New at chickens so I need feedback about bumblefoot

[elizabethromas]

I have been reading on backyardchickens.com about bumblefoot in chickens. I saw some signs of it on my hen and took action. She didn't have the "black" or "dark hole/sore" on the pad of her foot but she does have like a wart on top of her foot and swelling/warmness on her foot pad. I gave her a shot of penecillian but now she is limping more than she was before. It's almost like she is stumbling and having more trouble than before. Did I do more damage then help? Or will she come out of it within time? I need feedback/advice.... Thanks

 

[janinepeters]

All you have done thus far is give her the shot? Did you pick at, or cut, the "wart"? When did you first notice something was wrong? When did you give the shot of pen? Can you post pics of the top and bottom of the foot?

 

[Lilytoes]

If you suspect bumble foot I would start soaking her foot right away. If it hasn't gone to far you can stop it by soaking alone. Epsom salt is what is generally used. Not burning hot water as hot as you have to be comfortable. If this doesn't work you might then consider doing the surgery. Good luck!

 

[terryg]

Chicken feet are lumpy and warty looking. The pads can look swollen, and the feet feel warm and the hen be just fine. Just saying because sometimes new chicken keepers don't realize how big and ugly those feet are Chickens limp from other reasons, like pulled muscles, or internal diseases that make them uncomfortable (one hen that I had limped because of cancer.)

That said, maybe she has a splinter or something stuck and it's not yet bumblefoot. I once had a hen that had a laying hen pellet impaled through her foot! Pulled it out and she was fine.

A good soak can't hurt. (For understanding why epsom salts are such a terrific soak, read this:http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/04/agnes-dark-comb/)

A full-put case of Bumblefoot is a dramatic swelling. I have photos on this post: http://hencam.com/faq/bumblefoot. It can be very hard to treat. Good-luck!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I've had WAY too much experience this summer with the sort of bumblefoot you are describing - swellings in the webbing on top of the foot without the black scab. TOUGH to deal with and very lame birds. I am thinking it probably started as a classic bumblefoot with the scab on the bottom of the foot but I didn't notice it until the bird was lame. By then it had moved upward with the scab on the bottom of the foot healing and gone. Problem is, this sort of bumblefoot can also travel up into the tendons and into the joints becoming a chronic cellulitis which is all but impossible to treat. I had swabs from 3 of my birds analyzed by the local university. The result showed Escherichia coli (fancy name for E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus so penicillin would not have been enough - although I sincerely doubt you've made things worse by using it. I had to use an oral antibiotic combo Trimeth/Sulpha - twice a day for 14 days, minimum, dosage based on the weight of the bird that was provided to me by a vet. But you also have to be really aggressive cutting and cleaning the cheese/pus out. I think this part is the most important - more so than the antibiotic. I have also found using hydrogen peroxide in/on the hole helps to break-up the "cheese" and really clean things up. I also recommend caging the bird to minimize the amount of stress to the foot. I think you really need to be aggressive to beat bumblefoot. Those soft swellings on top of the foot without an obvious spot to pick at can be frustrating because it means you have to pick around a bit to get at the gunk (and that part of the foot REALLY bleeds!) but you really do have to find it and get it out. I've learned the hard way!

PS. I also tried that tricide-neo (fish antibiotic) soak that you will often see promoted for bumblefoot. Complete waste of time. The only thing that seems to really work is aggressively cutting/cleaning it out (bandaging the foot afterward to keep it clean) and that combo antibiotic if things REALLY get stubborn.

Good luck!!

 

[elizabethromas]

I took on the task of trying to get pictures of what is going on with her. Dealing with untame chickens and a camera is a real job...

But I did the best that I could without help. She is just limping on it today and not stumbling and falling like she was last night.

This is the bottome of her foot. She is holding it up so I tried to snap a picture really quick.

And this is the only spot on her foot that has the "wart" appearance to it. (The instructions said you could click on the image to make it bigger so I hope so...)
But if she is in this condition, could this be the reason why we have had the chickens for a week now and still not one egg laid? We have 2 buff orpintons, 1 pullet (unknown), and 7 amaurcanas. She is one of the 7. Thank you all for your feedback. This begginer here appreciates it greatly.....

<to all your help>

 

[elizabethromas]

I posted what pictures I could get of her foot. She is untame and doesn't like to be too close...

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I also use the soak in epsom salt every day prior to picking at the hole and am generous with the topical antibiotic (Polysporin without pain reliever - just the triple anbiotic type for birds) after cleaning with the hydrogen peroxide and prior to bandaging. And I cut tiny squares/strips of animalintex poulticing material (for horses) in between their foot and the tape (I use Vetrap cut into thin strips to secure the poultice). I change the bandage daily when there is still a lot of swelling but let it go a couple of days once healing seems to be well established.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I took on the task of trying to get pictures of what is going on with her. Dealing with untame chickens and a camera is a real job...

But I did the best that I could without help. She is just limping on it today and not stumbling and falling like she was last night.

This is the bottome of her foot. She is holding it up so I tried to snap a picture really quick.

And this is the only spot on her foot that has the "wart" appearance to it. (The instructions said you could click on the image to make it bigger so I hope so...)
But if she is in this condition, could this be the reason why we have had the chickens for a week now and still not one egg laid? We have 2 buff orpintons, 1 pullet (unknown), and 7 amaurcanas. She is one of the 7. Thank you all for your feedback. This begginer here appreciates it greatly.....

<to all your help>

That DOES look like bumblefoot so you are probably going to have to make this poor girl friendly in a BIG hurry. Very unlikely it will go away on its own. Wrap a towel around her to help keep her secure. I also cover their head because they seem to stay calmer that way. Hopefully you can get some help with this!! When you get ahold of her, check the bottom of her foot for the black scab. It will be much easier to treat if you find that scab. The scab will come out more easily if you do the epsom salt soak (7 to 10 minutes) first.

 

[elizabethromas]

So I need to soak her foot and try to (urrp... yuck, sorry) drain that area? My husband will be able to help me once he gets home but I want to make sure we are doing what needs to be done. No pain/numb-er for her? Soak for about 10 minutes to be safe in epsom salt water (warmer but not hot). Then we will have to make incision to drain the "wart" part and the bottom of her foot? And "curd like" stuff may come out and it will get bloody. (Whew, getting light headed as I type about this... Gotta suck it up thou of I want to get her healthy again....) SO that is all we need to do and bandage it after we have opened it and cleaned the area? ANd she should be ok soon? How long do I need to rebandage her? And do I apply antibacterial ointment to it to heal it? If someone could just recheck me on my "steps" on here, to let me know that I am doing it right, I would thank you bunches. I am thinking she may have been getting this when my husband purchased her.... Thanks again