Pretty sure we’ve got bumblefoot..

[KhalSancho]

So, even though we’ve only had the flock a few weeks, I try to spend as much time on here (or as much as Arora deems sane ) as possible. I love to learn as much as I can about my new flock and you all, my extended chook family help me do that.. so thank you so much. I spend a lot of time looking at illness n disease type threads so I know what to watch out for and yesterday I noticed Domino favouring a leg. Today I was watching her as she slowly lifted her leg and saw a black spot so I swooped her up to check her out and there it was.. from all your guys help with other people’s threads I’m 99.9% sure it’s bumblefoot. We’ve only had them 3 weeks or so and it was just noticed, but the size leads me to believe it may have been there since we got them (I never even thought to look at the bottom of their feet when we purchased). As I was walking out Of the run to write you guys I noticed a black spot on Poppy’s foot as well but idk if it was moisture or dirt or another case.. I just wanted to get to you all ASAP Here are the questions :

1) Can we please confirm bumblefoot?

2) What causes this and how can I prevent it?

3) Is it something she can spread to the flock?

4) Best link for best thread or video on how to treat it?

5) Is this going to hurt her tremendously? Like will she be in writhing noticeable agony?

6) With us just having them for three weeks.. is this something she definitely got here or could she have had it from when we got her?

Thanks for your time and again in advance for all the knowledge I’m sure to soon fall upon me! Also, sorry for being long winded, but I figure since we’re on the internet and not in person I should be as thorough as possible with health concerns.

Cheers,
Christopher.

 

[boskelli1571]

Congratulations on your diagnosis - spot on!
By the state of the foot I would think she has had it some time, before you got her.
Bumblefoot causes them some pain and discomfort, but the worst thing about it is the fact that the bacteria in the bumble can kill the birdhttps://www.tillysnest.com/2015/12/non-surgical-bumblefoot-treatment-html/ if not treated.
This is a nice little blog on treating bumblefoot w/o surgery.
Keep us posted on your progress,

 

[KhalSancho]

Congratulations on your diagnosis - spot on!
By the state of the foot I would think she has had it some time, before you got her.
Bumblefoot causes them some pain and discomfort, but the worst thing about it is the fact that the bacteria in the bumble can kill the birdhttps://www.tillysnest.com/2015/12/non-surgical-bumblefoot-treatment-html/ if not treated.
This is a nice little blog on treating bumblefoot w/o surgery.
Keep us posted on your progress,

Awesome, thanks so much! I’m really not wanting to perform surgery 3 weeks into the journey lol like hey!! merry Christmas.. here’s some bumblefoot to carve outta your bird baby lol

 

[boskelli1571]

Awesome, thanks so much! I’m really not wanting to perform surgery 3 weeks into the journey lol like hey!! merry Christmas.. here’s some bumblefoot to carve outta your bird baby lol

I understand Make sure all of your perches are sanded w/o any possible splinters poking up otherwise you'll be doing it again

 

[KhalSancho]

I understand Make sure all of your perches are sanded w/o any possible splinters poking up otherwise you'll be doing it again

Will do! Also, we’re out bush in Australia.. tons of eucalyptus around and there are a bunch of fallen twigs, bark leaves, etc in the run.. I took all the big ones out in the beginning before we got them, and I STARTED to take up all the leaves twigs n bark, but then decided against it because they would “be good hiding spots for and attract insects for them to eat”.. I’m thinking now maybe I should go in with a rake and cut it out so it’s all sand? Maybe get a bale of sugar cane mulch?

 

[KhalSancho]

I understand Make sure all of your perches are sanded w/o any possible splinters poking up otherwise you'll be doing it again

This is what the run floor looks like, as I said, I left the bark chips and twigs and leaves on the floor and mixed it w sugar cane so it “was more natural for them” in my head lol... should I take out EVERYTHING and just have it sand/dirt or rake out everything and then just add some sugar cane in places for them to spread around as they see fit? Cheers! I unfortunately have to fly out of the country today but will be back in 48 hours to start treatment. Hopefully this is soon enough. Arora says I’m just crazy for noticing the “limp” because she watched them with me for a good while and was convinced she was walking normal and wouldn’t have thought anything wrong, so I’m hoping she’ll be ok for a couple more days til I’m back

 

[aart]

should I take out EVERYTHING

Nope......too many ting that can cut a birds foot to be able to eliminate them all.
Have had bumble foot, with mild limping, and not treated at all, eventually it heals up.
Would not treat or especially cut it open unless it was a raging infection that could go body wide.

 

[KhalSancho]

Nope......too many ting that can cut a birds foot to be able to eliminate them all.
Have had bumble foot, with mild limping, and not treated at all, eventually it heals up.
Would not treat or especially cut it open unless it was a raging infection that could go body wide.

That makes sense too.. I mean, a lot of keepers say they’ve never had a problem or it’s really rare and others just seem to have that luck sometimes.. but it’s funny, sometimes you look at the set ups and runs and you think, “this person who NEVER gets it in their flock has a run full of sticks n ledges and pointy rocks or bricks or granite... and this person who has it often has a soft grass run with a garden and dirt section and their roosts are all sanded and nice, clean nest boxes, etc..”

I was under the impression that you had to treat it (even if just soaking, spray, ointment n bandage treatment) right away. Hadn’t even heard of it clearing up on it’s own?

 

[Wezdin]

I was under the impression that you had to treat it

Nope, i have hens with it and I'm not ashamed of it, they show no discomfort from it. If they ever do i perform surgery on it, but only if it is really bad/affecting the rest of the chicken

 

[aart]

I was under the impression that you had to treat it (even if just soaking, spray, ointment n bandage treatment) right away. Hadn’t even heard of it clearing up on it’s own?

Yeah, many issues posted about here are worst case scenarios and/or over-reactions.