they could have!?

 

[CMV]

Any rodent issues?

 

[farmdude]

Any rodent issues?

There were rats around, we think we got them all.

 

[CMV]

I think you may have your explanation. Rats have a terrible tendency to chew on chicken feet.

 

[farmdude]

I thought it maybe the reason before I asked, but wanted a second opinion. And honestly I was hoping it was something less sinister.

 

[CMV]

Rats are a nasty, but common issue around poultry. They carry diseases such as salmonella into your run and coop. They eat the feed raising your feeding costs well above where they should be. And they damage birds. They will chew on the feet of adult birds that are roosting and they will kill any chicks they can get to that are unattended. It is very necessary to eradicate them from a poultry yard.

I hope you have no further problems with them. Good luck with the bumblefoot surgeries.