Infected Duck Feet - It's spreading!!!

[gal5150]

A ramp would be a great idea! If they are using their toes to grip edges of cinder block or just for leverage when jumping or navigating that could definitely be the main areas of trauma. Think, when ducks hop into a kiddie pool and grip the edge with their feet....the nails can take a hit. Nail beds seem to take a hit on any perfectly flat, fairly level surface because they have no "give" to allow for the toes bending. More possibility for breakage, scraping, etc.

If the cinder block set up is working well other than them losing balance/sliding....you may consider covering the top of the blocks with shelf lining. It doesn't get slippery when wet and it cleans super easy with a blast from the hose.

I buy it in long rolls from home improvement stores like Home Depot and cut it for my needs. Super cheap, under $10 and totally useful.

I think you've found the culprit, now, healing those feet! Do you have vetericyn to spray on their feet? That would help address the external injuries, again, even if they're not readily visible. I'll let others speak to treating the internal infection as I'm a "go to the vet" kinda girl for those kinds of issues. But I know many on here effectively treat their ducks at home with feed store antibiotics and/or tried and true remedies.

If you don't have the vetericyn and have to hit the feed store anyways to grab it, wouldn't hurt to buy a bag of Durvet vitamins and electrolytes. I get the 8 oz yellow bag, scant tsp per gal of water. Cheap, will last you a very long time!

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Thank you so much. You've been really helpful. I'll see if I get any more replys regarding the treatment. For now, I'm going to clean their water and food containers with bleach and next time I replace the hay, I will scrub and sanitize the house thoroughly. I will upgrade my staircase and continue treating the outside of their feet with tea tree oil.

 

[gal5150]

Fantastic! Good luck and update on progress!

 

[Amiga]

I have found that vinegar does a good job cleaning up, and doesn't leave any fumes - since bleach gives me asthma attacks, I don't use it and reckon it's easier on the ducks as well to use an alternative.

I read an article from either CDC or NIH that vinegar and salt kills microbes as well as anything.

For treatment, I would use the clear iodine treatment. Since it's affecting everyone it will take a bit of time for initial treatment, but it is not an antibiotic - it's elemental. And it does not require daily treatment (big advantage).

Please see Post 22 of this thread for an explanation of the clear iodine treatment. Clear iodine, not brown.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/560693/need-input-on-bumblefoot-treatment-in-ducks/20

 

[familyties]

Bookmarking this as I may be in the same boat. I have one duck that's critically sick and has a large bumble on one leg plus a swollen joint on the other. As I'm watching the rest of the ducks waddle about I think I see more bumbles.... I need to check them closely when they are all locked in for the night. How do you treat a whole flock??? I have 11. 3 Welsh Harlequins and 8 Pekins. Best of luck to you @homesteadducks

 

[familyties]

I should add I'm also using hay with the deep litter method. Is that the problem? I think the abrasions maybe coming from the oak leaves.

 

[gal5150]

@familyties, bumble foot is caused by a cut or puncture becoming infected with most commonly the staph bacteria. Staph is part of the natural skin and mucosal flora so it's there all the time and cannot be eradicated ...but it must be introduced *into* the body through a wound.

Staph is not something that occurs in hay/organic matter....other than us and other animals. So the deep litter and/or hay wouldn't be the issue. The issue will be identifying how the bacteria is getting in....which can be through something as small as a splinter puncture! Awful, right?!

While treating definitely do a stripping down of the environment to find the cause....removing the oak leaves, running your hand along frequented areas to feel fir anything rough, etc. Good luck!

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Thank you. I was hoping someone would give me an alternative. I will try the vinegar and iodine. Though I did notice that iodine can be quite painful. I give blood donations regularly and they wash my arm with it. I don't want to hurt the ducks. Is clear iodine better?

 

[Amiga]

Thank you. I was hoping someone would give me an alternative. I will try the vinegar and iodine. Though I did notice that iodine can be quite painful. I give blood donations regularly and they wash my arm with it. I don't want to hurt the ducks. Is clear iodine better?

Some people have a bad reaction to brown iodine. And the clear iodine that I use on myself can sting an open cut. For half a minute. I would still try the clear iodine - please pay attention to the details of the method. For example, it uses clear iodine not brown, and just a few drops go on the bumble. No more iodine for five or six days. These details have been missed by people sometimes.

 

[HomesteadDucks]

Do I have to wrap the ducks feet for iodine treatment? I have been wrapping their feet and it doesn't seem to be a good idea. I just found one of my ducks with a broken toe and I feel bad that it could have been due to their foot being wrapped. I'm thinking of using clear iodine once a week and every other day I will use healx soothing cream. Without wrapping.