Amphitecna
Chirping
Hi all
Eight months ago, I got a chicken from a local breeder. She was already egg-laying age, and had horrible bumblefoot on both feet. We got it taken care of, but I don't know how long she had suffered beforehand. She has always, and still does goose-step, but her gait seems to be getting stiffer and she is now is spending more and more time laying down. She does seem to be molting (maybe this is a factor?).
Her overall behavior hasn't changed much, shes still the low hen among the adults, defends her food from the teenagers, but has never joined the flock for worms or other snacks- we have to take them to her personally. She is and always has been anxious and scared of us (the intense routine of meds and footbaths this spring didn't help with that). The skin on her feet looks normal, and there is no evidence of mites.
I'm worried after her, and do have a vet I can take her to if necessary. But I'm wondering from you collective experience what might work to help make her more comfortable.
Some things I'm planning to do (please tell me if these are good or bad ideas):
- Change the litter in the hen house and run to something soft (hemp shavings? Pine shavings?).
- my husband did a recent hen house remodel- there's no room for a ladder so she is obligated to jump up and down to access perches and nesting boxes. - if I move a nest box to the ground is that going to cause problems with rats? She may not use it, but it would be an option at least, and alleviate competition.
- anti-inflamitory snacks? She's so scared of me and stressed, that I'd rather not do foot soaks. But I will if that's the best option.
what else can i do??
attached are photos of the bumblefoot from feb/march and the best photo showing get of her gait. I'll try to get a video uploaded to YouTube if that would be helpful.
The photos are in reverse order, the first is one foot after 3 weeks of antibiotics and footbaths, the first two are the situation on each foot when we got her. The last photo shows her stepping. This is before treatment, but hasn't changed, and you can see how stiffly she holds her feet.
Thanks in advance for your sage advice!!
Eight months ago, I got a chicken from a local breeder. She was already egg-laying age, and had horrible bumblefoot on both feet. We got it taken care of, but I don't know how long she had suffered beforehand. She has always, and still does goose-step, but her gait seems to be getting stiffer and she is now is spending more and more time laying down. She does seem to be molting (maybe this is a factor?).
Her overall behavior hasn't changed much, shes still the low hen among the adults, defends her food from the teenagers, but has never joined the flock for worms or other snacks- we have to take them to her personally. She is and always has been anxious and scared of us (the intense routine of meds and footbaths this spring didn't help with that). The skin on her feet looks normal, and there is no evidence of mites.
I'm worried after her, and do have a vet I can take her to if necessary. But I'm wondering from you collective experience what might work to help make her more comfortable.
Some things I'm planning to do (please tell me if these are good or bad ideas):
- Change the litter in the hen house and run to something soft (hemp shavings? Pine shavings?).
- my husband did a recent hen house remodel- there's no room for a ladder so she is obligated to jump up and down to access perches and nesting boxes. - if I move a nest box to the ground is that going to cause problems with rats? She may not use it, but it would be an option at least, and alleviate competition.
- anti-inflamitory snacks? She's so scared of me and stressed, that I'd rather not do foot soaks. But I will if that's the best option.
what else can i do??
attached are photos of the bumblefoot from feb/march and the best photo showing get of her gait. I'll try to get a video uploaded to YouTube if that would be helpful.
The photos are in reverse order, the first is one foot after 3 weeks of antibiotics and footbaths, the first two are the situation on each foot when we got her. The last photo shows her stepping. This is before treatment, but hasn't changed, and you can see how stiffly she holds her feet.
Thanks in advance for your sage advice!!
