Is that a bruise...?

[Kathy Golla]

It's ok, it's not too bad. Once you start treating it, you get used to it.
Heavier hen breeds can be more susceptible. Just make sure you check all your chickens feet starting about 6 months old.
Buffs are so sweet they aren't hard to treat.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I'll tell you too one thing that surprised me about chickens is kind of how delicate they are the first few months you put them out in the coop. They are just forever getting flustered and running into things and hurting themselves. Hen proof your coop and pen and try to keep any action/scary things like gardeners and workmen and construction around the coop to a minimum.

 

[Raindrops]

Will do! They do act a little crazy sometimes. One of them will fly around and the rest freak out and fly around. Sometimes they get into short-lived fights of who’s neck is taller! It’s funny! This could be how she got the bruise, if that’s even what it is..

Thank you again.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yup, those heavy birds...they add more force to the impact on their feet when they land on anything. If there is a little stick or tiny rock, they can get a little cut that gets infected and there you go, bumblefoot! My RIR rooster has to wear shoes 75% of the time because he gets bumblefoot due to his skin being thinner under his feet, and he is not heavy. Not all chickens will have a problem with the infection. My big girl, "Iona", hasn't had any problems yet. But, I am making her a pair of shoes just in case. I soak the inside of the shoe with colloidal silver to prevent bacteria. I also cured my rooster's bumblefoot with colloidal silver as the antibiotic.

Make sure you have an emergency medical kit ready, in case one of you girls gets sick or injures herself. You don't want to be caught off guard. You will be so nervous and in a panic if your not prepared.
God Bless!

 

[Raindrops]

Thank you! I’m trying to imagine chickens wearing shoes and it sounds so cute! Yet another thing I should research! How did you make the shoes?

 

[Raindrops]

Chicken shoes ??? LOL!

 

[Kathy Golla]

Aww man...for a chicken with chronic bumblefoot what a great idea. They don't mind at all having their feet wrapped.
@Hen Pen Jem
Glad to hear you mention the silver. I have tried many first aid ointment preparations and the best by far I have found is the silver for the bumblefoot. I got mine as a first aid gel at Whole Foods.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I originally ordered a couple pair from Crazy K farm online store, but they were too small for my boys. So, I just decided to make a pair myself, been doing it ever since. We don't have grass on our property, just gravel and dirt. And the roost has freedom to go anywhere on the property, he's my bud!
Anyways, if you sew it's not too hard. Just trace the chicken's foot on a piece of paper. Use that tracing to make a pattern. I will be a shoe like ours, top, bottom and an ankle cuff to keep it from falling off, attach a piece of velcro to secure.
Here are some pics.

 

[Kathy Golla]

My birds would love a boot rather than be flipped on their back and manhandled with vet rap!
I will have to keep this in mind if one of the flock becomes chronic. We are currently watching our roosts/roost height and coop/pens/free range mediums to see if we can find a pattern with a problem with the mediums. So far it's only the buff who had bfoot on both feet but not bad and she's almost healed after 5 weeks.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

They don't mind wearing the shoes. Once they notice that their feet are protected, they will start running and flapping, just racing around. So funny, however, you do need to keep an eye on the temperature. If it is hot out, say 90's, and your chicken has their wings open, the shoes may have to come off. My rooster wore his all Summer, I just wet his feet and/or keep him in the shade. He likes to hang out in the garage where we run a portable evaporative cooler. The little hen wore them due to a foot and leg injury and still wears them occasionally when she limps from aches. The other hen, had mild bumblefoot. After treatment and wearing the shoes for a couple months, it cleared up and she hasn't needed them again.