Bumble foot. Please tell me there is another way!

[Kidhenduckohmy]

I just learned what bumble foot is and that my chickens have it. Not just one, but many. I also just watched a bumble foot surgery, and .... well, it was awful.
Is that really the only way to treat it, by cutting it out?
If so, I am also seeing different ways of cleaning the wound. Soaking in epsom salt seems universal, but some use iodine, betadine, hydrogen peroxide and vetermycin for cleaning it out. Which one works best?
Also I am reading it is contagious. Is there anything I should be doing to my coop or run after treatment? We just treated scaley leg mites and bleached the whole coop. Should I scrub the roosts with bleach?

And then I am just wondering....is this just part of owning chickens? I am feeling overwhelmed with this and the fact we just treated 39 chickens about a month ago for scaley leg mites. I am worried what will be next. Is it just that I am inexperienced? Looking back, I wish I would have never bought the hen that introduced the leg mites. Just did not know what they were at the time.

Feeling a bit frustrated.

 

[WalnutHill]

Chickens don't normally just "get" bumblefoot. It's most often caused by a puncture wound in the pad of the foot.

The surgery is not that traumatic. Birds heal very fast. I use epsom salt soak and betadine, but most importantly clean, dry, deep bedding to rest on.

Wrap the bird snugly in a towel, and have a helper hold the bird and the non-surgical foot. Use a scapel or exacto knife to excise the knob and remove the infected cyst. Cleanse, medicate, and don't unwrap the bird until it is in the recovery area.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bumblefoot-in-your-flock

Then find the nail, sharp wire, broken glass or whatever it is that they are hurting their feet on and fix it.

 

[chickengr]

I just learned what bumble foot is and that my chickens have it. Not just one, but many. I also just watched a bumble foot surgery, and .... well, it was awful.
Is that really the only way to treat it, by cutting it out?
If so, I am also seeing different ways of cleaning the wound. Soaking in epsom salt seems universal, but some use iodine, betadine, hydrogen peroxide and vetermycin for cleaning it out. Which one works best?
Also I am reading it is contagious. Is there anything I should be doing to my coop or run after treatment? We just treated scaley leg mites and bleached the whole coop. Should I scrub the roosts with bleach?

And then I am just wondering....is this just part of owning chickens? I am feeling overwhelmed with this and the fact we just treated 39 chickens about a month ago for scaley leg mites. I am worried what will be next. Is it just that I am inexperienced? Looking back, I wish I would have never bought the hen that introduced the leg mites. Just did not know what they were at the time.

Feeling a bit frustrated.

my vet didn't bother to treat bumble foot, just gave antibiotics orally as my chicken had some other problem as well. once I found a post where someone said he had never treated bumble foot, just let it pass on its own. you can sprinkle some limestone in their coop/run, it will help.

I have had chickens since last november and already dealt with IB, bumble foot, salmonella, fowl pox - both wet and dry, botulism, wry neck... but I will not give it up. it is such a good feeling when they gather around me and start chatting and singing, not to mention the taste of fresh eggs.