First experience with bumblefoot

[pamiejune]

Thank you!!! I ordered prid and vet wrap from Amazon. I do have CVS nearby so I'll look for that wrap as a backup. I'm in the same boat.. pretty busy at work. I think I caught this fairly early, though. Hopefully it won't take me months like it took yours! I should probably check all 10 of the chickens to make sure I don't have more with issues.

You did well

to catch it early. It makes it so much easier to treat. (My operating table, above) I soaked my girl's feet in a basin with warm water and Epsom salt, then put her up on a table, wrapped her in a towel held by a band, and squeezed out that hard kernel that's inside there after the scab came off. Packed the wound with triple antibiotic cream after flushing it with saline solution, added a gauze pad or two then wrapped it with vet tape. She barely struggled at all. I was surprised. Used a blow dryer on her afterward to dry out her feathers. She seemed to enjoy it, lol. Kept her separate in a big kennel because the other birds will pick on birds that are limping. Healed up nicely. There are good YouTube videos if you want to see it in action.
I've had chickens for years and this is the first time it's happened and it only happened with my Wyandottes (3 out of 11 hens). I have Olive and Easter Eggers as well as Dominiques and a handful of bantams. I've never seen this before.

 

[WingItRanch]

You did wellView attachment 4049494to catch it early. It makes it so much easier to treat. (My operating table, above) I soaked my girl's feet in a basin with warm water and Epsom salt, then put her up on a table, wrapped her in a towel held by a band, and squeezed out that hard kernel that's inside there after the scab came off. Packed the wound with triple antibiotic cream after flushing it with saline solution, added a gauze pad or two then wrapped it with vet tape. She barely struggled at all. I was surprised. Used a blow dryer on her afterward to dry out her feathers. She seemed to enjoy it, lol. Kept her separate in a big kennel because the other birds will pick on birds that are limping. Healed up nicely. There are good YouTube videos if you want to see it in action.
I've had chickens for years and this is the first time it's happened and it only happened with my Wyandottes (3 out of 11 hens). I have Olive and Easter Eggers as well as Dominiques and a handful of bantams. I've never seen this before.View attachment 4049495

It's funny that you said she liked the blow dryer. I have one pullet that loves the blow dryer. Practically falls asleep. I've had to clean her bottom twice because she has a fluffy butt that gets a build-up of poo. I finally just trimmed her. She probably misses the blow dryer!

 

[Hens4Pets]

I see a lot of people using prid to treat Pododermatitis AKA Bumblefoot. however, I found this article at https://ruralveterinaryoutreach.org/2022/02/10/pododermatitis-aka-bumblefoot/ that states "The vets no longer recommend PRID/Ichthammol as it can be caustic to the skin. The preferred ointment is Silver sulfadiazine cream (Rx only). OTC preferred ointment would be Bacitracin Zinc." The recommended treatment is on this web site.

 

[Bawkbok]

Hi Wingit, how is she doing? In terms of keeping the wrap on and preventing them from picking at it and pulling it off, what I found helps is to cut a very thin strip of electrical / duct tape and wrap it around the shank about in the middle of the vet wrap, securing the end. So it's horizontal on their leg and it only requires a small piece to keep the wrap on. Just enough for the tape to adhere to itself, so about 3/4" of an inch maybe, depending on how thick the vet wrap is. Don't put it on too tightly and be careful to only have the tape stick to itself.
Bumblefoot, while a lengthy process to cure, is one of the "easier" problems in chicken keeping --- I'm learning. Good luck.

 

[WingItRanch]

Hi Wingit, how is she doing? In terms of keeping the wrap on and preventing them from picking at it and pulling it off, what I found helps is to cut a very thin strip of electrical / duct tape and wrap it around the shank about in the middle of the vet wrap, securing the end. So it's horizontal on their leg and it only requires a small piece to keep the wrap on. Just enough for the tape to adhere to itself, so about 3/4" of an inch maybe, depending on how thick the vet wrap is. Don't put it on too tightly and be careful to only have the tape stick to itself.
Bumblefoot, while a lengthy process to cure, is one of the "easier" problems in chicken keeping --- I'm learning. Good luck.

Thanks, Bawk! I do have electrical tape so I will try the method @Just2chickens suggested of tucking the end in and then loosely tape the wrap like you said.

She seems perfectly fine! No limping or swelling. I think I caught it pretty early. I need to inspect the other 9... in other news, I just got baby chicks so I have my hands full!

 

[Eggcessive]

Soaking is really not necessary after the initial treatment, if it is not that bad. I don’t even treat if they are not limping, or if it is not red and swollen. But you can just reapply the Prid or use a Betadine and sugar paste which also does a good job. The Betadine is available at Walmart in the first aid aisle as povidone iodine or Equate First Aid Solution, under $9. Prid can be pricey. @coach723 has posted about its effectiveness, and it has been used to treat horses hoof infections for many years. Be careful to not cut off the circulation in her foot, since tapes or vet wrap strips may move and become too tight. We have had some limb loss reported in threads due to vet wrap interrupting circulation.

 

[WingItRanch]

Soaking is really not necessary after the initial treatment, if it is not that bad. I don’t even treat if they are not limping, or if it is not red and swollen. But you can just reapply the Prid or use a Betadine and sugar paste which also does a good job. The Betadine is available at Walmart in the first aid aisle as povidone iodine or Equate First Aid Solution, under $9. Prid can be pricey. @coach723 has posted about its effectiveness, and it has been used to treat horses hoof infections for many years. Be careful to not cut off the circulation in her foot, since tapes or vet wrap strips may move and become too tight. We have had some limb loss reported in threads due to vet wrap interrupting circulation.

Thank you, again @Eggcessive ! The soaking is honestly the hardest part for me so that would be great if I could cut that out and just make sure it's clean. You don't treat if there's no swelling or limping? Does that mean it will it heal on its own if I just stop messing with it? Or should I keep at it since I already started with the prid & bandages?

 

[Eggcessive]

No, I just don’t do much about it if they are not limping, or if not swollen and red. You can watch it though. Prevention is best. Keep bedding dry and add new bedding when soiled. A good cushion when they are jumping down of a roost is important, since tiny cuts in the skin allow the staph bacteria to enter the skin causing bumblefoot. I have mostly done the surgery in the past, but I quickly learned that it is not necessary in mild cases.

 

[Bawkbok]

I just got baby chicks so I have my hands full!

That's fantastic - congratulations! What incubator are you using? How many chicks do you have? I thought you got rid of your rooster? Sorry if you're repeating - I haven't read all posts and I am a little behind in BYC. Keeping an eye on my sickly one.

 

[WingItRanch]

That's fantastic - congratulations! What incubator are you using? How many chicks do you have? I thought you got rid of your rooster? Sorry if you're repeating - I haven't read all posts and I am a little behind in BYC. Keeping an eye on my sickly one.

I'll post on my Wing It Ranch thread and mention you so you don't miss it!