Infected Duck Feet - It's spreading!!!

[HomesteadDucks]

Hello,

Last year I posted about one of my ducks with an infected foot. At the time, I did not believe that it was bumblefoot but I now think it could be. Anyway, over an entire summer of wrapping the ducks foot with tea tree oil, I finally was able to get rid of the infection. This spring it came back. And not only on that one duck. It came back and now ALL of my ducks have the same foot infection.

These images are from the same duck LAST YEAR. I will get updated images soon. I need to know how to treat them all and eradicate this infection. They are also certified organic so if there are any natural or organic treatments, that would be ideal.

Thank You,

Paul

 

[gal5150]

Hey Paul, what are they walking on and what is the source of their swimming water so, perhaps, we can figure out what might be mass-infecting?

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Their swimming water is a small bin (4 feet wide, 3 feet deep) that is refilled daily. I don't have a pond unfortunately. Their watering dish is about 1/2 foot deep and 1 foot on either side, also refilled daily. I suspect that the infection may be coming from their house. It is bedded down with straw. Every two weeks, I remove the hay, spray the concrete floor down to clean it and then lay down another entire square bail. They poop all over the hay fairly quickly after and sleep in it for a couple weeks. I replace the hay when it starts to look like there is too much poop.

 

[weasel killer]

Over feeding is a cause also i had the same problem but i used penicillin in their water took bout two weeks to go away. Good Luck

 

[weasel killer]

Also you can use VETERICYN it is a spray and it is the best thing you can use killes 99.99% of the staphylococcus

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Over feeding huh? They usually leave a bunch of food behind.

 

[weasel killer]

Sometimes heavy birds damage their feet when they come off the roost. Google it they will give some good pointers. Hope it helps

 

[gal5150]

Actually good, in this case, that we can rule out an infectious pond. Containers MUCH easier to sanitize and trouble shoot! You may be on to something with the dirty hay but infection has to be entering their feet through some sort of abrasions....so now we need to figure out what could be causing the abrasions/small cuts. Concrete can do that but it sounds like you have that well covered in the hay. Are there any rough or pointy spots on edges of concrete near entryway/exit from the duck house, other areas they frequent, etc?

Finding the cause of abrasions, even if they're not visible they are there allowing entry of infectious material, is going to be as crucial as treatment.

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Yes actually. There is a staircase constructed out of cinder blocks at the entrance of their house. This is because the house is elevated about 2 feet off the ground. I noticed that they tend to jump up the stairs (often falling off) and sliding their way down. Its a rough ride for them but they don't seem to mind. Would you suggest a ramp?

 

[HomesteadDucks]

If might also be worth noting that at least two of the ducks have the infection where their claws (or talons?) come out of their feet. Much like a toe infection on humans. Though the majority of the swelling is in the foot itself.