Topic of the Week - Bumblefoot - Prevention and Treatment

[Sylvester017]

@casportpony As always, TY for your input

 

[sevenfatcows]

Desert soil is rough, rocky, and generally inhospitable to chicken feet. Here's what has worked for me to help prevent foot injuries: for years I hauled bags of horse manure onto my chicken free range area and runs, beginning with the most heavily used portions and working my way out. I've probably composted a ton of the stuff along with the rakings from elsewhere in my yards and the coops. There is a double benefit in that the birds love to dig through the manure, especially if it's fresh, eating all the bugs and partially digested grains and such, and over time, the harsh, rocky ground has been topped over with the composted soil making it much more gentle for the chickens' feet. I rake it up periodically and make new compost piles-the fun never stops!

 

[chickengr]

I had a grade 5 case. I performed a surgery followed by doxycycline for 7 days. a year later the same bird the same thing. she is still alive and happy/healthy. both times she had bumble foot in summer.

 

[ChicKat]

Tricide neo is what I used and the results were successful. Somewhere or other there are pictures.
It's been some years and the problem never recurred. She's 6-years old tomorrow too!

 

[sevenfatcows]

We have used Tricide Neo as well, and it worked.

 

[Sylvester017]

Desert soil is rough, rocky, and generally inhospitable to chicken feet. Here's what has worked for me to help prevent foot injuries: for years I hauled bags of horse manure onto my chicken free range area and runs, beginning with the most heavily used portions and working my way out. I've probably composted a ton of the stuff along with the rakings from elsewhere in my yards and the coops. There is a double benefit in that the birds love to dig through the manure, especially if it's fresh, eating all the bugs and partially digested grains and such, and over time, the harsh, rocky ground has been topped over with the composted soil making it much more gentle for the chickens' feet. I rake it up periodically and make new compost piles-the fun never stops!

I love it when owners spoil their chickens and that you went the extra mile for your chickens' health! Eventually foraging chickens will soften up average soil but nice that you recognized this time they needed a little extra "help" from you!

 

[Sylvester017]

We have used Tricide Neo as well, and it worked.

Where is TricideNeo available?

 

[sevenfatcows]

Where is TricideNeo available?

You can find it on line. It is for fish, actually.

 

[Bonniebooboo]

Good Thread. I have never heard of TricideNeo. will look that up. I have never had a chicken with bumblefoot. never hurts to learn and try and be prepared though. I always have Neosporin on hand, and a few other antibiotics handy.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I have had a couple of chickens with Bumblefoot this year. We moved from the suburbs over a year ago and my new coop is much bigger. I never had bumblefoot before, but I think it may be because of their high roosts. In the spring, I plan to redo my coop and run setup to avoid this, and to avoid predators. My coop is a 10'12' shed, and of course, they all like to roost as high as they can.

I have documented a particularly bad case of bumblefoot from an EE this year. I was thinking about creating an article about it. I think I will, because it could be helpful to others here. The one case was puzzling, because there was not a clear core, or scab. I believe the cause was a small pine needle that had punctured her foot.