Hello,
My 2 yo hen had bumblefoot in the fall, and I successfully treated it with soaking, pulling out the plug, and disinfecting and bandaging it. It’s come back now, and I’ve treated it the same way, but the swelling didn’t completely go down, so I gave her a 5-day course of Penicillin from Tractor Supply (I’ll discard the eggs for several weeks after). I’ve been reading everything I can online to make sure I’m doing the best I can for her, and trying to use conservative but thorough home care. She’s been in a great mood the whole time, is very cooperative, and is staying in my garage in a big, clean brooder we built. I should also say that her normal roosts are smooth and the right height, the coop is kept clean, and she’s not a heavy bird (none of my other chickens have/have had bumblefoot).
My question is, should I give her a second course of penicillin? It’s been about a week since I finished the first course, and the puffy swelling has gone down, but the foot is still bigger than it should be and it’s harder now, not swollen-puffy. A flat scab has formed. I’ve kept her in the “hospital” to give it more time and because once she goes back with the others, she’s be running around outside in dirt and grass, and it’s really hard to catch her. (I have to get her at night when she’s in the coop.)
I’m just not sure what else to do at this point. Any advice would be very appreciated.
My 2 yo hen had bumblefoot in the fall, and I successfully treated it with soaking, pulling out the plug, and disinfecting and bandaging it. It’s come back now, and I’ve treated it the same way, but the swelling didn’t completely go down, so I gave her a 5-day course of Penicillin from Tractor Supply (I’ll discard the eggs for several weeks after). I’ve been reading everything I can online to make sure I’m doing the best I can for her, and trying to use conservative but thorough home care. She’s been in a great mood the whole time, is very cooperative, and is staying in my garage in a big, clean brooder we built. I should also say that her normal roosts are smooth and the right height, the coop is kept clean, and she’s not a heavy bird (none of my other chickens have/have had bumblefoot).
My question is, should I give her a second course of penicillin? It’s been about a week since I finished the first course, and the puffy swelling has gone down, but the foot is still bigger than it should be and it’s harder now, not swollen-puffy. A flat scab has formed. I’ve kept her in the “hospital” to give it more time and because once she goes back with the others, she’s be running around outside in dirt and grass, and it’s really hard to catch her. (I have to get her at night when she’s in the coop.)
I’m just not sure what else to do at this point. Any advice would be very appreciated.
