I check my flock's feet fairly regularly. Recently I discovered that 5 of my birds have bumblefoot, two of these are pullets I just bought and both of these young ladies have bumblefoot on both feet! In total, I have 8 chicken feet with bumblefoot. I am in day 3 of Vetericyn VF and a gauze/Vetrap bandage. However, I have zero experience with bumblefoot and have no idea if the cases I have are serious enough for the surgery. The worst foot I was able to slightly open up when I took the scab off prior to initially doing the Vetericyn wrap, and there was definitely pus. I have no idea about a hard kernel; the puss I was able to extract through the small hole was gooey and stringy. As of now (day 3) the foot is still swollen (but not red), but the scab has pretty much healed and looks like a much smaller reddish scab as opposed to the big, black scab that was there. I am wondering if the Vetericyn is working, or if I need to cut the foot open?
Also, the other birds still have black scabs that were more difficult to pull off (so I just did what I could with tweezers), but much less, if any, swelling.
I do NOT want to have to cut any of their feet if I don't have to. Does it sound like I need to?
If so, how can I psych myself up for it? I have watched videos of it and read tutorials about bumblefoot surgery, but it still just makes me feel queasy and scared.
By the way, after I discovered all of this, I lowered my roosts and raked all the sticks and everything out of the chicken yard! I was shocked to see so many cases of this, I did not think it was extremely common?
Thank you for any advice!
Also, the other birds still have black scabs that were more difficult to pull off (so I just did what I could with tweezers), but much less, if any, swelling.
I do NOT want to have to cut any of their feet if I don't have to. Does it sound like I need to?
If so, how can I psych myself up for it? I have watched videos of it and read tutorials about bumblefoot surgery, but it still just makes me feel queasy and scared.
By the way, after I discovered all of this, I lowered my roosts and raked all the sticks and everything out of the chicken yard! I was shocked to see so many cases of this, I did not think it was extremely common?
Thank you for any advice!
