Need advice on how to gently handle a chicken who is molting but must be treated for bumblefoot

[Jcat6419]

My hen is going through a hard molt right now and unfortunately has bumblefoot. She's been to the vet and was prescribed an antibiotic and MetaCam. I need to medicate her 2x per day in addition to soaking and wrapping her foot 1x per day probably for the next 3 weeks or so. She is being a trooper but I feel horrible for handling her so much during her molt. I know it's painful for her to be picked up. What is the best way to handle her? Should I avoid pressing on the areas that have pin feathers? Is it possible I will damage her new feathers just by handling her at this time? I appreciate any suggestions! Thanks

 

[micstrachan]

My first thought is to very gently wrap her in a towel, which I would do even without the molt. Anyone else?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

That's correct, wrap her in a towel when treating for bumblefoot or any illness. When I treat my large rooster for his bumblefoot, I always wrap him in a towel. Then, I wash his feet in the bathroom sink, dry them, then treat the sores and finish by wrapping the foot with selfstick gauze wrap. Then, I wake him up from his beauty sleep! LOL! He gets so comfortable on my lap all wrapped up and snuggly, that he just falls asleep.
Your little girl will be ok, just wrap her firmly. Have everything ready, so that treatment doesn't take more time than needed.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chickens that are molting are extremely sore so it would be best to forgo the treatment for bumblefoot until after her molt is finished. I don't know what your vet said but there is no "gentle" treatment for bumblefoot. At least there is no gentle treatment for bumblefoot that will cure the condition or keep it from returning.

The successful treatment of bumblefoot usually involves cutting out the center or core of the corn on your chicken's foot with a sharp pocket knife. The causes of bumblefoot usually involve a poor coop, or run floor meaning a hard landing every time a chicken flies down from its roost. Roosters that are grossly overweight are extremely likely to develop bumblefoot.

However this chicken belongs to you so knock your self out. Just don't put your bird through a lot of pain, misery, suffering and torture for no reason.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

The Metacam is an anti-inflammatory, which will relieve any pain from the bumblefoot. Did the vet do surgery on the bumblefoot? If so, then you need to administer the antibiotic. If you wrap her with a nice fluffy towel she will be OK. Sometimes, you have no choice but to handle the bird during a molt in order to help it. I have done it, just take care. By the way, I did successfully treat my rooster's bumblefoot without surgery. I used colloidal silver patch for 3 weeks, along with foot cleanings and fresh bandage every 2 days. His feet are good now, and he wears boots to protect his feet. He is not over weight, my vet says some chickens are just more susceptible. I did have a heavy rooster, but he never had bumblefoot.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I seem to see a lot of small, very hard, and sharp rocks that the above chicken is forced to land, live, walk, and scratch in.

Wearing boots or other devices is not a cure for bumblefoot.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is she having any trouble walking due to the Bumblefoot?
Is the soaking and administering the antibiotics and pain meds for aftercare of surgery (did the vet perform surgery)?

If you are soaking/treating her in preparation for surgery, then I would agree with @chickengeorgeto that waiting until she finishes molting would be best. Molting is already stressful enough.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Yes, he is in an area where there is pea gravel. But, he is wearing his boots and has had no further infections. Their chicken run substrate is sand, but one cannot expect soft surfaces everywhere a chicken ventures. The hens also venture into this area when free ranging, and none have had bumblefoot. And you are correct, bumblefoot will probably return to those chickens that have a predisposition for it. That's why it is important to know the various options for treatment. But, to each his own...

 

[BarredRockMom]

The Metacam is an anti-inflammatory, which will relieve any pain from the bumblefoot. Did the vet do surgery on the bumblefoot? If so, then you need to administer the antibiotic. If you wrap her with a nice fluffy towel she will be OK. Sometimes, you have no choice but to handle the bird during a molt in order to help it. I have done it, just take care. By the way, I did successfully treat my rooster's bumblefoot without surgery. I used colloidal silver patch for 3 weeks, along with foot cleanings and fresh bandage every 2 days. His feet are good now, and he wears boots to protect his feet. He is not over weight, my vet says some chickens are just more susceptible. I did have a heavy rooster, but he never had bumblefoot.
View attachment 1152915

I love those boots, what a great idea!! Where did you get them? I would like to keep something like that in my chicken emergency kit.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I thought they were worth looking into. The first pair of, "birdy booties", I bought from Crazy K Farm Store, online. However, they were too tight on this rooster. So I decided to make his boots myself. He is wearing them in the photo. I have the other pair in my medical kit for my hens. They also sell them for ducks. It is tricky getting them on the first time. It's like putting a glove on a limp hand! But, they have worked quite well for my roo.