Growth on hen's foot, help. Photos included.

[gardenfinds]

Noticed my two year old hen having trouble walking and observed this growth between her toes. Does anyone have any idea what this is and what I can do about it? Can't imagine her getting injured as pen/coop is safe. We've had a lot of ice/cold here but I don't think it's caused by frostbite. A vet would be costly. Please help!

 

[dlhunicorn]

this looks like a Staph infection often called Bumblefoot... use the search function and type in bumblefoot ... there are a lot of postings on it.

 

[sammi]

agree...
it's a "form" of Bumblefoot...just not on the sole of the foot.
she could have got a small cut or sticker, that became infected..

you can try making a paste of sugar and betadine..apply to injury, and bandage, check daily...
sometimes this helps to draw the infection out.

(tho that infection/abcess looks pretty bad)

it might need to be cleaned with saline and betadine tea, lanced, more betadine tea, and/or triple antibiotic ointment, bandaged, changed daily..
also, a good systemic antibiotic is a good idea.

your search might give you more info.

 

[gardenfinds]

Thanks for the feedback and solutions. I'll research bumblefoot.

 

[jjthink]

Thank you very much for this post.

Hen Annie came to me in July with a similar lump, though less angry looking and just a bit more along the side of the toe than exactly in between the toes. It hasn't changed appreciably (at least as far as I can tell) in these months and doesn't seem to phase her (so I had been wondering if maybe it was just something she was born with) but it is very helpful to learn that it could be staph and that maybe I can try treating topically first....I was not aware of the sugar/betadine paste method......She is such a wonderful brat that I don't think she'll endure bandaging though! Can't quite imagine how to do that. I wonder if the triple antibiotic ointment would absorb into it and help without lancing?

I hope your hen will be alright.

JJ

 

[sammi]

just my personal preference, but I'd prefer to clean the area with betadine.
try some of that stretchy self stick bandage.
it must be kept clean.

If there isn't a large abcess, I would try the sugar betadine poultice..at least for a couple days anyway.
she still might need a systemic antibiotic suitable for treating staph.