I finally found a preventative method for bumblefoot and it WORKS!

kittyacid

Songster
14 Years
May 30, 2009
209
9
224
Clayton, NC
For several years my girls would get bumblefoot and I would take them to the vet for treatment at a substantial cost. The vet told me that one of the causes has to do with the circulation when chickens roost on a flat surface such as the sanded 2x4s that I was using. He suggested wrapping the boards with a coarse rope material to give them a surface that was not flat. Instead I bought a textured shower mat, cut it into strips and stapled to the top of the roost boards. It's been going on four years now without a single case of bumblefoot. The mat I use looks like the photo, but any textured mat should work as long as it has pressure points for their feet.
 

Attachments

  • mat.jpg
    mat.jpg
    52.3 KB · Views: 14
For several years my girls would get bumblefoot and I would take them to the vet for treatment at a substantial cost. The vet told me that one of the causes has to do with the circulation when chickens roost on a flat surface such as the sanded 2x4s that I was using. He suggested wrapping the boards with a coarse rope material to give them a surface that was not flat. Instead I bought a textured shower mat, cut it into strips and stapled to the top of the roost boards. It's been going on four years now without a single case of bumblefoot. The mat I use looks like the photo, but any textured mat should work as long as it has pressure points for their feet.
I'm wondering if that would be cold in freezing weather or hold humidity in warm weather? @aart what do you think?
I bought rope to wrap some of mine but haven't done so yet. Depending on how long your roosts are, you may be able to replace them with deck rails. They are 2 x 2's with smooth, rounded edges. I also replaced several of mine with deck balusters. They are wider but have rounded edges and my bigger brahma girls love them.
 
For several years my girls would get bumblefoot and I would take them to the vet for treatment at a substantial cost. The vet told me that one of the causes has to do with the circulation when chickens roost on a flat surface such as the sanded 2x4s that I was using. He suggested wrapping the boards with a coarse rope material to give them a surface that was not flat. Instead I bought a textured shower mat, cut it into strips and stapled to the top of the roost boards. It's been going on four years now without a single case of bumblefoot. The mat I use looks like the photo, but any textured mat should work as long as it has pressure points for their feet.
Glad you were able to find a solution to your problem and it's been working for 4 years!
Thank you for sharing your information!
 
Bumblefoot is caused by a infected cut on the foot....
...IMO roost shape/coverings won't make a difference.
I've used flat 2x4's as roosts for 7 years with no bumblefoot.
I also use large pine shavings on coop floor and coarse wood chippings in run,
conditions that also supposedly cause BF.
Yeah, yeah, Debbie Downer.<shrugs>
 
Bumblefoot is caused by a infected cut on the foot....
...IMO roost shape/coverings won't make a difference.
I've used flat 2x4's as roosts for 7 years with no bumblefoot.
I also use large pine shavings on coop floor and coarse wood chippings in run,
conditions that also supposedly cause BF.
Yeah, yeah, Debbie Downer.<shrugs>

Consider yourself fortunate that you haven't had to deal with it. This solution has worked for my girls and I don't consider it to be a coincidence that I no longer have issues with bumblefoot, especially after seeing case upon case. I have a lot of respect for my avian vet and trust his advice, even if it does fly in the face of what is thought to be conventional wisdom.
 
Last edited:
I sincerely appologize! I didn't see that you had used this method for 4 years. I should have read closer before commenting.🥺
I'm glad you found a solution.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom