Bumblefoot-treating but have to go on vacation

[davep763]

Hi!

So we have 2 chickens (out of 6) with bumblefoot on both feet, 1 chicken has both feet significantly swollen, the other has 1 swollen and 1 foot with a little swelling. We've been treating with Ichthammol and Vetericyn and wrapping every day for the past 5 days, and soaking in epsom salts twice. They don't seem to be getting worse but they don't seem to be getting better. I took down the roosts because of course they were roosting. We leave on a 10 day vacation in 2 days.

Any suggestion on what to do before we leave? Should we leave wraps on while we're away? Will they be ok for that long? If they're ok by the time we get back and it's still swollen I have no problem with doing the surgery but wondering what to do in the meantime.

Thank you!
Dave

 

[SmiYa0126]

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive

Any advice?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just remove dressings and leave them until I got back. Do you have someone taking care of them? Is their bedding fresh and dry? Is it rocky or rough where they are out during the day? Can you put some thick bedding under their landing area for them to be able to roost at night? That is what I would do.

 

[davep763]

Thank you! So you think there is more harm done by leaving the dressings on than taking them off? And I should re-install their roosts? Their bedding is fresh and dry and their run is grass clippings and dirt, so it's soft.

Someone is taking care of them but she shouldn't have to do much, because there will be tons of feed and water...she doesn't know anything about chickens though.

 

[rayrose]

You need to surgically remove the kernals before you leave or they'll be a lot worse, when you return. This is a staph infection and what you're doing will not cure it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would remove all dressings and not do any additional procedures until you return. Wraps can fall off (and I swear someone in my flock ate one), get caught and overtighten, etc. when you're not around to keep an eye on them, which is more immediately dangerous than leaving the infection in a bit longer.

 

[azygous]

I agree that you can safely leave off the bandage and treatment until you get back and can do it properly. Staph is generally confined to the wound itself and shouldn't spread in such a short time.

 

[davep763]

Great, thank you for your input, I appreciate it! I will remove the dressings and take the kernals out when I return. Should I reinstall the roosts?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Great, thank you for your input, I appreciate it! I will remove the dressings and take the kernals out when I return. Should I reinstall the roosts?

I would consider it as long as you don't think they're problematic - how high and how well smoothed/sanded are they?

I don't remove roosts when treating bumblefoot, I don't think it makes a difference after the fact.

 

[davep763]

I re-installed the roosts, they're about 10 inches up with the fresh bedding I put underneath.

It's weird because I've been keeping chickens for over 12 years and no bumblefoot ever, now 2 have it (new batch of chickens, maybe they're more susceptible?).

Thank you for everyone's help, I really appreciate it! Here's hoping that they'll be alright when we get back!