Foot issue on chicken. Very swollen and dark. Can you help me?

[nickelu]

Hi, everyone,

I am curious if you can help me with this foot issue my chicken is having.

On 1/23/22 (Sun), I noticed the top of Buddy’s foot was swollen and dark. The bottom of his foot seems to be normal. I asked a couple of chickens friend for advice. One said to put Vetrycin on it and wrap it. I did that today. (I found it late on 1/23 and received the suggestion today.) When I checked it tonight, it seems more swollen. I am at a loss. (The second friend wasn’t sure.) He is not limping. He’s acting 100% normal.

Also, when I push on it, blood comes out. It isn’t a lot of blood and I had to press pretty hard.

PHOTOS

• The photos before the photo of Buddy are from 1/23/22.
• One of my friends noticed the spot on the bottom of his foot. I checked it out, it isn’t anything or a wound.
• The photos after Buddy are from 1/24/22 (today). The last photo is of the blood after I squeezed his foot.

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)

• Dominique (?), 5.5 months old, don’t know exact weight, normal, mot under weight

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

• Normal

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

• Noticed foot swollen on 1/23/22
• more swollen on 1/24/22

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

• No

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

• No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

• I have no idea.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

• Eating and drinking normally.
• Purina Layena, occasional thawed frozen peas, carrots, blueberries

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

• Normal

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

• Vetrycin and wrapped

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

• Would like to treat myself if possible. If need to take to vet, I have a good one.

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

• Buddy lives in the garage “free ranging.” He is the buddy of our special needs chicken, Sprout. Buddy and Sprout have free range of the garage and roam around. Their food and water are available. They go outside most days when we can supervise them (1 guinea fowl picks on Sprout and other outside chickens can be a pain with Sprout). Buddy sleeps roosting on the side of a wire dog crate. I wrapped the wire in rope.

if you need more information, let me know.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Hi! Pictures will probably help a lot. I have trouble uploading images if my internet isn't working so we land sometimes have to try using mobile data or my home internet. One of them will always load much faster than the other but I never know which one. I'm not sure if you're using a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. I'm only familiar with using Samsung mobile device. @Kiki is tech savvy if you need help.

Is Buddy limping at all?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You mention Buddy's foot is dark, is this like a bruise? How does the other side of Buddy's foot look?
I'm sure pictures will answer some questions

 

[-Flash-]

(They have put photos on)
It could be bumblefoot.
And is this a coincidence? I have a hen called Buddy, and she has bumblefoot.
It looks like it is bad, whatever it is.

 

[-Flash-]

(They have put photos on)
It could be bumblefoot.
And is this a coincidence? I have a hen called Buddy, and she has bumblefoot.
It looks like it is bad, whatever it is.

Never mind. Not bumblefoot. Can chickens get scale rot?

 

[nickelu]

You mention Buddy's foot is dark, is this like a bruise? How does the other side of Buddy's foot look?
I'm sure pictures will answer some questions

I think it wouldn’t let me post photos because I wasn’t logged in. Duh.

 

[nickelu]

(They have put photos on)
It could be bumblefoot.
And is this a coincidence? I have a hen called Buddy, and she has bumblefoot.
It looks like it is bad, whatever it is.

We weren’t sure if Buddy was a hen or roo. My husband named him/her Holly Buddy knowing that we could reverse it if we needed to. Well, we needed to so his full name is Buddy Holly. I can’t remember how he came up with it exactly. I’m pretty sure part of it is being a buddy for Sprout.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

We weren’t sure if Buddy was a hen or roo. My husband named him/her Holly Buddy knowing that we could reverse it if we needed to. Well, we needed to so his full name is Buddy Holly. I can’t remember how he came up with it exactly. I’m pretty sure part of it is being a buddy for Sprout.

He’s a rooster for sure. He’s super handsome, and I hope he heals up. I wish I could help, but I have no idea what’s going on. It looks bruised.

These members below have helped with countless chicken problems, and they are some of the best, so I hope they can help.

@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[azygous]

That foot appears to be sporting an old injury. It's a good candidate for about a week of daily Epsom salt soaks. Keep the foot well greased with coconut or castor oil in between. Both of these oils have antibacterial properties and oil will protect and nourish the tissues so they can heal.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I asked a couple of chickens friend for advice. One said to put Vetrycin on it and wrap it. I did that today. (I found it late on 1/23 and received the suggestion today.) When I checked it tonight, it seems more swollen. I am at a loss.

Dominique (?), 5.5 months old,

Purina Layena,

How long has he been eating layer feed?

I agree, I would soak the foot daily and apply oil/ointment.
I wouldn't wrap the foot.