Bumblefoot epidemic

[murphrandir]

I am writing you at the end of a very frustrating evening. I happened to notice my white leg horn looks like her foot was a bit swollen. I picked her up and looked at her, and it looked like pretty classic bumble foot. I soaked her, made an incision, pulled out the plug, flushed it with Betadine and wrapped her up with neosporin. As I went to return her, I noticed she also appeared to have it, but to a milder degree in her other foot. She never walked with a limp, so this was never obvious to me. Keeping that in mind, I checked about half of the other chickens in my run. At least two more also have it. They don’t walk with limps and I never would have noticed it without looking for it. I feel like giving up. This was very hard for me to do and I can’t imagine doing it for a dozen more chickens, let alone changing all of their dressing. I keep my run very clean, it’s not overcrowded, and in fact they free range for about half of the day. They roost on two by fours with the wide side up. I’m at my wits end. Do I need to give them all surgery?

 

[dawg53]

I understand your frustration; been there, done that when it comes to bumblefoot. I've made several unnecessary surgeries when there was only some swelling along with the telltale round scab. No infection came out of the hole no matter how hard I squeezed.
I only do the surgery if there is redness AND swelling along with the scab. Limping due to bumblefoot is automatic surgery, with or without redness and/or swelling.
Of course it's all up to you to do what you think is best for your chickens.
Consider lowering roosts and use sandpaper to eliminate any splinters or unseen burrs on the 2x4's, a few swipes with the sandpaper will work.

 

[murphrandir]

I understand your frustration; been there, done that when it comes to bumblefoot. I've made several unnecessary surgeries when there was only some swelling along with the telltale round scab. No infection came out of the hole no matter how hard I squeezed.
I only do the surgery if there is redness AND swelling along with the scab. Limping due to bumblefoot is automatic surgery, with or without redness and/or swelling.
Of course it's all up to you to do what you think is best for your chickens.
Consider lowering roosts and use sandpaper to eliminate any splinters or unseen burrs on the 2x4's, a few swipes with the sandpaper will work.

I couldn’t get much out of the one I did treat- it seemed like it was mostly just the scab itself and the collection beneath it. Hers was pinkish. The others aren’t though… just seem calloused.

 

[Fontaine]

I am writing you at the end of a very frustrating evening. I happened to notice my white leg horn looks like her foot was a bit swollen. I picked her up and looked at her, and it looked like pretty classic bumble foot. I soaked her, made an incision, pulled out the plug, flushed it with Betadine and wrapped her up with neosporin. As I went to return her, I noticed she also appeared to have it, but to a milder degree in her other foot. She never walked with a limp, so this was never obvious to me. Keeping that in mind, I checked about half of the other chickens in my run. At least two more also have it. They don’t walk with limps and I never would have noticed it without looking for it. I feel like giving up. This was very hard for me to do and I can’t imagine doing it for a dozen more chickens, let alone changing all of their dressing. I keep my run very clean, it’s not overcrowded, and in fact they free range for about half of the day. They roost on two by fours with the wide side up. I’m at my wits end. Do I need to give them all

I am writing you at the end of a very frustrating evening. I happened to notice my white leg horn looks like her foot was a bit swollen. I picked her up and looked at her, and it looked like pretty classic bumble foot. I soaked her, made an incision, pulled out the plug, flushed it with Betadine and wrapped her up with neosporin. As I went to return her, I noticed she also appeared to have it, but to a milder degree in her other foot. She never walked with a limp, so this was never obvious to me. Keeping that in mind, I checked about half of the other chickens in my run. At least two more also have it. They don’t walk with limps and I never would have noticed it without looking for it. I feel like giving up. This was very hard for me to do and I can’t imagine doing it for a dozen more chickens, let alone changing all of their dressing. I keep my run very clean, it’s not overcrowded, and in fact they free range for about half of the day. They roost on two by fours with the wide side up. I’m at my wits end. Do I need to give them all surgery?

I have the exact same situation, so I understand your exasperation. I thought.dawg53 had some good ideas. I am going to try that .good luck.