Sore foot AGAIN!

[minskey]

Well I now have three chooks with a sore lump on one foot. I thought I sorted the little banty maran but its back on her foot and I have a white leghorn & an ex batt also with a sore lump on one of thier feet. We did find a piece of sharp gravel in thier feet when we caught them and investigated, washed in surgical spirit and lots of pink salve oinment. Why is this happening; they have clean deep shavings with a powdered disinfectant in the hen house and have the run of a grass paddock where I move them around regularly.

I have thought of making some sort of disinfectant foot bath they have to walk through to get into the henhouse but what could I put in it that would not be harmful if they drank it...........................

Oh woe, just don't know what to do

[Suechooks]

Is there somewhere they are jumping off onto gravel or a hard/surface? It can be associated with jumping off perches but usually its the heavier breeds like Orpingtons. There might be a favourite perch in the run/garden with something around it? Maybe we need to make them all little boots!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RichmondHens]

I'm thinking the same thing as Sue. Given you have three with problems it must be something in their environment that is causing it. Lots of observation is needed methinks - what a great excuse for watching chickens all day!

[lettucegrow!]

My Esmerelda is wearing booties at the moment!. I think she hurt hers from being so ungainly and landing heavily. She's quite funny to watch as she faffs about for ages jumping off something only 2 ft high and then it's though she's jumped a great height with wings and feet flailing all over the place. She's no ballerina!

[jessmorris]

Is their perch too high, or are they too fat (sorry) and landing heavily? Are they ladies who lunch rather than ladies who launch? All I can think of at the moment.

[Scottishnewbie]

could it be bumblefoot? one of our girls had it

[minskey]

Hi I was thinking 'bumblefoot' too but just cannot find out exactly what it is.

[Nicos]

Hmm..thinking cap on......


I know some soil can become heavily laden with bacteria.

Some pastures have problems for larger animals - for eg there is a fungal spore in the ground which , when wet can cause horses to have sore heels which takes lots and lots of care( and months) of scrubbing their raw, scabby skin with disinfectant and plastering on various creams - and as soon as they go back onto the same pasture it starts all over again year in year out.

I'm wondering if maybe there is something in your soil causing infection when there is a small lesion ( eg scraped skin on a stone)

Tetanus is another example of something in the soil affecting peeps...but it's clearly not that- just an eg of potential soil born problems

Just a thought/theory????

[RichmondHens]

Quoting Vic Roberts - Bumblefoot is infection caused by the staphylococcus bacteria.

Bruising or injury allows the bacteria to penetrate the foot therefore setting up infection.

Her remedy is treatment by homeopathic sulphur tablets or lincomycin. She also suggest surgery but possibly culling is the only answer if the condition becomes advanced. She does say it is difficult to cure.

[minskey]

oh culling, that would be such a shame...... I hope it doesn't come to that.