Entire flock has bumblefoot

[wrenhen]

I have ducks and chickens and a long history battling bumblefoot. I have it under control now.

First, I lowered the roost. That solved it for the 2 big hens who kept having problems. Sounds like this is not an issue for you.

Second, I sanded everything that they perched on. I even covered a couple of places with waterproof tape (like flex tape).

Third, I did a massive clean out.

Fourth, I added bedding to their foraging area. The ducks were the hardest to treat. Took months. I think the biggest problem was the area where they forage during the day. I live in a wooded area, and pine cones and rocks are ubiquitous. I have added pelletized pine bedding that I then wet down so that it turns to sawdust. I pick up the pine cones and rocks as I see them and add the sawdust bedding in high traffic areas. The bedding is SOFT. Like, I could walk barefoot on it soft. And it smells amazing and absorbs all kinds of water. Love it.

Fifth, I do weekly foot checks on everyone. The ducks' feet get treated with lanolin if they get dry. I find that if their feet get dry, they are prone to cracking and injury.

Sixth, I give more fruits and veggies that are high in vitamin A (pumpkin, cantaloupe, etc.) as I read that this helps prevent bumblefoot. Don't know how much it helps, but after it took almost 3 months of nightly soaking and 2 rounds of antibiotics to get my Runner's feet healthy, I was desperate. Plus they love the treats.

It was kind of a lot of work, but my flock's had ZERO bumblefoot in almost a year now.

Oh interesting, I’d be willing to try the pine pellets in their forage area, it’s very twiggy, Rocky, and mulchy. And giving them cantelope treats would be no problem.

 

[Happy hen lover]

As long as there isnt any redness nor swelling, you dont have to do anything. Sometimes bumblefoot goes away on its own. However, if there's redness and/or swelling, minor surgery is required.
Use sandpaper to sand down roosts to eliminate splinters and burrs, a couple of swipes will take care of it. Lowering roosts will also prevent bumblefoot.

I'm happy to read that it's not necessary to treat unless you see swelling or redness I found bumblefoot on my favorite hen and upon inspection she had it both feet! My run is dirt so it was impossible to keep clean , I began to wonder if it's more common than I know, and just occurs on all birds. I have thought about adding big flake pine shavings to soften it up.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm happy to read that it's not necessary to treat unless you see swelling or redness I found bumblefoot on my favorite hen and upon inspection she had it both feet! My run is dirt so it was impossible to keep clean , I began to wonder if it's more common than I know, and just occurs on all birds. I have thought about adding big flake pine shavings to soften it up.

If it were my run, I'd add new material frequently and mix the old with the new. I sweep the shavings in my coop into the run weekly and turn everything. I also add leaves and alfalfa my goats don't eat. Keeps the poop broken down.

 

[Happy hen lover]

Makes sense leaves will be falling here soon. I did not like straw but alfalfa might work. I will add in small lots instead if all at once. Thanks

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

We recently constructed a fence around their enclosure and the contractor was not very tidy, could possibly be scrap staples and screws? I should get a magnet and scan the area regardless to just see

Couldn't hurt to check.

When my flock had it, I did pretty much all the suggestions that you're receiving here... sanding perches, removing some perches, changing bedding, being uber-vigilant about cleaning, we added a "step" to make getting up and down to the roost easier, we added sand to a moist spot in the yard they like to hang out in, feeding extra supplements, etc...

We did so much over the span a few weeks trying to clear this up, but in the back of my mind I kept wondering... in 4 years, I've never had a problem like this... sure, occasional bumblefoot here and there, but not where so many birds had it. In the back of my mind I kept wondering... why now?

Another thing that was weird about my girls having it, is that treatment wasn't really improving the situation. I see in one of your replies that the soaks are helping, so your situation may be different from mine. In hindsight, I realize that even after soaking/wrapping/removing the bumble, the girls were still stepping on the sharp piece of wire so they couldn't heal. Once I sanded down the offending sharp piece of wire, most of the bumbles cleared up on their own, like @dawg53 mentioned. I only had to treat the more serious cases.

Hope you're able to figure out the cause and get your flock all cleared up.

 

[wrenhen]

Couldn't hurt to check.

When my flock had it, I did pretty much all the suggestions that you're receiving here... sanding perches, removing some perches, changing bedding, being uber-vigilant about cleaning, we added a "step" to make getting up and down to the roost easier, we added sand to a moist spot in the yard they like to hang out in, feeding extra supplements, etc...

We did so much over the span a few weeks trying to clear this up, but in the back of my mind I kept wondering... in 4 years, I've never had a problem like this... sure, occasional bumblefoot here and there, but not where so many birds had it. In the back of my mind I kept wondering... why now?

Another thing that was weird about my girls having it, is that treatment wasn't really improving the situation. I see in one of your replies that the soaks are helping, so your situation may be different from mine. In hindsight, I realize that even after soaking/wrapping/removing the bumble, the girls were still stepping on the sharp piece of wire so they couldn't heal. Once I sanded down the offending sharp piece of wire, most of the bumbles cleared up on their own, like @dawg53 mentioned. I only had to treat the more serious cases.

Hope you're able to figure out the cause and get your flock all cleared up.

It appears everyone is fine now, except my one rhode island red Big Dog. She's the one who alerted me that there was even an issue. She is still swollen, though not limping, so I may just take her to the vet since she seems to be above my pay grade and I'm not willing to use an x-acto blade on their feet.