Bumblefoot

[CashewVulture]

I think two of my hens have bumblefoot. Both have it on both their feet but hen one is limping and holds her foot high. I treated my hen with the limping foot by soaking it in epsom salt and then removing the black scab using a needle and small blade. I couldn’t get deeper in though, it’s really hard to cut further down. First picture is her “good” foot, the one she puts her weight on, and the other is the bad foot after I cut off the black scab

So hens can have bumblefoot but not be in pain? Because my other hen doesn’t seem affected at all, but both her feet have black scabs (not dried poop or anything) like in the first picture.

Also I don’t know how I should wrap the wound up. (The one I operated on) I can’t just let her walk outside with this?

 

[coach723]

There may still be some gunk in that foot under where the scab was. I would soak again, or apply decolorized iodine to the foot overnight and wrap, soften it up good, and do some manipulating and sqeezing, see if you can get anything out. Sometimes it feels like small hard spots in the foot. Then cover the wound (fill any hole) with plain triple antibiotic ointment, and wrap with vet wrap or co wrap, to keep it clean. Not too tight, just tight enough to stay on, you don't want to cut off circulation. It will stay on better if a wrap or two goes around the ankle. I get co wrap at Tractor supply in the horse section, it's 4" wide and can be cut to any width needed. I find about an inch wide works well for hens, a little wider for the larger feet of a roo. You will need to change bandages, clean it out again if needed, and reapply ointment daily until you know it's healing up well, then you can go to less often, every other or every third day. If there is still stuff in the foot it will keep regenerating. I keep them wrapped until they are completely healed up. Some smaller, shallow lesions may clear up with just topical treatments and wrapping, but many require at least removing the scab and cleaning out underneath it. If it's really gunky a telfa (non stick) pad can help with changing bandages. Bumblefoot can be a slow process healing sometimes, even the small ones, so patience and persistence.

 

[CashewVulture]

There may still be some gunk in that foot under where the scab was. I would soak again, or apply decolorized iodine to the foot overnight and wrap, soften it up good, and do some manipulating and sqeezing, see if you can get anything out. Sometimes it feels like small hard spots in the foot. Then cover the wound (fill any hole) with plain triple antibiotic ointment, and wrap with vet wrap or co wrap, to keep it clean. Not too tight, just tight enough to stay on, you don't want to cut off circulation. It will stay on better if a wrap or two goes around the ankle. I get co wrap at Tractor supply in the horse section, it's 4" wide and can be cut to any width needed. I find about an inch wide works well for hens, a little wider for the larger feet of a roo. You will need to change bandages, clean it out again if needed, and reapply ointment daily until you know it's healing up well, then you can go to less often, every other or every third day. If there is still stuff in the foot it will keep regenerating. I keep them wrapped until they are completely healed up. Some smaller, shallow lesions may clear up with just topical treatments and wrapping, but many require at least removing the scab and cleaning out underneath it. If it's really gunky a telfa (non stick) pad can help with changing bandages. Bumblefoot can be a slow process healing sometimes, even the small ones, so patience and persistence.

Thanks! Is it okay if I wait a few days before treating the other feet? I can’t get ahold of some vet wrap until Tuesday.

 

[coach723]

Bumblefoot is generally a slow process, both in developing and in treating/curing, so rarely a real emergency. While it does need to be dealt with so that it doesn't continue to get worse, and the earlier you treat usually the easier, it's not likely to be a problem to wait that long. I generally keep co wrap around all the time now, you never know when it will be needed. I usually get white or black, so as to not attract attention. If you can find a pair of small bandage scissors as well (image below) it makes it easier to remove after they've been walking around in it, sometimes it's hard to find the end. I have a very small one that is great for chicken feet.