Bumblefoot

[BackyardinWales]

Is there a way to treat this at home?

I am planning to take her the vet.

 

[nuthatched]

A vet is not remotely needed in 90% of cases, and most vets are useless unless they have experience in Avians.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/treating-bumblefoot-a-simple-surgical-approach.75146/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/bumblefoot-treatment.72887/

 

[alinas2010]

It’s true, vets are usually not needed, but can you post a picture of the foot and we can offer more treatment advice after seeing it?

If you choose to treat yourself, I caution you on trying a surgical approach. It takes patience, but usually soaking, wrapping and repeating is enough to get bumblefoot healed. Some people have fine luck cutting into their chickens’ feet, however I’ve seen some cases go really bad, even ending up with the chicken losing their entire foot. So my advice is to try a milder approach first if possible.

 

[BackyardinWales]

As I have sight problems (registered blind) I won't be trying the surgical method myself. My local vet is a farm vet, but he also has chickens himself so I feel quite sure he can sort it ... more safely than I.

Thank you for this information, as now I have an idea what I'm looking at, and now know I need to get some Epsom Salts in stock. Again, thank you.

 

[alinas2010]

As I have sight problems (registered blind) I won't be trying the surgical method myself. My local vet is a farm vet, but he also has chickens himself so I feel quite sure he can sort it ... more safely than I.

You’re welcome That’s great your vet is a farm vet, he should be able to offer some good advice in that case.

Usually a good approach is to start soaking the foot in an Epsom salt bath to try to soften the plug enough to remove. This may take serval episodes if soaking. After each soak, apply ointment and wrap the foot until the next soak. Once or twice a day is good usually. Be very careful when you wrap the foot that nothing is too tight. Wraps tend to slip really easily and can get tighter so I recommend checking that the foot has circulation often.

 

[BackyardinWales]

Update ... saw the vet, who said it wasn't really bumblefoot but a callous, which he removed as we were talking. Then dressed it and said she was fine. (He also gave her a shot of antibiotics)

Two days later she snuck past me before I could remove the dressing, then the next day the dressing was gone and she's been fine since.