Hen with injury to a foot.

[SharkmanDan]

One of my layers, has an infection, where she was wounded, on top of her foot. If I remember right, she had gotten it scraped on something. Anyway, once I saw that the problem has not cleared up, and had actually developed a second pustule, on the foot, I contacted the breeder, who first treated her foot injury, 9 days ago. He told me to drain it, treat with iodine, then shoot her with penicillin.
Here's my questions. How much penicillin? And, where do I inject? Do I shoot it into the breast, intramuscularly, or directly into the wound? She's a full grown, red sex link, and I guess she's about 8 pounds, or so.
Advice greatly appreciated.

 

[iwiw60]

I have a hunch you are dealing with bumble foot . Here's a page with all the info you'd ever need just in case it is:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search?q=bumblefoot




Best of luck and let us know how it goes!!

 

[SharkmanDan]

Thanks. That looks like it, except my chicken's injury is primarily on top of her foot. But the second pustule, is almost directly between the top and bottom, between two talons.
Before you mentioned bumblefoot, I did a Google search, about treating infected injuries in chickens, as I wanted to treat it ASAP. I followed that instruction, and it may not be enough treatment. But, I cut it open a bit, drained it, until there was a little blood, and not much pus. Then liberally applied Triodine-7, and gave her 1/4cc of Penicillin G Procaine, in the breast, on the same side, as the injury.
As I read the post you linked to, I read that it can be up to 4 days, of needing treatment, so, we'll see what it looks like, over the next few days, as I am keeping her separated, and in a somewhat more sterile environment, than the coop. It's not a hospital room, but, far from the bacteria levels likely found in the coop.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Be sure to alternate breasts when doing the penicillin shots. The needle must be large for penicillin and it will hurt to always do it in the same breast.

Are you keeping the foot bandaged?

 

[SharkmanDan]

Honestly, I didn't even know that it could be bandaged, and remain on. I guess I thought it would be like bandaging a dog, without an E-Collar, that the chicken would try to peel it off. I'll go give it a try.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Honestly, I didn't even know that it could be bandaged, and remain on. I guess I thought it would be like bandaging a dog, without an E-Collar, that the chicken would try to peel it off. I'll go give it a try.

I have a girl who just had bumblefoot surgery. She leaves her bandage alone, it's not a problem. I put non-stick gauze on it and wrap it in Vet-Wrap or Co-Flex and it's good to go. That way she can be out with her flock. I change the bandage every other day.

 

[SharkmanDan]

Well, my girl seems to be doing well. She's still favoring the worst of her two feet, but appears to be improving, daily.
I am going out right away, to re-bandage her, apply more iodine, and give her another shot of penicillin.

 

[iwiw60]

Well, my girl seems to be doing well. She's still favoring the worst of her two feet, but appears to be improving, daily.
I am going out right away, to re-bandage her, apply more iodine, and give her another shot of penicillin.

If you don't already have it on hand, go buy some VetWrap! That's the best stuff for wrapping our girls with injuries.

Also, you said in an earlier post that when you did cut into it a little blood and a "little pus" came out....what you're after is the "kernel" .. you need to get that kernel out or it isn't going to heal.

 

[SavageDestiny]

Well, my girl seems to be doing well. She's still favoring the worst of her two feet, but appears to be improving, daily.
I am going out right away, to re-bandage her, apply more iodine, and give her another shot of penicillin.

Glad to hear she is doing well!

 

[SharkmanDan]

Yes, three of the four sores, on her feet, are healing well. The fourth one, I don't think I got in there well enough. It doesn't look bad, but it hasn't gotten better. It's just a beginning pustule. So, rather than traumatizing her with more surgery, I'm hoping that the penicillin will take care of it, if it's not improving, by the time the others are healed, then I will have to do further surgery.