Topic of the Week - Bumblefoot - Prevention and Treatment

[Lazy Farmer]

We completed the surgery successfully a month ago. It healed up really fine but shortly after she lost use of her legs so we used penicillin injectable...versus the the antibiotics Trimethoprim Sulfa noted in the thread you linked. She is still a special needs bird and cannot become mobile. We are on the edge of culling her for Humane reasons. It's a shame because she's such a young and beautiful bird.

Note pic2. This is how she moves about. We keep her in a kennel all night, and take her out in the morning and put her in a segregated area so the roosters cannot gang up on her. We have cleaned up all the bacterial infection but she has lost use of her legs. She has to become a special needs chicken.

 

[casportpony]

Note pic2. This is how she moves about. We keep her in a kennel all night, and take her out in the morning and put her in a segregated area so the roosters cannot gang up on her. We have cleaned up all the bacterial infection but she has lost use of her legs. She has to become a special needs chicken.

Any swelling in any of her joints?

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Any swelling in any of her joints?

Negative. Photos were just taken moments before I posted them. I checked the injuries on her feet and they are completely healed no swelling no signs of infection. She is bony on her belly from malnutrition from not being able to get to the food dish. So we have implemented a plan to keep the food is closer to her in the kennel. Perhaps multi food dishes.

 

[Kathy Golla]

I'd like to discuss prevention and whether those using sand in their coop or wood chips (not shavings, chips) as part of their dlm are seeing more of a prevalence of bumblefoot in their hens.
Also, if anyone is covering their roosts what are you using? My girls will get into/eat anything.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

View attachment 1229650 View attachment 1229652 View attachment 1229653
Note pic2. This is how she moves about. We keep her in a kennel all night, and take her out in the morning and put her in a segregated area so the roosters cannot gang up on her. We have cleaned up all the bacterial infection but she has lost use of her legs. She has to become a special needs chicken.

What a lucky girl that you take such good care of her but I can understand considering culling.

 

[KristinS]

We have small plants that start off green and the chickens eat them, but when they dry out there are small stickers on them. I see my chickens pull them out of their feet all the time. This is when they free range. I have had a few cases of bumble foot, but nothing as severe as what I am reading on this thread. I remove the corn like thing or scab and put antibiotic ointment, a round cotton pad, and some vet wrap on the foot. In a couple days it is totally healed. Even my worse case has not been like the previous posts. I am wondering if my flock actually had bumblefoot. Maybe grade 3 at most.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have experience with a very minor form of bumblefoot. Granted, though, I had caught it early and did not have to do anything too drastic. Just goes to show that you should give your birds check-ups now and then.

My experience was similar. I give my birds regular check ups and found a tiny dark scab on one of my hen's feet. With my thumbnail I scraped off the surface of it, then soaked her feet in a warm bath with epson salt about 10 minutes. Then I took a pair of tweezers and removed the remainder of the scabbed tissue, dabbed on a little neosporin, and bandaged it. Soaked it again the next day as a precaution but by then it was already closing up. By the end of the week there was nothing but a faint discoloration where the scab had been.

 

[black_dove2]

I'd like to discuss prevention and whether those using sand in their coop or wood chips (not shavings, chips) as part of their dlm are seeing more of a prevalence of bumblefoot in their hens.
Also, if anyone is covering their roosts what are you using? My girls will get into/eat anything.

Run is native sand and rocks. Girls roost out in the open. They taste and eat everything like yours. The Palo Verde is edible. If I don't get the twigs picked up fast enough they eat around the thorns. Any seeds, seedlings or flowers they eat as well.

 

[getaclue]

For those with larger birds, which tend to be more prone to bumblefoot, Tricide Neo is still a very good option.

 

[Sylvester017]

For those with larger birds, which tend to be more prone to bumblefoot, Tricide Neo is still a very good option.

I first read about Tricide Neo on the following website http://ouroneacrefarm.com/bumblefoot-treatment-tricideneo/ and wondered if anyone on BYC had ever tried it. I haven't ever had a case of Bumblefoot yet but like to be prepared. TY for posting.