Bumblefoot questions-Help please

[coach723]

I'm so, so sorry. Losing one that you have put so much time into taking care of and helping it get better is always really hard. I lost an 11 week old chick yesterday, that I was just beginning to integrate into the flock, to a hawk. It's always very upsetting. I've lost some to foxes as well. No matter how hard we try to prevent it, those predators are always ready for any opportunity.

 

[kpenn26]

I'm so, so sorry. Losing one that you have put so much time into taking care of and helping it get better is always really hard. I lost an 11 week old chick yesterday, that I was just beginning to integrate into the flock, to a hawk. It's always very upsetting. I've lost some to foxes as well. No matter how hard we try to prevent it, those predators are always ready for any opportunity.

Thank you for your kind reply. We’ve lost a handful over the last couple of years but this is our first true predator attack. Devastating. I’m sorry for the loss of your chick—maddening to lose them so quickly! We have 4 baby barred rocks that mama stopped taking care of when they were only 4 weeks. They were locked safely in the run. Their mama was the one taken that we can’t find. But all the other big girls seem to have taken the babies in now. Last night the babies were on the top roost with the big girls, and one was even snuggled up with another broody hen in a nesting box. So that was sweet to see.

 

[coach723]

Glad the babies are all ok, doesn't make the other losses hurt less. My chick was a Egyptian fayoumi pullet, first time I've hatched them here, which are a bit smaller especially early on, so I've kept them in their own covered run longer to let them get to a better size. But they are very fast, so smart hawk. Two are boys, but still too young to have a clue. Obviously still small enough to be tempting for a hawk. I know mine were all traumatized yesterday, I knew something was up as soon as I got out there. I have about 50 birds, and the hawk targeted the smallest. So they are confined again, until I can get some more hawk deterrents set up.

 

[Bsmac]

Well, Petunia continued to make progress with epsom/iodine soaks. Swelling was way down, and she was doing great. Yesterday a fox attacked our flock in broad daylight after I'd let the dog (black lab) inside to cool down--we are in Texas and it's already blazing hot in the afternoons. My son happened to go in the backyard, saw the fox and yelled. The fox escaped with one hen in his mouth, left two dead, and one injured. Petunia was among the dead. Her sister Ginny is injured but survived the night.
All to say, the treatment was working for Petunia. And we are heartbroken over her.

Sorry for your loss that just stinks!

 

[RubelliteRose]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

I am so sorry for your loss. It's terrible that y'all were making progress and then this happened. Just know that we've all had moments like this.

 

[RAD Chicks]

This is unfortunate to hear. In two weeks my chicks will arrive, as a new/first time chick dad I’m trying to run all of the possible scenarios that can happen to my chicks when left unattended. The coop will be fortified but it’s the run that I’m still constructing in my mind that will be my challenge to secure. I keep telling myself to not get too attached to them but it’s hard not to as they’ll become part of the family over time. I sorry about your loss, you are a good owner demonstrated by owner with you care you provided to Petunia.

 

[kpenn26]

I have another hen, Helga, with (what I suspect to be) bumblefoot. Her back toe is very swollen, not the foot pad. Swelling seems to have spread a bit from the toe into the foot. Today we soaked in epsom salt, then I made an incision in the scab right beneath the toenail. This is the only obvious point of infection I could find. I did not have to go deep, and after I removed the scab there was no pus, just a bit of blood that stopped quickly. I cut no deeper because it looked like healthy tissue. I did squeeze gently for a bit to see if any pus came up, but none did. I'm not convinced this was the point of infection, but it was definitely a yucky scab. I sprayed with vetericyn, packed with neosporin, and wrapped with sterile gauze and vet wrap. Pictures of before and after incision. She has been limping slightly (before we messed with her) but otherwise her comb is bright, she continues to lay, and is eating and drinking normally.
Advice and opinions appreciated.