The WORST bumble-foot, ever?

[Chickadee55]

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I'm a new egg and was wondering do you all give your chickens shots? If so how and where?

 

[crj]

Rare Feathers Farm, I hope you took pictures of the poor guy when you got him in such bad shape. I would take pictures of his feet and of him and send the man copies just to let him know that he has problems with his birds. I would ask for a refund or send him a bill for treatment of the bird. You bought on good faith and he should up hold his end of the deal.

I'm glad he is doing better. Will you be posting any pictures? I would like to see before and after shots so I know if I run into that same problem I'll know what to do. Good job on fixing you rooster up. Oh, congrats on being pregnant

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Here are some (bad) pictures...the lighting in the entry way was not the best and it was hard to get him to hold still and my camera flash was washing everything out....but these are the before pics:

His hock:

The bottom of his foot, which after I soaked it in hot water & espom salts, there was nothing there...

We just moved him back outside to the quarantine coop. I decided to leave his hock unwrapped. I cleaned it out again and gave him some more meds and some Rooster Booster in his water. He's still limping and seems sore on that leg but he's at least walking now.

 

[ivan3]

Shots seem to illustrate that roo was on pooped up wire for a whlie. Actually, minimal swelling/redness/cellulitis. If you can get DH to hold the guy, post up some `after' shots. Looks like he probably cleaned up nicely. Don't keep him where he can fly up/down from a roost.

Thanks for posting pics.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I'll see if I can get some photos of him tonight. The quarantine coop doesn't have roosts--it's just one more thing I'd have to clean & sanitize. The floor is a thick rubber mat that I can hose & bleach. Of course, I cover it in deep pine shavings.

 

[ultasol]

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My concern with any operation if the infection is in a joint is just that- digging around in a joint. Once you start dealing with bone, tendons, etc things get more delicate. Last thing you want is an infection in the bone- those are a major PITA. Before you start creating surgical wounds, try to deal with it in another way- in fact I tried the cutting once and will not do it again. It made it worse and I ended up having to use a hard hitting antibiotic anyhow.

Most bumblefoot I don't treat. If it is asymptomatic and is not causing a limp or sperading, it's fine. I have those heavy dewlap toulouse, and I think their weight makes them pretty prone to it. So far no limping, so I haven't treated, and they don't get docked at shows. That said, it's not in a joint nor is it a gigantic swelling that disfigures the foot.

 

[ultasol]

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One bird with a sore on the hock is NOT a reason to call the SPCA!

This is why there are breeders that curse BYC and all of the members up and down. It appears the bird is otherwise healthy- he's crowing, the pictures look like he is in decent weight, feathers look in good condition. I keep some of my spare cocks on wire because they need individual cages if I am going to keep them in show condition.

Perhaps it has gotten better, but that joint doesn't look grossly swollen. I'm sure he was limping and he obviously did need to have someone wash him up and attend to his needs, and the seller should be notified, but turning someone in to the SPCA because ONE bird has a sore hock is a load of crap.

Things happen to birds. When you notice it, you take care of it, but birds are good at hiding illness until they are really sick, or, in the case of a foot/joint, really limping. At that point you treat or cull.

Kudos to heather for fixing up this animated gentleman, and boo on those of you taking this to extremes. Let's not go all PETA on this.

 

[ultasol]

Heather- he looks pretty good. If he's perky and active I'd keep with the epsom soaks and I'd wrap it to keep it clean (and use betadine). The pen is good, but if it were me I'd consider ordering some baytril just in case he gets worse or doesn't show improvement in a week or so.

What breed is he? I think I'm seeing cuckoo? Nice to see you're going to Monroe.

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
I'm a new egg and was wondering do you all give your chickens shots? If so how and where?

Depends on the shot, if it's sub-Q, sub-dermal (some vaccinations) or intramuscular.

Most are intramuscular, and the breast is my preferred spot because some antibiotics or injectibles make the muscle sore, so if given in the thigh (my second favorite place) they may limp a little.

 

[ivan3]

mypicklebird wrote: cephalexin (cephalosporin) are not very useful in birds- they metabolize it fast, need really high doses, and would need it multiple times a day. Using this medication in a chicken is not in general useful (it has it's merits- but the high doses and multiple times a day dosing makes other meds much more attractive), and may just promote antibiotic resistance.

One of the few uses it is recommended for is long term treatment of dermal/subdermal staph infections: http://www.avianmedicine.net/ampa/18.pdf

Probably why our vet ordered it.​