Bumblefoot Mystery

[ChickenDadda]

Howdy folks, looking for some insight.

Noticed last week one of my chickens had a limp to her, i saw that on her right foot she had a scab on the base of her foot and was clearly twice as large as her left foot.

My immediate thought was bumblefoot, so i start the treatment, i soak her in epsom salts for 15 mins, then get some PRID drawing salve and cover the scab. Get some gauze and wrap it. I do this every day for a week.

Now is where it gets tricky, After the pre treatment has finished, i start to peel away the scab, expecting to bring out the bumble that is infecting her foot, however the scab did not bring up any bumble. It just seemed to take the scab but there was no flesh underneath that seemed unhealthy or was a bumble. I washed it with iodine and neosporin and wrapped it again.

I am at a loss, her right foot is clearly far more swollen yet there was no bumble i could peel away. I am not going to just go in and slice her foot open to see if there is anything. Anyone experience anything similar? is there something i can do?

(it is also important to note her left foot [the smaller one] seems to have the scales splay out more than i feel is normal, but there does not seem to be any cuts or signs of infection)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you post a pic?

 

[ChickenDadda]

I just put her to bed, Ill see about posting one when i can

 

[ChickenDadda]

 

[ChickenDadda]

here are the photos, one is clearly more swollen. I feel the base of the foot, it feels more firm but not hot to the touch. but looking at the wound after a light cleaning, its clear it did not pull out a bumble with the scab

 

[Themellowyellows]

Dealing with the same thing.. Apply prid for about a month. Keep in mind, this takes along time to go away, and you might need to peal back the scab 2-3 times to get to puss. This is what happend to me.

 

[ChickenDadda]

jesus, i dont wanna just keep pecking the scab away until it opens up enough to take the bumble out, you think if i just let it heal and keep applying prid after another week or two it would take it out at once? trying to not have my girl suffer more than she needs to

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What causes bumblefoot? Is it staph? @Eggcessive
Would Mupiricin work better than, say, Neosporin to clear it up?

 

[Themellowyellows]

jesus, i dont wanna just keep pecking the scab away until it opens up enough to take the bumble out, you think if i just let it heal and keep applying prid after another week or two it would take it out at once? trying to not have my girl suffer more than she needs to

Nope, it wont heal. Its a infection so it wont just go away unless you get antibiotics. Give your hens treats when they go to get there "pedicure" then they will really enjoy it. Like my hen! You can place a towel over them, to make sure they dont flap thete wings. (Odiviously not over her head.) It does not really hurt them, just be gentle. Blood is fine, too much. Not that fine. Be gentle enough so that if they move there foot quickly, you wont hurt them. Also make sure not to wrap the vet wrap to tight.