[Foghorn-Leghorn]

Three of my six chickens have what appears to be Bumblefoot.  One of them has obvious swelling on her feet and quite large scabs (poor Gladys).  I've bathed her feet in antiseptic and warm water and she is currently sitting quietly in a box awaiting her appointment at the vets later today.

On checking the other girls, two have got what appear to be the same scabs but on a smaller scale and there is no swelling (yet) that I can see. 

Obviously I'm going to speak to the vet to see if the whole flock need treating as a precaution but is there anything else I can do to try and speed up the treatment process and more importantly, make sure it doesn't come back.

The girls do free range so restricting what they have access to underfoot could be quite difficult.  I appreciate they will need to stay in restricted quarters whilst they are been treated though.

[joyfull]

how high are their perches and the entrance into/out of their coops? They can injure their feet getting on/off and in/out of high places.

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

They don't actually perch but the perches in the coop are approx 10" from the floor of the coop.  The coop is approx 15" off the floor but they have a ladder/ramp that they do use so there's no jumping up or down involved there.

I'm a bit perplexed!

[tesni]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I think not perching can contribute to foot problems such as bumble fot.  As they are designed to be perching through the night not doing this can cause problems so it is worth encouraging them to perch - natural behaviour etc!

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

I've tried and better tried with the perching and they have had their own way... up until now!  If not perching does contribute to bumblefoot (I've not seen this stated in my books or online searches but I'm not an expert so am happy to take advice) then I will once more try and get them to perch.  We are actually going to build a new coop over the winter with a better perching arrangement - learning from mistakes, etc - so hopefully this will help.

[Caralou]

Not perching can lead to ammonia sores on the feet from standing in their own droppings. I too have lost the battle to make my three oaps perch so just let them into their old ark that doesn't have any perches. This may help a little - http://www.poultry.allotment-garden.org/Chicken_a/bumblefoot-chickens.php. I'd phone the vets and take one of the birds in though as it is unlikely that three would all be suffering from Bumblefoot at the same time. However, if you can't get to the vet with the weekend I have some metacam for pain relief you could have (not too far away from you could meet up) and that may help with inflammation as well.

[NormandyMary]

Monty will be coming back indoors tomorrow, as his foot has started swelling up again. There is no new wound, just the swelling. I have to bring him in, as its the ony way I can make sure he has his medicine, and that the rest of the girls dont!Im im hoping that a few days of TLC, rest and treats will bring him back up to scratch!

[joyfull]

my poots wont perch so I covered the floor of their coop with removable plastic bars so they have no choice 

[Spana]

Could it be that there is somewhere or something on the free range area where they are getting a small injury, then infection gets in and causes bumble foot.

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

I've taken one to the vets but it wasn't the best experience - they do "do" poultry but don't specialise and the poor girl couldn't tell me any more than this forum has. 
They didn't have the poultry strength oral administration Baytril so I've had to get them to write out a script and have ordered it on line (was much cheaper actually). 
It did make me laugh that the consultation at the vets cost twice as much as the chicken in question, bless her!

We're going to try and have a look around at any obvious areas where they might be picking up injury though I know this could be needle in a haystack but it's worth a try.  I'm not sure if the wet weather has contributed some as it's strange how it's all cropped up at one.

I know re the perching - they're just not having it!  I think it's because they came from a large scale hatchery where they were in large sheds with no perches.  I do poo pick every day religiously as a consequence.

Caralou - thank you very much for your kind offer for the metacam but I think we should be ok.  We followed the instructions on the forum sticky for removing the scab and subsequent pus and Gladys is now sporting very fetching plasters on each foot.  She was a little trooper bless her and is now settling into the invalid ward.  She's eaten and had a drink too so I'm hoping she's not any the worse for her ordeal.

Thank you for all your advice and general words of wisdom - it does offer no small relief to a somewhat stressed chicken keeper (lots of other nonsense going on in my life so my coping mechanism is being seriously tested!).

[NormandyMary]

I do hope that Gladys makes a speedy recovery. Its amazing how much you can do to their feet without hurting them.
Get well soon Gladys, Id love to see a piccie of you with your plasters on..bless!

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

Oh I know, I was nurse as I couldn't face rooting around in her feet like that.  Never realised I was squeamish but it would appear I am.  :blink:  Bless my other half though, he puts up with so much nonsense from me and is an excellent chicken surgeon to boot!

I will try and get a photo of Gladys in her new footwear.  I ought to preserve the memory as it did make me laugh just a little to see her. 

[EJCTM]

Well done with the surgery!

Here is a brilliant link with pictures on how to do it if anyone else needs it. It is more detailed than the one on the advice pages here.

Perhaps a mod can put it on a sticky??

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=236649&p=1

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

That link is so helpful - I wish I'd had seen it last night before we proceeded because it would have been very reassuring to know that what we were doing was spot on!

She's quite content in the sickbay at the moment and I'm hoping the reduced light will stop her laying so she can just concentrate on getting better.

Antibiotics should be arriving on Tuesday so fingers crossed she'll be on the road to recovery before we know it.

Am monitoring the other two that have little scabs on their feet (no swelling) and have been through their run and the garden where they free range (3rd of an acre) to try and pick up any obvious things they could do themselves a mischief on.

[NormandyMary]

Monty had his first dose of antibios this afternoon, I mixed it in some fruity porridge for him as he wont take it in water. His foot is quite warm, but there are no new sores so I hope I've caught it in time.
He's not too happy about being away fom his girls, especially as this time he is in the conservatory, not in the lounge with us watching the telly. He's very partial to a bit of sport is our Mont! We'd have him in, but he does have a tendancy to break wind rather a lot, and boy does he niff when he does it!