Bark and Bumblefoot.

[bluemoon]

I know some of you have said that you put bark chippings in your runs, now at the moment, ours is still OK, grass-wise, but I'm obviously going to need something else eventually. Trouble is, this broken toe means I can't do much except read and I got the chook books out and read about the dreaded Bumblefoot. Wouldn't bark chippings cause this, or am I barking (sorry ) up the wrong tree?

[Flummery]

It's usually caused in heavy birds by jumping down from perches that are too high. If your perch is less than 2ft off the ground you should be fine whatever substrate the birds are on. It's caused by jarring rather than the substance they land on.

[bluemoon]

Thanks Flummery, I'd understood it to mean a sort of infected splinter, if that makes sense. I'll go with the bark when the grass in the run gets past it.

[Flummery]

Wood chipping is better than bark. Bark can harbour mould spores that can cause breathing infections.

That's by the book, however. Lots of people use it with no apparent ill effect.

[Suechooks]

Thanks Flummery, I'd understood it to mean a sort of infected splinter, if that makes sense. I'll go with the bark when the grass in the run gets past it.

It's generally a staphylococcal infection caused by penetrating wound. The "bumble" is like an abcess.
There may be other types but I think that's the most common.

[Bephlam]

I use bark...and I've had no problem. But...they throw so much of it out the run I don't think there is enough in there to do any damage. Grrrr!!

[digthatchick]

I have used bark for over 5 years and no problems - as for Bumble foot it was a problem with birds of prey keepers or Falconers ( or Austringers as I was - Hawks not Falcons) never had a problem

- you will often hear advice from new keepers, who have read it could be a problem, but as I have said many times, observation and good husbandry are the key.

As for birds that jump more than two feet ...? what happens when a 4 lb Goshawk strikes your fist at 60 mph !! Suechooks has got it, its an infection.

Introduction

Caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, mainly S. aureus and seen in chickens and turkeys worldwide. Morbidity is usually low and mortality 0-15% though affected birds will often be culled on humane grounds. Infection is usually by the respiratory route with an incubation period of 2-3 days seen after artificial infection. Wounds, either accidental or induced by interventions such as beak trimming, and toe trimming may be a portal of entry with subsequent spread via the bloodstream to the typical sites of lesions. Damaged skin due to nutritional deficiencies (such as of biotin) may also be a point of entry.

Transmission occurs in the hatchery and in the general farm environment, and by fomites. Predisposing factors include reovirus infection, chronic stress, trauma, and imunosuppression.
Signs

* Ruffled feathers.
* Lameness.
* Low mobility.
* Swollen above the hock and around the hocks and feet.
* Some sudden deaths from acute septicaemia if very heavy challenge.

Post-mortem lesions

* Tenosynovitis, most commonly in the plantar area of the foot or just above the hock joint. This may progress to abscess formation in these areas.
* Infected joints may have clear exudate with fibrin clots.

Diagnosis

Lesions, isolation and identification of pathogen. Differentiate from septicaemia or tenosynovitis due to Colibacillosis, Salmonella spp., Mycoplasma spp., especially M. synoviae.
Treatment

Antibiotics, in accordance with sensitivity.
Prevention

Good hygiene in the nest, the hatchery and in any intervention or surgery (processing, e.g. toe clipping). Possibly vaccination against reovirus infection, particularly of parent birds. Good management, low stress and prevention of immunosuppression from any cause will all tend to help. Competitive exclusion with a non-pathogenic Staphylococcus has been shown to be effective (no commercial products yet available based on this technology). Recovered birds may have some immunity but vaccination with staphylococci has not been found to be helpful in preventing the disease to date.

[digthatchick]

Wood chipping is better than bark. Bark can harbour mould spores that can cause breathing infections.

That's by the book, however. Lots of people use it with no apparent ill effect.

Hi Flum
Woodchipping is not necessarily better than bark as many chippings contain Creteagus chips (Hawthorn tree) and wild rose which have large thorns that can cause severe foot injuries to chooks.

[Flummery]

That's if they are from a tree surgeon or council team I suspect. I bought softwood chippings and they are exactly what they say.

[dozey1]

I have had wood chip for over 6 months from my local tree man and had no problems at all. I have bark around my natural pond and the girls love kicking it over to find some yummies, noproblem as yet! i found they had a toy in their run when i cleaned it out a gutted dead mouse yuck. Hope i didn't that egg......