Hen with poorly foot

[MarlaMac]

Thank you again for all the advice and encouragement. It has been a big learning experience for me and has prepared me for future infections.
I'm not sure that drawing salve I got worked all that well. I bought something advertised as PRID but only has one active ingredient which was echinacea. Another salve also sold as PRID is by Hylands and contains several ingredients including Arnica so I will try and get that for next time.
I'll also be more vigilant and make sure to always keep stocks of bandage and other supplies.
Thank you
Richard

You are welcome. Yes, always good to have first aid kit stocked and ready! I bet the drawing salve did more than you realized, but a stronger one might move the process along quicker.

How is she walking?

I would start asking your family/friends for any amoxicillin left overs and stock them up too. Even outdated antibiotics are better than none. It doesn't go bad, just gets less effective.

 

[richardeblack]

Hello Marla
Cleaned and dressed her foot again yesterday and got one very small bit of dark fibrous gunge out. There appeared to be some more white substance in there but on close inspection I think it is tissue forming.
I will continue soaking and dressing with antibiotic cream every other day until it has healed over. I am just soaking in Epsom salts for 10 minutes now, followed by vetericyn and purple spray then dressing with the antibiotic cream.
I did drain her the other day which helped as well but she is walking so much better now thanks to you Marla and LaFleche.
Here are some pictures and a video of he walking happily. The apparent deformation of her left leg is, I think, due to her very swollen abdomen due to the water belly.
Hopefully she can be happy for a bit longer.
Thank you
Richard
Her foot yesterday:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWhsACS5ZnLFwvJ29

General view showing much reduced swelling:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uQE9E5agfmeCHWqv7
Video of her walking:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1YzbHJuNvxSPxACj8

 

[LaFleche]

Good job, Richard! She looks much better already.

 

[richardeblack]

Thank you.

 

[MarlaMac]

Hello Marla
Cleaned and dressed her foot again yesterday and got one very small bit of dark fibrous gunge out. There appeared to be some more white substance in there but on close inspection I think it is tissue forming.
I will continue soaking and dressing with antibiotic cream every other day until it has healed over. I am just soaking in Epsom salts for 10 minutes now, followed by vetericyn and purple spray then dressing with the antibiotic cream.
I did drain her the other day which helped as well but she is walking so much better now thanks to you Marla and LaFleche.
Here are some pictures and a video of he walking happily. The apparent deformation of her left leg is, I think, due to her very swollen abdomen due to the water belly.
Hopefully she can be happy for a bit longer.
Thank you
Richard
Her foot yesterday:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWhsACS5ZnLFwvJ29

General view showing much reduced swelling:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uQE9E5agfmeCHWqv7
Video of her walking:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1YzbHJuNvxSPxACj8

She is beautiful. I am so happy for her!

I think you may be white material may be tissue as you think. You will know with time.

Great job!

 

[richardeblack]

Thank you.

 

[MarlaMac]

Thank you.

Also, when you feel comfortable that the wound is healing over and there is no more infection, I think it would be fine to forego the soakings and just apply the antibiotic ointment and wrap every other day or so. Kind of like we do when our kids get a wound.

 

[richardeblack]

Hello Marla and LaFleche
latest update, I have stopped soaking Fatty's foot and just clean with veterycin, purple spray and dress with antibiotic cream now. I think she is close to being left alone. Mind you, I'm having to drain her more often now so not sure how much longer she has. She is happy though (as far as I can tell).
Picture of her a couple of days ago:
foot nearly healed?

I thought her sister (she came from the same batch of several thousand pullets being collected for going out to the free range farms so not really a sister) had bumblefoot as she had a large black scab on one foot and a small one on the other. I soaked and dressed her for 3 or 4 days with drawing salve. The small scab just fell off leaving no sign of any infection (no swelling) and yesterday i got the other large scab off (Hazel scab ) only to find no sign I can see of infection. I'm pretty sure she had just injured her foot and it had scabbed over and pretty much healed. I will carry on with soaking and dressing for a few days and keep my eye on her. I did notice a bit of straw stuck in her foot which I pulled out so I will keep my eye on them all for that and maybe change from straw (commercial sterilised bedding) to wood shaving maybe.
Sorry, that was a long post. I hope you don't mind.
Thank you
Richard.

 

[LaFleche]

Hi Richard,
thank you for keeping us updated.
I am sorry to hear that her ascites is getting worse but as you are doing everything to keep her as comfortable as possible there is nothing else one can do.

I could not access the pictures you linked, so maybe just upload them here for us all.

Regarding the bumble feet:

Did you check the roosting bars and chicken ladders/ramps for splinters or sharp edges? It can help to smooth them over using fine sandpaper.

 

[MarlaMac]

Hello Marla and LaFleche
latest update, I have stopped soaking Fatty's foot and just clean with veterycin, purple spray and dress with antibiotic cream now. I think she is close to being left alone. Mind you, I'm having to drain her more often now so not sure how much longer she has. She is happy though (as far as I can tell).
Picture of her a couple of days ago:
foot nearly healed?

I thought her sister (she came from the same batch of several thousand pullets being collected for going out to the free range farms so not really a sister) had bumblefoot as she had a large black scab on one foot and a small one on the other. I soaked and dressed her for 3 or 4 days with drawing salve. The small scab just fell off leaving no sign of any infection (no swelling) and yesterday i got the other large scab off (Hazel scab ) only to find no sign I can see of infection. I'm pretty sure she had just injured her foot and it had scabbed over and pretty much healed. I will carry on with soaking and dressing for a few days and keep my eye on her. I did notice a bit of straw stuck in her foot which I pulled out so I will keep my eye on them all for that and maybe change from straw (commercial sterilised bedding) to wood shaving maybe.
Sorry, that was a long post. I hope you don't mind.
Thank you
Richard.

Hello Richard.

Glad to hear you girl is doing better. Permission not given on photo links.

I hate wood shavings as litter control in coops. I actually only use a litter when it is cold enough to warrant some heat retention in the coop (or for babies). When I use it is it straw. Straw is much more absorbent.

Overnight I put some old sheets down to catch the poop, then remove them in the morning and wash them. No weekly cleanings, no poop laying around for them to wallow around in. Not everyone has time to do this. I am fortunate that I do.

If you upload your pics, we will have a look.

Have a wonderful day.