What is the easiest way to introduce new chickens to an existing flock?

[Luvachicken]

I always check the pekins slpippers for mud but hadn't really noticed much wrong with their feet themselves, until the other day.

Right in the centre of both of Gemma's feet was a little circle of mud, kind of looking a bit like a corn that we get on our own feet. I tried to get it off but it wouldn't budge.

I have been putting vaseline on the sole of each foot every night and today when I looked, one of the mud things does look a lot smaller on one foot, and a bit slower reduction on the other ( this had a bigger mud circle )

 

What would have caused this ?

Is the vaseline the correct thing to use - it does seem to be doing a good job.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Guest

[mimi5]

Ooo Err sounds strange Could you post a pic? It's not bumble foot is it? My pekins feet are lovely and clean at the mo Just still batttling with Molly having some scaley leg

[Olly]

Try standing her in some warm water to see if it will soak off? (She'll probably need some persuasion to stand still!). It could just be mud, one of my hens used to end up with little mud boots, but not the others.

[Luvachicken]

Yes, sorry, I did mean to do a photo before I posted, but was cross with myself for not remembering to ask about the feet so I forgot.

I will try and take some tomorrow so you can see what I am on about

[Luvachicken]

Here are some photos. Managed to get them before we were going out.

I hope they are some help.

It is the mud dot in the middle that is the problem - a bit like a hard scab but mud.

 

 

The foot I started with the vaseline looked like this but it has now gone. This is what is on her other foot.

[mollyripkim]

It's not bumblefoot is it, I hope not. Spent all evening researching various chicken sites trying to sort Henrietta's dry skin and sure I saw something like that. You've had a lot of worry with your dog so hope everything is ok.

[mimi5]

Luvachicken, great photos....it does look a bit like bumble foot pictures I've seen. Any news, have you seen anymore improvment??

[Egghead68]

It's bumblefoot. You need to getbthe black bits off (gently) then wipe twice a day with iodine diluted to the colour of weak tea. The chicken may need oral antibiotics too. Be careful to wear gloves as humans can catch the germ.

[Chicken deficient]

It certainly looks like bumblefoot to me. Be very careful about picking the dark bit off - it could leave a deep gaping hole underneath and let more infection in.

 

In addition to the advice about bathing and antibiotics, it is important to try and reduce the pressure that she is putting on that part of her foot - does she perch on anything other than the omlet roosting bars?

 

Evenly shaped perches can cause problems as the pressure is always on the same part of the foot - hence uneven natural branches are better, as they have to use different parts of their feet and the pressure spots vary. Sometimes it can help to just have them on soft, clean bedding and not perching on anything hard at all when it is healing.

 

Make sure all bedding and the run floor are clean, so she doesn't walk in anything dirty or mucky.

 

Bumblefoot can be very difficult to treat successfully - I'd advise going to a good vet to be on the safe side, though it does look like you've spotted it quite early.

[Luvachicken]

Oo, er, I was hoping it was just a sort of easy thing to clear up.

The other foot looks good now though with the use of the vaseline.

 

What antibiotics will the vet give do you think, because if it is Baytril, then I have loads left because the nurse measured into a little cup and then added loads more to my bottle because she said it was stuck to the measuring cup.

If I can use that how long do I need to give it for ?

 

Can they pass it on to each other ?

 

What do I need to look for on myself if I have caught anything ?

 

OOoooooooo, these chickens

 

At the moment they have the omlet roosting bars, a homemade ladder with squarish rungs and the straight edge of their dirt pit to sit on, oh yes, and a little childrens bench.

 

Are some chickens more susceptible to bumble foot than others ?

How serious is it ?

Can it come back ?

 

Sometimes I wonder if it would just be easier getting eggs from a shop

Am feeling a bit deflated about this, especially as our poor dog was crying for help last night because she couldn't get up off the kitchen floor - but hubby has found her some big piece of old carpet, so now she won't slip.

[Luvachicken]

Off to the vets at 3pm today. Going to take Gemma who has one on each foot and Queenie has one.

I just hope she gives me some proper antibiotics, as last time I saw her she had great problems trying to work out the amount of powder I needed, and how much to dilute it by.

I looked like a druggy sorting out the fine powder onto bits of foil

[Egghead68]

My pekin's had baytril for it in the past but now I just catch it early and do the iodine bathing and it disappears within a week or so. Good luck at the vet's. You've caught it early so it shouldn't be anything too much to worry about.

[Luvachicken]

Will the vet be able to supply me with the iodine or will i have to get it from a chemist ?

If not either of those, where do I get it from ?

[Luvachicken]

The vet confirmed they do both have bumblefoot, but not that bad.

She was impressed with me for having spotted it early, well actually it was with the help of everyone on here that suggested bumblefoot, I only knew they didn't look right.

She has given them individual pots of baytril and she gave me a bottle of iodine.

 

She was impressed with some other stuff I told her too - so I have awarded myself a gold star.

 

Weird thing is, for Lucie with her wobbly head, she had her medicine once a day, but these 2 are both on twice a day. Is it because foot things are harder to treat ?

[Egghead68]

The iodine needs to be quite dilute (weak tea coloured). Good luck. I expect they will be fine soon.

[Luvachicken]

The iodine needs to be quite dilute (weak tea coloured). Good luck. I expect they will be fine soon.

 

I hope I mixed it up right then, it looked like weak tea to me, but maybe not to others

Anyone know the right ratio ?

The vet did show me how much iodine to draw up but I'm sure she said just add a little bit of water