A family friend has been dealing with bumblefoot on one hen for a few months now. Honestly the only thing I’ve heard that they have done is epsom salt soaking. I really don’t have too many details on what they have done although I wish I could report more. They’ve had chickens for a couple of years now and are decently experienced, but it sounds like this has gotten out of their hands. Found out today that this hen just lost two of her toes. Apparently they “became limp” and were “dangling from her foot” and so he cut them off… maybe for the best? I expect that if they weren’t completely dead yet that they were at least dying as it is my understanding that bumblefoot, if left untreated, can and will spread to the bone. I’m worried this hen may be too far gone if it’s already killed two toes but I’m going over there this week to treat her myself and do whatever I can. To me it sounds like they never actually removed the abscess but only tried topical and soaking treatment. Obviously that has not worked. I know how to treat bumble foot and I am completely competent in the removal and invasive processes, but I have to ask if I should I treat it differently in this specific case. I expect I will have to do a lot more, and in regard to the amputation how should we handle that? Right now they have taped a plastic fork to her foot to help her balance in replacement of her toes… I mean it’s innovative but I don’t know how to feel about it. My concern is the healing process of the amputation wound and if I should go back and check for any remaining dead tissue.
In short; How do I treat advanced bumblefoot that has already killed two toes? How do I handle the amputation wound? What specific treatments should I use in this case, and what products would work best?
Hopefully more details are to come.
In short; How do I treat advanced bumblefoot that has already killed two toes? How do I handle the amputation wound? What specific treatments should I use in this case, and what products would work best?
Hopefully more details are to come.