Is there anything I can do to prevent bumblefoot

[Bryce Thomas]

I know its swelling of the feet and everything I know how to cure it all and stuff but like I always see:

bumblefoot is caused by dry ground

bumblefoot is caused by wet ground

bumblefoot is caused by perches

bumblefoot is caused by you not loving god enough (or some other crap)

my point is that every website says something different, I already have a white towel in the coop pinned down by small bricks so my silkies can walk on it and I have a mister 8 feet above it and the towel gets pretty damp

all my perches are from pvc pipe and the mister also mist the coop lowering the temperature. all my perches are 2 feet or lower to the ground so my chickens don't hurt their feet while jumping down

will the constantly damp-but-not-wet towel thing do anything? the damp towel is so they can stand and walking on something that's not warm but cool and to moisturize their feet.

will the towel help or hurt them. god please reply I'm so annoyed with all the random info on bumblefoot

(i know how to cure it as well so it wont be bad if they get it)

 

[topochico225]

I know its swelling of the feet and everything I know how to cure it all and stuff but like I always see:

bumblefoot is caused by dry ground

bumblefoot is caused by wet ground

bumblefoot is caused by perches

bumblefoot is caused by you not loving god enough (or some other crap)

my point is that every website says something different, I already have a white towel in the coop pinned down by small bricks so my silkies can walk on it and I have a mister 8 feet above it and the towel gets pretty damp

all my perches are from pvc pipe and the mister also mist the coop lowering the temperature. all my perches are 2 feet or lower to the ground so my chickens don't hurt their feet while jumping down

will the constantly damp-but-not-wet towel thing do anything? the damp towel is so they can stand and walking on something that's not warm but cool and to moisturize their feet.

will the towel help or hurt them. god please reply I'm so annoyed with all the random info on bumblefoot

(i know how to cure it as well so it wont be bad if they get it)

Hm. I thought bumblefoot was caused by a foot abrasion/injury getting infected, but I'm not sure. My hens get bumblefoot sometimes because they free range all day and find God knows what behind that shed. I treat it normally and they're fine. Are your birds overweight?

 

[Bryce Thomas]

Hm. I thought bumblefoot was caused by a foot abrasion/injury getting infected, but I'm not sure. My hens get bumblefoot sometimes because they free range all day and find God knows what behind that shed. I treat it normally and they're fine. Are your birds overweight?

nope. i own only silkies because as we all know silkie is the best but they are perfect size and everything. i check their feet every day and brush them as well

 

[HollyWoozle]

I don’t really know the answer but I will say that I have never seen or heard of a case of bumblefoot in our family chickens in my lifetime and we have ramps up to the perches so they just walk up. Not sure if that has anything to do with it!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

You don't need to brush silkies.

Bumblefoot is caused by trauma, either sharp or blunt. Landing hard on a hard surface, landing on something sharp (wood chips are notorious for it), standing for too long on wire (I use a part of a yoga mat in the cage so they can rest), getting a splinter that is healed over, any type of prick with infection, ect.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

You don't need to brush silkies.

Bumblefoot is caused by trauma, either sharp or blunt. Landing hard on a hard surface, landing on something sharp (wood chips are notorious for it), standing for too long on wire (I use a part of a yoga mat in the cage so they can rest), getting a splinter that is healed over, any type of prick with infection, ect.

i use pine tree shavings as bedding for my nest box. should i change it to hay? like alfalfa hay the stuff you use for bunnies

 

[JacinLarkwell]

i use pine tree shavings as bedding for my nest box. should i change it to hay? like alfalfa hay the stuff you use for bunnies

No. Hay will only make mites harder.to kill. Shavings are fine.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

No. Hay will only make mites harder.to kill. Shavings are fine.

ok. will that damp white towel cause anything? they dont mind the mister and their feathers are dry when i pet them so thats good

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'd get rid of it. Moisture and chickens do not go well together. They don't need constantly damp fwet, they need to stay dry

 

[Chicalina]

A towel and a mister??? I've never in my life heard of that. Blimey, they are healthy chickens not delicate orchids!

Bumblefoot is easily treatable and avoidable. You've done the right thing by having perches not too high, shavings on the floor (I suggest DEEP litter), and checking their feet regularly.

I agree, they need a dry coop. Not a damp humid one. That will only encourage infections and respiratory ones at that.

You are definitely overthinking the whole bumblefoot thing. Relax and enjoy your lovely silkies!!!

And you do know that if you post a question here, that you've got to pay the tax, right? The photo tax