Oh god help me is this bumble foot?

[okiemamachick]

It was my initial thoughts too I thought "those so and so's better reimburse me!" But then I got sad at the thought of sending them back. The more I talk to the lady the more I believe she really didn't know it was there she's asking me about how to check the rest of her flock and what to do if they are all affected I can tell she cares by the tone of her emails

 

[azygous]

A couple of years ago, I posted what should be an obvious item of care we should give our flocks. It had occurred to me that I was completely taking for granted my flocks' feet. I would venture to guess most people with chickens do too. We just think chicken feet are tough and take care of themselves.

I recommend regular foot inspections. I get down on my knees and bring the chicken toward me and with her head between my legs, I lift one foot, then the other, inspecting the bottoms as well as the toe nails.

I've found pebbles as large as a centimeter and a half lodged into the dimples between the toes on the foot pads. I've discovered early bumblefoot when it was relatively easy to treat, and nails that any amount of digging and scratching were not being worn down and were growing way too long for a chicken to walk properly.

Bumblefoot is a hidden disease. Often the chicken doesn't limp or act like her feet hurt. Only periodic inspections can catch these things before serious damage or even death occurs. I recommend it highly.

 

[okiemamachick]

Well despite the long ride home and having her foot the way it is and being stressed she blessed us with an egg this morning. Is it safe to eat? It's not nearly as dark as I thought it would be and it's rather chalky

 

[azygous]

The egg is safe to eat. The staph germs are localized to the Bumblefoot. If you decide the infection is serious enough to need to treat her with an oral antibiotic, you may choose not to eat her eggs until she's all done with the course of treatment.

 

[justplainbatty]

It was my initial thoughts too I thought "those so and so's better reimburse me!" But then I got sad at the thought of sending them back. The more I talk to the lady the more I believe she really didn't know it was there she's asking me about how to check the rest of her flock and what to do if they are all affected I can tell she cares by the tone of her emails

Well, it's good that she seems to care. Invite her to join BYC so she can learn too. I kept and treated the millie fluers I mentioned before and although they are gone, I still have one of their offspring who is 6 years old now.

good luck to all of you!

 

[okiemamachick]

Fixing to start working on her good but right now she's enjoying a nice foot soak


got my supplies ready

 

[okiemamachick]

And for the record her other foot has it as well but it looks more like the classic sized bumblefoot

 

[Suzie]

Let us know how it goes...you are very well prepared...!

Well done for your courage in helping this chicken to have a great quality of life for her future with you...it is people like you that make this BYC website a wonderful place.. caring and sharing...your post will help others in the future...

My thoughts are with you all the way....

 

[holm25]

If I was closer I would love to do this for you. I would love to go to school to be a vet and do stuff like this.

 

[okiemamachick]

Ok so I believe the badly effected foot may have been a crud ball here what followed:

Soaked for about 45 minutes in Epsom salt and betadine washes up the foot with a soft toothbrush



I tried to work the obstruction free for quite awhile but it just wasn't budging so I had to cut the webbing



even then it took a lot of prying and cutting the edges to get it free.
But it finally came out!



I cleaned it thoroughly and put antibiotic ointment on it and then a gauze pad and vet wrap.

here's the plug thingy that was on it



She fell asleep once this thing was removed and I did the small bumble on her other foot now she's chilling in her recovery room in the kitchen



For now her recovery room is a tote with a laundry basket duck taped to the top of it lol she's standing up find and gawking around and the commotion of the kitchen. Thanks again for everyone's help I couldn't have done this without you guys!