Bumblefoot HELP please!!

[epeloquin]

I have two hens with bumblefoot on both feet. On of them has what I would say is a moderate infection on one foot and mild on the other. Th other hen has a mild case on both feet. I have thoroughly cleaned their run, put fresh straw down and we will be putting a fresh layer of soil. I also took their roost out and scrubbed it down and disinfected it.

I am wondering two things...

1. Is there anything else I can do to help prevent this.
2. Would a temporary diet of medicated feed help clear up the infections?

Any help is really appreciated!

Eric P.
Chicopee

 

[dawg53]

I have two hens with bumblefoot on both feet. On of them has what I would say is a moderate infection on one foot and mild on the other. Th other hen has a mild case on both feet. I have thoroughly cleaned their run, put fresh straw down and we will be putting a fresh layer of soil. I also took their roost out and scrubbed it down and disinfected it.

I am wondering two things...

1. Is there anything else I can do to help prevent this.
2. Would a temporary diet of medicated feed help clear up the infections?

Any help is really appreciated!

Eric P.
Chicopee

Bumblefoot is like getting a splinter in your finger and getting infected, or a small cut getting infected by bacteria. Consider using sandpaper to sand down burrs and splinters on roosts and perches. Lowering roosts can help prevent foot problems such as sprains, pulled tendons, ligaments etc...
Consider picking up/raking pine cones or gumballs from sweet gum trees in your yard if you have them, leaves from holly bushes as well. The spiny points can penetrate the footpads and possibly break off. Medicated feed wont do anything to clear up the staph infection that bumblefoot causes. Once the infection gets to the legbone, there isnt any amount of antibiotics that will save a chicken. The infection then quickly spreads throughout their system, death occurs usually from organ failure, staph bacteria overload. Penicillin G procaine injections can stop it if caught early. It's imperative to remove the infection by minor surgery as soon as possible before the staph infection spreads. Here's an excellent link by "Ruth" on how to do bumblefoot surgery.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/236649/bumblefoot-surgery-with-pics-and-how-to

 

[epeloquin]

I had actually referred to that thread you posted. The hen with the worst infection did not have that pasty pus in the wound. I did clean it out, I probed for the pus but there was no pasty build up as I have heard tell of. The other foot and both feet on the other hand only had mild redness between the toes and a very small scab on the foot pad but no swelling or pus build up. I cleaned up the scab, put iodine, neosporin and wrapped them.

Any advice on what else?

P.S. I am going to lower their roost a few inches too.