My hen has bumblefoot

[HayHays97]

Hi guys,
I'm pretty sure my hen has bumblefoot so I was just wondering do you think it would be best if I took her to a vet to get it treated? Because I've seen posts of people doing it themselves, but I'm worried I might do something wrong. Also can it be fatal? None of my chickens have ever gotten it before so this is pretty new to me, and last how can it be prevented?
I think thats about it.
Thank you

 

[fuzzybutt love]

what are the symptoms that makes you think it's bumblefoot? can you post pics?


If you are not good with blood and guts, i would say take her to a vet. I can honestly say, having had to do surgery myself, if a vet was an option i'd go for it. At home you will have no way to sedate her, and it is painful for them. Not only that, if you miss anything, you may have to repeat the surgery. And also, you need to be aware that this is what i believe is a staph infection, humans can get it if the proper precautions are not taken.

But all this being said, yes, a bird will eventually die of bumblefoot if not treated, and i do have a link to a particularly helpful video, if you doing it is the only way to save her.

The usual cause is something pricked her foot, and bacteria entered the wound. Somehow it solidifies in there, and that will have to be gotten out in order for the infection to heal. Or, sometimes they can get it from being a heavy bird and jumping from high places on a regular basis. All you can do to prevent it is look around for anything sharp around the coop, hopefully she learned her lesson!

 

[HayHays97]

this is a picture of her foot from the top, and when i looked at it yesterday underneath it looks the same as pictures on posts of other chickens with bumble foot


Thankyou I think I might take her to the vet to get it treated. I'm just worried I'll do something wrong.
We only just noticed it last week so at the moment weare trying to find a vet that will treat chickens, so we will just keep an eye on it for now.
Yeah hopefully she will learn, I've read that its really common so thats a bit of a worry.
Thank you so much for replying , hopefull we will find someone to treat it soon

 

[klmclain1]

Yup... that's bumblefoot. Here are some links if you choose to do it yourself.

http://successwithpoultry.blogspot.com/2009/09/bumblefoot-chicken.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bumblefoot-how-to-treat-your-chickens-with-surgery-graphic-pics

 

[tehbee]

basicly cut it all out clean the wound and dress it

 

[HayHays97]

Thank-you for the links but thats what I'm worried about doing, I don't want to do something wrong. I'll probablly just take her to a vet and see if they can do it.

 

[Dagirls]

I am not an expert and I am a fairly new 3 year chicken owner but I am a nurse and have a hen with "bumblefoot" but not that bad visually. I found her in the run laying there. Soaked her feet in warm water with epsom salts 3 x a day. The same thing I do when my horse absesses. You can help the puncture or wound stay open. Not all people can cut and open a would. But you need to do something. The soaking and putting a warm moist towel her foot and put her in a small cage with bedding. I gave her sugar water just cuz I think she was ready to check out. Today about a year later she was limping again no infection but the other hens were going after her so now she is the spoiled only family hen. Her name is bumblfoot. But I always worry when they jump down as we do have stickers. That is just my experience. Wish you well.

 

[HayHays97]

I've had chickens for 5 years and I haven't had any chickens get bumblefoot so this is new to me :/
Yeah I've being watching her closely. I go to an agriculture school so I'm going to talk to my teacher and try and get in contact with a vet that treats chickens. I'm in the city so unfortunatly vets that specialise in chickens are hard to come by, if I can't find a vet I will pop it and everything by myself, but I'm worried I might do something wrong, thankfully shes acting normally at the moment.
Thank you for your help

 

[dawg53]

The longer you wait from removing the infection increases chances that the infection spreads to the legbone. Once that happens there are no amount of antibiotics that can stop the infection from spreading throughout her system, then they chicken will die. The sooner you get the infection removed and treated, the better. Klmclain1 has provided excellent links to go by.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

that is a pretty bad case........ this video is very graphic, but it does a good job of showing you how, from start to finish. I believe the epsom salt soak was also suggested prior to the surgery, and if you do it remember not to get the neosporin with the pain relief, that is toxic to chickens. Just get the regular kind. Also note that they cut a bit back from the original scab, not exactly on it's edges.