Multiple chickens have Bumblefoot

[lovemy6hens]

The duct tape should not be directly on the skin.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My experience with bumblefoot limited to secondary infections of injuries related to fighting through pens. To correct I open it up to drain then keep effected birds on grass in a pen. Recuperating birds are moved frequently to keep them from walking on their feces.


The parasite as being a cause is an educated guess (trained zoologist here) from someone keeping chickens for a long time. My birds walk about on some very tough ground and fly down from high roost which are both often implicated as causes of bumblefoot. I seldom see the infections except as indicated with fighting. Parties I have seen with bumblefoot as a chronic problem keep the birds on ground getting heavy chicken traffic or in very wet locations.

Someone well versed in histology needs to look into this more closely.

Thanks for the insight. Interesting for sure. Will have to do some reading to see what I can find.

@Violetsfeathers On Ginger, when did you do the bumblefoot surgery?
Was there a core - I'm assuming there was since she has the "hole" in her foot. That should be closing up by the first week of surgery and not leaving a hole. The "thumb" that you describe on Ginger's foot look like it may have the beginnings of infection as well.

Both links I provided shows how to pack the foot and wrap it, as mentioned by @lovemyhens the duct tape should not be applied directly to the feet. Pack with plain neopsorin or vetericyn, apply sterile gauze, then wrap the foot with vet wrap, leave it alone for a couple of days
Photos in the links provided earlier also show some before/after treatment photos the scar should be gone in a fairly short period of time.

Since you have several hens with similar issues, as suggested you may want to evaluate your coop/run/free range areas, remove any wet bedding, clean run area that has excess dropping, if your run doesn't have a covered area, possibly provide a few dry areas or perches so they can get off the wet ground.

Let us know how they are doing.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

My experience with bumblefoot limited to secondary infections of injuries related to fighting through pens. To correct I open it up to drain then keep effected birds on grass in a pen. Recuperating birds are moved frequently to keep them from walking on their feces.


The parasite as being a cause is an educated guess (trained zoologist here) from someone keeping chickens for a long time. My birds walk about on some very tough ground and fly down from high roost which are both often implicated as causes of bumblefoot. I seldom see the infections except as indicated with fighting. Parties I have seen with bumblefoot as a chronic problem keep the birds on ground getting heavy chicken traffic or in very wet locations.

Someone well versed in histology needs to look into this more closely.

Ginger and Speckles do fly down from a high roost. I clean their bedding when it gets dirty. It has been very wet here lately, they free range and hide under cars and trailers while it's raining.

Thanks for the insight. Interesting for sure. Will have to do some reading to see what I can find.

@Violetsfeathers
   On Ginger, when did you do the bumblefoot surgery?
Was there a core - I'm assuming there was since she has the "hole" in her foot. That should be closing up by the first week of surgery and not leaving a hole. The "thumb" that you describe on Ginger's foot look like it may have the beginnings of infection as well. 

Both links I provided shows how to pack the foot and wrap it, as mentioned by @lovemyhens
the duct tape should not be applied directly to the feet. Pack with plain neopsorin or vetericyn, apply sterile gauze, then wrap the foot with vet wrap, leave it alone for a couple of days
Photos in the links provided earlier also show some before/after treatment photos the scar should be gone in a fairly short period of time.

Since you have several hens with similar issues, as suggested you may want to evaluate your coop/run/free range areas, remove any wet bedding, clean run area that has excess dropping, if your run doesn't have a covered area, possibly provide a few dry areas or perches so they can get off the wet ground.

Let us know how they are doing.

Thanks, I could not find a core, I removed it a couple weeks ago but then didn't take care of it...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ginger and Speckles do fly down from a high roost. I clean their bedding when it gets dirty. It has been very wet here lately, they free range and hide under cars and trailers while it's raining.
Thanks, I could not find a core, I removed it a couple weeks ago but then didn't take care of it...

That's ok. Start taking care of it now so it can start healing. The treatment in the links I provided should be helpful.

Let us know if they start to heal.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Okay, thanks!

I use duct tape because vet wrap always comes off the toes, and duct tape keeps it cleaner. What is so bad about it?

 

[lovemy6hens]

Okay, thanks!

I use duct tape because vet wrap always comes off the toes, and duct tape keeps it cleaner. What is so bad about it?

Duct tape can easily damage the skin, especially if it's placed over a wound. It might be okay over the vet wrap, as it doesn't touch the skin.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How are your girls doing?

 

[Violetsfeathers]

They are doing okay we were super busy for a few days do didn't have time to change the bandages for a while

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Pumpkin and speckles bumblefoot is completely gone, Ginger still has it though.

 

[lovemy6hens]

That's great news! I hope Ginger recovers soon too.