Bumblefoot?

[welasharon]

Don't start antibiotics unless someone can continue them while you are gone

 

[gander007]

Yep I have to agree you can take care of this your self but you need to do it after you get back from your trip so you can keep an eye on the foot ....

 

[TwoCrows]

So I was able to soak and remove the scab and dig out any nasty stuff but the skin under the scab seemed to be healthy tissue. Very pink and bled a lot. The bottom of her foot is warm which says something's going on. I put an antibiotic ointment (emt) on it and layered guaze and vet wrap. I just couldn't cut the entire area....not strong enough to pierce the skin that didn't seem diseased. Should I do this more often? Start antibiotics today? Will be gone in one week......for a week.

I covered her head but it seemed to bother her when I cut at it.

oh I love them so much and I'm feeling like a bad chicken mama for letting them get a hurt foot.

First, you are not a bad momma to let her poke her foot. These things happen, especially if you free range them. Even in the run, they can poke their feet on sharp rocks and such.

Sounds like you did really good! That is exactly what you should have done and dug down to healthy skin, getting all the gunk out. As long as you packed the hole well with antibiotic, you do not need to start her on any oral antibiotics. Bumblefoot rarely requires antibiotics, unless the infection gets really bad and the bird is sick. Most antibiotics just don't work all that well with bumblefoot. Baytril or Cephalexcin works in soft tissue infections like this should you need it. But most bumblefoot heals well if you get it all out and keep it clean and dry.

So check it daily for the next week. Because you have to leave next week, make sure you wrap it well on that last day, and keep the bird somewhere where she won't get it wet. In a dry run if you can. Make sure to check it first thin upon returning. If all is well, you can then check it every 3 days or so to make sure it is healing. If at any time from now until it heals, should the scab look yellow and full of pus, you will need to go back in and do another surgery. Keep the foot bandaged for about one month or until that scab falls off. Usually does take a month, so don't worry it is not healing. Chickens don't have really good circulation in their feet, so they can drag the healing out to one month with bumblefoot.

Good luck and keep us posted!! I think you did fantastic!!!

 

[weninegarlove]

Thank you all so much.

 

[weninegarlove]

Can we continue to eat her eggs?

 

[TwoCrows]

Absolutely. Nothing is passing into her eggs from her bumblefoot or the ointment. Keep eating!!!

 

[weninegarlove]

So I just noticed that one of my girls hasn't left the coop since 4pm and the other has been free ranging but laid a soft egg and was trying to eat it. They have adequate nutrition and oyster shell. Think they are stressed from the surgery? Any warning signs I should look for?

 

[TwoCrows]

I have never had a bird get too stressed from bumble foot surgery, but I suppose it is possible. Soft shelled eggs do happen, especially in the hot summer, if a bird was scared during the stage of putting on the shell and she hurried the egg along, young or old birds.

I wouldn't be too concerned unless it starts to become a habit.

 

[drumstick diva]

You are in the best of hands. 2 Crows is excellent and follows up to see how things are going. Hope you have a nice vacation and return to find - healed foot. Welcome to BYC

 

[TwoCrows]

How is she today? How did the scab look today??