bumblefoot???

[Transit1992]

3 out of my 5 hens have this on their feet. I had a vet (he was an equine vet) come to the house this past Wednesday, he tried to extract with a syringe any fluid. Nothing came out. He gave them an antibiotic shot and told me to just keep giving Epsom salt baths. Should I try something else like a balm and bandage? They are walking fine, eating fine, their feces is fine. Am I overreacting? The vet checked my coop, and didn't find any problems, and they free range all day. 2 are orpingtons, and 1 is a brahma.

 

[RaineyTN]

Yes that’s bumble foot you need to pop that scab off and clean it out

 

[Peppercorngal]

Wow, you have a vet that actually comes to your house? We can't even find a vet to take a chicken to! With that said, this looks to me to be a typical case of bumblefoot. It's infection and can actually be deadly! Did the vet know this? I suggest you read this article. https://the-chicken-chick.com/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning/ Good Luck. ☺

 

[Transit1992]

Yes that’s bumble foot you need to pop that scab off and clean it out

Do I just try with tweezers? Or should I try the balm and bandage first?

 

[Criticalicious]

Chicken pus is solid cheesy material. It isn't going to be liquid unless it's blood. Soaking in epsom salt and gently trying to clean out the scab can help reduce the infection. Some people cut them out, but that can cause more damage to the foot. To keep it clean, you can wrap carefully in vet wrap (don't cut off circulation to the toes and check it everyday). You might also consider ordering Birdie Booties. I've had good luck with them, but they aren't as cheap as vet wrap.

 

[Transit1992]

Wow, you have a vet that actually comes to your house? We can't even find a vet to take a chicken to! With that said, this looks to me to be a typical case of bumblefoot. It's infection and can actually be deadly! Did the vet know this? I suggest you read this article. https://the-chicken-chick.com/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning/ Good Luck. ☺

He was an equine vet, he administered antibiotics. He used a syringe to extract any pus but nothing came out. He told me to keep up with Epsom baths which I have done daily.

 

[Transit1992]

Chicken pus is solid cheesy material. It isn't going to be liquid unless it's blood. Soaking in epsom salt and gently trying to clean out the scab can help reduce the infection. Some people cut them out, but that can cause more damage to the foot. To keep it clean, you can wrap carefully in vet wrap (don't cut off circulation to the toes and check it everyday). You might also consider ordering Birdie Booties. I've had good luck with them, but they aren't as cheap as vet wrap.

So the vet that came shouldn't have tried to extract anything? I will call another vet tomorrow. How else would I remove the scab if I shouldn't cut it?

 

[Criticalicious]

After soaking the foot in epsom salt bath, the scab should be soft, and then you can gently try to peel it away/off/out with your fingers (wear gloves if you have them). If it doesn't come on its own, soak it some more and try again, or let it be and try the next day. The reason not to cut is because you don't want to cut the healthy skin growing in underneath. The most important thing is to keep it clean and a little moist. This article has a straightforward walkthrough on treating bumblefoot.

 

[Transit1992]

After soaking the foot in epsom salt bath, the scab should be soft, and then you can gently try to peel it away/off/out with your fingers (wear gloves if you have them). If it doesn't come on its own, soak it some more and try again, or let it be and try the next day. The reason not to cut is because you don't want to cut the healthy skin growing in underneath. The most important thing is to keep it clean and a little moist. This article has a straightforward walkthrough on treating bumblefoot.

Everyday I Epsom salt bath them. I rub the spot, I will try tomorrow morning to peal away. I do have tweezers I can try with. Once I pick it away do I bandage it?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Good advice above. Very obvious bumbles.

After Epsom salt soak, to pop off the scabs, I like using a combination of tweezers and an utility knife (all kept exclusively for chicken use and cleaned off with rubbing alcohol) as they provide better control than fingernails. Get as much of the scab off as you can, plus any cheesey looking material from underneath - you shouldn't have to cut anything but there may be some bleeding. A paper towel held firmly in place should help stop the bleeding

The article that Criticalicious posted is pretty much how I treat it after removing the scab - spray thoroughly with Vetricyn, apply Neosporin, wrap snugly but not firmly with vet wrap.

Soak again next day, make sure the injury looks clean, spray with Vetricyn, re-wrap. I continue doing this daily until the swelling goes down a bit and the area is healed over enough that the chicken can safely walk around without any wrapping over the injury.