Dealing with bumblefoot epidemic

[kat2]

Still hoping someone will chime in? Anyone else employ the "wait and see" approach? I guess what I'm really asking is does every case of bumble eventually blow up? Or is there a likelihood they can show no other signs for 1+ years?

Also- should I bother bleaching/disinfecting perches or is that just a waste of time since wood is porous?

I'm also really wondering about the "wait and see" approach, as three of our hens are showing no signs of any problem. Our son only found it on the other three by examining the rest of the flock after finding it on one. The one we did treat had a spot on the bottom of her foot and also the top. But I'd really like to just leave the rest alone if we could.

 

[fatcatx]

Small elevated coop so roosts are about 6 and 18 inches off the floor. I use shavings under the roost (the floor is kitchen vinyl flooring over the wood base). The outside run is just dirt but I put straw over it in spring/summer.

We had one that the infection had grown but we addressed it and it looks like it healed up nicely. No limping in anyone and all the other feet look normal other than the scabs.

I resanded and sealed the roosts but they were quite smooth already so I don't think that was the source of the problem.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post some pictures of their feet?

 

[ronott1]

bumble foot is a staff infection. The bacteria has to be present to cause the infection. Reduce the bacteria in your coop and run.

Southland organics makes a spray called liter life that claims to reduce bacteria in your coop and runs. They quote some studies that show this.

It might also help to turn the soil in the run every week or so and put new straw on top.

 

[fatcatx]

Sorry - I tried to get a picture but DH has been working so much OT I haven't had an extra pair of hands to help get a clear shot. I tried finding a good example on Google image but they are all of swollen feet in more advanced stages. Most of ours look very normal other than the scab.

After doing more research, I am going to try and treat with PRID salve for 1-2 days, soak, and then do my best to pull it out rather than cut. It's almost more work than surgery but I am curious if it will be successful. Also recovery should be quick. I also saw a video where they used blu-kote to pretreat and raise up the scab. Anyone have success with that? Maybe I will go all scientific-y and try one on each foot.

I appreciate all the suggestions. We are still stumped re: what they are cutting their feet on to allow the infection to set in. I keep sanding and hoping for the best.

 

[staceyj]

I live in the south east and the back portion of our yard is populated with very tall (40-50 ft) long leaf pines.
Our 6 girls have access to the whole yard.

We've had a family of squirrels who have been FEASTING on the large immature pine cones growing way up high for the past 3-4 weeks.

They sit way up there peeling each "petal" away from the cone, eat the tiny nut inside, and then let the petal fall to the ground. Each one of these has a small needle sharp protrusion on it. There are many hundreds maybe thousands of them falling down to the pine straw " floor" .

Impossible to eliminate without cutting down trees, or getting rid of the squirrels. I'm doing what I can to rake the litter.

2 of our 6 have minor cases of bumblefoot which I'm currently treating non-surgically.
I don't know for sure but I'm thinking that's the source of our problem.
Interesting note though, is that both girls who have it are welsummers. None of the buff orpingtons or the australorp have it!

 

[fatcatx]

Interesting- 2 of ours are Welsummers too. However since we have 5+ different breeds I don't think ours is a breed issue.

Ugh- pine cone scraps. What a battle. I bet your girls head straight to them because they are so fun to scratch in.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I have two hens and a rooster that get bumblefoot. My vet said some birds are just more susceptible to it than others. My 8.5 lb. rooster required antibiotic injections to rid him of the infection. When I first saw his foot I washed it with peroxide and just did a wait and see. A few weeks later he was unable to get up. So, that's when I took him to see the vet. Now, I am proactive with the problem. The vet advised sand in the run, antibiotic ointment, and foot wrapping every 3 to 5 days depending on severity.
We live in the foothills of southern California. The terrain is rocky, lots of trees so many little sticks on the ground. Once I had the rooster cleared of his bumblefoot, I made him some boots. I also use colloidal silver,1100 ppm, solution to saturate the inside of his boots. He has not had any more problems with bumblefoot. Of course he needs a new pair of shoes every three months. They used to last only 3 weeks, that's how much punishment his feet go through! There were holes worn right though the neoprene 3 mm thick fabric. Now the soles of each shoe have a piece of rubber under the center pad and are coated with Flex all. As for my girls, they too wear boots occasionally. The sand in the run seems to have helped their feet. My rooster is also able to go barefoot, but I check his feet if I see him lifting them or limping. Then, it's back to the boots! As you can see they are pets not livestock. Especially my roo, he is my buddy too. LOL!

 

[fatcatx]

Wow! Now that's clever. I'm surprised they leave the boots alone. Do they come in a Wellies style for when it rains? :-D

I had a thought - is it possible that straw could be the source of the problem? I just started using straw in the run this summer, however I don't know how many of them had bumble already started. Could the straw be pokey enough to be making entrance spots for the infection?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

You can buy chicken boots online at Krazy K farm store. I ordered some, but they didn't fit my Roos. So, I had to make them some. But they did fit my girls. They do make Wellies style for ducks. If it rains for more than a day I just take the boots off. Chickens need their toe nails exposed so they can forage. When it rains, my chickens have to stay in the pen anyways.

Doubt the straw caused the problem, but depending on the texture it might contribute. When I toss some alfalfa hay in for the chickens, I do notice that some of it is like hard sticks. But, the girls haven't shown any problems. They love picking through it and munching on the little dried alfalfa leaves. Your chickens are just susceptible to bumblefoot. Probably due to genetics. My vet said some just have softer skin on their soles.