Bumblefoot for everyone!

[Disheygirl]

I had two chicken with mild bumblefoot - followed the standard protocol of epsom soak, clorahexidine (sp) or Vetricyn (sp) and Prid or neosporin. They’re all but healed.

I was doing another foot check on my flock today - which I last did two weeks ago - and nearly every one of them has it - out of 14, there are five who don’t. All mild, but what the ??

They live in a construction sand run, and I let them on grass for maybe 30 minutes a day when I’m with them. Their coop is deep pine shavings for bedding with some Saturday Lime and their roosts are 2x4.

Nothing has changed - environment or otherwise - for months. No new roosts, and they’re all sanded down. I clean the poop board daily. They all lay in varying nest boxes. The weird part is that the girls who don’t have it are my heaviest breeds - BR, Wyandotte, Brahma. So it must not be impact bumblefoot?

What am I missing?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Well, bumblefoot is usually a combination of wound + bacteria.

You obviously don't think you have a lot of wounds going on, but it probably wouldn't hurt to do a walkaround of the coop and double-check everything, just in case.

Failing that, skin is porous, and bacteria will find a way.

I'm going to guess that the bacteria part of the equation is the killer here. I'd get rid of the deep bedding for now, disinfect the coop (probably with bleach, but whatever you have on hand/feel comfortable with), and put down some absorbent bedding (I like the pine pellets), with lime and/or sulfur to control the nasties.

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

 

[dawg53]

Unless the footpad is swollen and red, or there's limping, there's no need to do anything. The scabs will eventually disappear on their own.
Otherwise, minor surgery is required to remove the infection or Tricide Neo can be used for a longer term treatment.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

Unless the footpad is swollen and red, or there's limping, there's no need to do anything. The scabs will eventually disappear on their own.
Otherwise, minor surgery is required to remove the infection or Tricide Neo can be used for a longer term treatment.

I agree with this. As long as it’s not bothering them or getting swollen and red I just make note of it and check it periodically. All intervention has its own risks and sometimes it does just go away without any treatment at all.

 

[WIchickMama]

I agree with this. As long as it’s not bothering them or getting swollen and red I just make note of it and check it periodically. All intervention has its own risks and sometimes it does just go away without any treatment at all.

Yep, that is what we do here too!

 

[Disheygirl]

Well, bumblefoot is usually a combination of wound + bacteria.

You obviously don't think you have a lot of wounds going on, but it probably wouldn't hurt to do a walkaround of the coop and double-check everything, just in case.

Failing that, skin is porous, and bacteria will find a way.

I'm going to guess that the bacteria part of the equation is the killer here. I'd get rid of the deep bedding for now, disinfect the coop (probably with bleach, but whatever you have on hand/feel comfortable with), and put down some absorbent bedding (I like the pine pellets), with lime and/or sulfur to control the nasties.

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

I cleaned out their coop bedding about a month ago…I hate to even say this out loud because what a monster cluster to replace it, but could it be the sand? Half of their run isn’t covered, and while we haven’t gotten a lot of rain and I scoop poop a few times a day, that seems like if anything is the culprit, that could be it. Guess it’s time to read about sand harboring bacteria or just rent a back hoe to get it out. Oh boy.

 

[dawg53]

I cleaned out their coop bedding about a month ago…I hate to even say this out loud because what a monster cluster to replace it, but could it be the sand? Half of their run isn’t covered, and while we haven’t gotten a lot of rain and I scoop poop a few times a day, that seems like if anything is the culprit, that could be it. Guess it’s time to read about sand harboring bacteria or just rent a back hoe to get it out. Oh boy.

I use sand in coops and pens without any issues with bumblefoot. If you havnt done so, sand down your roosts with sandpaper to eliminate burrs and splinters, a couple of swipes will do it. Also lower roosts. The roosts in my coops are no higher than 6 inches above the sand.
It's been years since any of my birds have had a bumblefoot issue. I scoop poop several times a day as well, easy to do with sand.