End of foot pads looks bruised on 10wk olds

[Mo'sMenagerie]

Let me start by saying i've experienced bumblefoot in one of my hens, and it was a horrible experience, scarring me and my husband pretty darn good. We did the surgery which DID NOT go like all the videos and books said it would. This was almost 9 months ago now, and our sweet girl ended up not making it, but due to egg peritonitis. This experience led me to change so much about chicken keeping. Now my flock only gets treats on the weekends, and never very much. We went to sand in the coop and run and we put in a droppings board which i clean and disinfect everyday. I also started feeding them fermented feed in the morning.... Trying to make the cleanest, healthiest environments for my flock of 11.

So...when I was inspecting my flock last night, and noticed what looks like strange bruising on the tips of the toe pads on my two pullets (one barnyard mix and one plymouth rock), my heart skipped a beat. If this is bumblefoot, I don't think either of us are up for doing the "surgery" again. And I don't have an avian vet nearby...although I could take her to one that's about 1.5 hours away. So I'm reaching out to my BYC family! Sure would like to hear that this is not bumblefoot!! Please, any help is appreciated!

PS
I will get photos tonight when they go to roost and I can actually catch them

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Photos

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

Photos

I'm working on it! Both of them are really tough to catch! Been stalking them all afternoon in hopes of snagging one up . Stay tuned!

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

First 2 photos are of my cockerel who is 12 weeks old.. the next 3 are of the Plymouth rock of the same age:

After taking these photos, I soaked each of their feet in epsom salt for 10 minutes.

My cockerel then got a vetricyn spray and returned to the coop.

My PBR Coco got the full monty where I attempted to remove a "plug" from each of her thumb scabs. One jut came off with lots of massaging in the water, and the other I had to pull out with tweezers (it wasn't much of a core or plug though, just a big scab). Then I cleaned her feet with betadine water, dabbed each wound with triple antibiotic, and then wrapped well with gauze and vet wrap. She also went back in to the coop.

Hopefully the wrap will stay on well and I can check on them again in a couple days.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It does look like Foot Pad Dermatitis. I would first try what you are doing - soaking/apply vetericyn or ointment to see if those clear up before performing anything too invasive.

A lot of people use sand, does yours have good drainage? I wonder if it's staying damp and their feet are not drying out completely.

https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/p2769.pdf

 

[Mo'sMenagerie]

Thanks for this. We have had no rain for a while, and I haven't noticed the sand wet at all. I have been putting a mister on the area where the flock hangs out during the day because it's been so hot, but that's a new thing. They free range in a pear orchard most of the day, so even if the sand did get and stay wet, they are not in that area for long.