Bumblefoot

[Hitte’sHens]

Hey there

I noticed one of my hens favoring one of her feet. It was red with a small bubble between her toes.
I soaked her foot and removed the scab and soaked it again in epson salt. I then put antibiotics on it and all the swelling went away in a few days but the scab is back and still the same size.
I have checked my other girls and I see 2 others have black scabs but seem to be fine. No swelling or favoring their feet.
Should I do the bumble foot removal on them or wait till it shows a problem?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Hitte’sHens,

Sounds like you did a good job on the hen's foot, but you didn't mention if you wrapped her foot. You need to wrap the foot till the infection heals. Cover the wound with a piece of sterile gauze, then, some self stick vet wrap. Check the wound every couple of days, to make sure it is healing, change the dressing at this time.

As for the other chickens, you should treat the infection before it gets out of control. Bumble Foot is a staph infection. Left untreated, it can cause a chicken to go lame, in severe cases, it can even cause death.

This is just one of those chicken health care things, that a keeper has to deal with. It's right up there with the poopy butt bath.

God Bless

 

[Hitte’sHens]

Oh my yes I forgot to add that
Yes I used sterile gauze and wrapped up. Next time I will do a better job. The little bugger pulled it off after a few days.

Ok I will get busy on the other feet. I was afraid to touch them thinking they would maybe heal on their own. No such luck.
I wish I could figure out what’s doing it.

Thank you for your answer!!

Blessing to you as well

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Oh my yes I forgot to add that
Yes I used sterile gauze and wrapped up. Next time I will do a better job. The little bugger pulled it off after a few days.

Ok I will get busy on the other feet. I was afraid to touch them thinking they would maybe heal on their own. No such luck.
I wish I could figure out what’s doing it.

Thank you for your answer!!

Blessing to you as well

If the scabs are tiny on the other chickens, they may do OK with Epsom Salt soaks and antibiotic ointment, then wrap foot well. Check the progress every few days.

 

[Hitte’sHens]

I can’t thank you enough for the advise!
I just did the complete Bumblefoot removal and WOW that was nerve racking. I hope I got it all.
She’s all wrapped up!
I will do what you said to others!
Thank you again!!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Switching to sand in the run, if you don't already have it, really helps. Some chickens just have thinner skin on their soles. So, they are easily cut or scratched.

Also, perhaps you would be interested in having some of the chickens wear "Birdy Booties", they are sold at Krazy K online store.
http://www.crazykfarm.com/products.html

I have a large hen and a rooster that wear some, 10 months out of the year, to protect their feet. I just got tired of treating them for bumble foot. They can be a bit pricey, because the chickens wear them out. Which goes to show how much punishment chicken feet go through. Anyways, if you are crafty, you can even make some yourself.

Here is a picture of my big girl "Iona" modeling her new home made shoes. LOL! Oh, gosh, I gotta clean that dishwasher!

 

[TribalMog]

I'm dying at the birdie booties. And totally going to get some. Currently treating my seramas for the bumble.