Solitary chicken - need advice

[Minnie&Moose]

Magda our cochin has bumblefoot. She's on antibiotics and has her feet strapped up with corn plasters to relieve the pressure on the swollen part on her foot soles (on the vet's recommendation). Apparently the current thinking, according to the vet, is not to remove the scab immediately but treat the infection first and then remove it once the infection's dried up.

 

But, she has it on both feet and the scab is in the same place on each foot, so I doubt it's as a result of an injury when moving around. She's a big bird and has huge feet (much bigger than our Orpington who's about the same size and weight as her) - so I'm wondering whether perhaps the cube roosting bars aren't big enough for Magda's humungous feet. Any thoughts? She's always roosted - never shown any signs of sleeping in a nest box - but I'm wondering what I should do to try and stop this happening again.

[Beantree]

It could be injuries both from jumping down from a height onto a hard surface or just running over sharp ground M&M. So you need to have a good look at your setup to see if there is any occasion when she needs to jump down or if there is any rough ground. We only treat bumble foot if the pad is swollen or hot. We have several cases at the moment, none of which are causing any problems to the birds themselves. We have lowered one perch from 18" to just 6" for a young pair of Orpingtons, who are also quite big.

 

I doubt it is the roosting bars, but haven't a cube. Perches are generally accepted to be at least 50mm across with rounded corners. The only coop we have where they are smaller is a cheap Chinese coop we were given and they are 35mm. OK for bantams I suppose. Our perches range from 50mm (bantams) up to 90mm for the large fowl if that helps. Perhaps you could add a wooden perch into the cube? Our large chickens generally roost with their from toes curled over the edge of the perch, their legs flat onto the perch and their chest on their legs. The bantams are happy to roost standing at night, but do perch in the run as described during the day.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Beantree. I haven't measured the cube roosting bars but I'm pretty sure they're less than 50mm across. I think we might have to try and rig up an alternative and see if she takes to it. We've now installed a couple of low steps to help the birds access the cube ladder so hopefully that will make it easier and she won't have to jump down any distance. The pen is hardwood chips on earth and no obvious sharp bits but Magda likes to dig so perhaps she's picked it up that way?

 

Fortunately she seems to be coping with her corn plasters and strapping OK - it took 2 of us to catch her this morning, haven't seen her move so fast in a while so I'm hoping that's a good sign.

[The Dogmother]

I have treated two cases recently; it is rarely caused by an invasive injury, and these were caused by sharp edged roosting bars in one case, and sharp shingle in the run in t'other. In each case, both feet were affected, the owners were clear that they didn't want to take the birds to the vet, despite advice Both birds are now fine, and the owners kept up an aftercare regime, and changed the environmental issues which caused it.

[mullethunter]

I have added a perch to my Eglu Go. Not because of bumblefoot but because I thought the chickens would just prefer to perch off the ground rather than on the roosting bars. I'll post a photo when I get home.

[Minnie&Moose]

thanks mullethunter - I'd definitely like to see how you've added in the perch.

 

Dogmother - any suggestions for what I might put on Magda's feet when we remove the scabs? The vet said to wait until the swelling's gone down (it was only slightly puffy) and she's finished the antibiotics, and then hopefully the affected areas will be healing well and impermeable to infection - but I'd like to make doubly sure!

[The Dogmother]

After draining and cleaning it thoroughly with diluted Hibiscrub, both hens had feet bound in Animalintex, which is a dressing/poultice to disinfect and draw out any residual infection. Both owners had antibs to treat them with (I didn't ask any questions ) I would adbise to only do one foot at a time.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Dogsmother - I have hibiscrub which I've been using to clean up her feet before replacing the current dressings. Any idea where I could get Animalintex? All being well we'll tackle this Sunday/Monday so I'd like to be prepared! Many thanks.

[The Dogmother]

You can get it online. Do I remember that you're not far from me? I have plenty, and you're welcome to have some, or you can get it from Crofts in Banbury. I also used vet wrap to keep the dressings in place.

 

Note that I wouldn't recommend doing this at home unless a vet has taught you how.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Guest

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks for the offer Dogmother. I've ordered some. Feet are looking much better than before and Magda was hotfooting it round the garden at some speed this weekend so I guess she's feeling better. Swelling wasn't completely gone so have left the scabs alone and kept on with the corn plasters! I'll check her again tomorrow before work.