GROWTH ON HEN'S FOOT.

[citygal/countrygalRN]

I just noticed one of my Cuckoo Marons has a large brown marble size growth coming from the bottom of her foot and going up between her toes. It is hard and scaly, seems to be erupting from the soft pad of her foot. She walks on it, but sometimes holds it up when she is standing still. I will try to get pictures posted.

 

[sammi]

most likely Bumblefoot, which can cause a staph infection..
for now..get her on soft clean bedding in a confined area where she is warm and safe..with food and water nearby so she can rest the foot.,
you will need to get an antibiotic..options are:
Pen-G or Baytril..(Baytril comes from a vet..Pen-G and other penicillins are available at most farm/feed stores)
other meds:: lincomycin, amoxicillin, cephalaxin..
giving the systemic antibiotic will give you a head start to getting rid of the infection before further treatment, such as lancing..

the foot will have to be cleaned, possibly lanced..usually there is a plug inside the swelling that should be removed.
Diluted betadine will be needed to clean the area, along with neosporin..
if you are squeamish about doing this..she will need to see a vet..

you can try making a poultice of sugar and betadine, applying it using a small cotton ball, and covering with stretchy bandage.
but what you describe sounds like it may need more treatment.

there are many posts with pics and treatment suggestions here for Bumblefoot..you can do a search.

do try to post a pic...since it's possible it could be another disorder.

others might reply with more suggestions.

 

[mainchick]

i was gonna say bumblefoot too! try to keep it under control. Some people end up having to euthanize for it. bummer.

 

[sammi]

here is an excellent article by Peter Brown from First State Vet Supply with treatment instructions and meds:

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/poultry-health/bumblefoot.html

 

[citygal/countrygalRN]

Thanks Sammi- the article was useful. It does resemble what is described in the article... I think I will have to become a Chicken podiatrist tomorrow. I'll see what I can do with it. Maybe at least cut it down, the soak it to get rid of the rest.

Thanks again!

 

[citygal/countrygalRN]

OK, here are some pictures...

 

[ruth]

Yikes!!! That's the worst case I've seen. I'm guessing it's bumblefoot but I haven't seen anything that bad. I've treated several cases and all healed just fine without recurring. Here's what I do:

1. Wrap the chicken in a towel and cover its head - that will keep it quiet and allow you to work. Keep the foot exposed.

2. Stand the chicken in a pan of very warm water with lots of Epsom Salts. Let soak several minutes.

3. Lay chicken on its side - keeping its head covered will keep it quiet and calm.

4. Use a single side razor blade and lance an incision about 1/4 inch long in center of pad. Lance over the black scab that's normally there but may not be in your case.

5. Use a sterilized dental pick or tweezers to poke around in lanced area and try and remove puss and the "plug". Some puss will look like string cheese and some will be hardened.

6. Stand her back up in soak and squeeze foot so that lanced area can open and close and water can get inside incision.

7. Repeat step 5 and 6 till the plug pops out.

You may have to make a separate incision in the bottom of that other growth between the toes. She has some serious infection going on. I once had a hen that had 3 plugs in the same foot. One in pad and two in the marble sized swelling between her toes.

The plugs look like the center of a zit or in the cases I've removed, exactly like a hard dried kernel of corn. They are there somewhere so you have to keep soaking, squeezing and digging around till you get the staff infection and, most importantly, the plugs out.

Then proceed.

8. Wash with Betadine

9. Fill hole/cavity with Neosporin.

10. Wrap foot with small strip of vet wrap (bought at any feed store).

11. Give 1 cc of Pen. G (bought at any feed store) in breast. I give it for 3 days.

All of my hens feet healed within a couple of days and never had a reoccurence. You do, however, want to remove vet wrap and clean wound and reapply Neosporin and wrap till the wound is completely healed. Also keep them in a clean cage till healed so they don't get dirt in wound.

Best of luck.