If you raise enough chickens or ducks long enough you will most likely be faced with a case or two of bumblefoot. Funny name not such a funny condition for your chickens (or ducks).
What is Bumblefoot?
Bumblefoot is basically a staph infection in which bacteria enters a chicken's (or duck's) foot through a cut caused by a splinter or other sharp object and causes infection which can travel up the leg.
It can also be caused by a hard landing off a high roost and tends to affect the heavier breeds. If left untreated it can potentially kill the chicken.
You can't really prevent it, but a low roost about 16-18" from the ground as a 'stepping stone' to the higher roosts can help, as can making sure your run is free of sharp stones and rocks, pieces of glass, even pine cones or sharp sticks.
Fortunately bumblefoot is very easy to spot and fairly easily treatable. Once you know what to look for, a quick once-over of your girls feet every once in awhile will be sufficient to recognize it.
My Experience with Bumblefoot
One summer, I noticed that one of our Australorps was limping a bit one morning. Upon a quick inspection, I found that her foot pad was warm and puffy.
Fortunately all my girls, being hand raised from chicks and photographed incessantly, are very used to being picked up and it's not hard to scoop each one up if I need to. Turning her foot over, there was the telltale black scab.
Treating Bumblefoot Naturally
While some might immediately suggest surgery, I recommend surgery only as a last ditch effort. Instead, try treating the infected foot with Manna Pro Theracyn Wound & Skin Care Spray.
Spraying the scab several times a day until it goes away can work especially if you catch the infection early enough.
Theracyn is a non-toxic spray that will kill the infection, increase the oxygen supply to the wound and promote rapid healing.Theracyn contains no steroids, antibiotics or alcohols that might hamper the healing process or weaken the animal's immune system. For me, it's a must-have in my chicken first aid kit.
If "Surgery" Becomes Necessary
If the foot doesn't improve, or you have a particularly base case, and no vet is available then bumblefoot surgery will likely become necessary. It is definitely a two-person job. One person to act as 'surgeon' and cut, and the other to hold and provide moral support to both the 'patient' and the 'surgeon'.
It is not a job for the squeamish, but since your chicken's life and comfort could depend on you doing it, it's something that we all should at least know how to do.
Before discovering Theracyn, a friend had a chicken who was suffering from bumblefoot and she asked me to assist. I was the 'holder'.
We have done this surgery three times now, twice on chickens and once on Brigid, our duck, and while I feel confident I COULD do the cutting if absolutely necessary, I am more than happy to just assist.
Then gently squeeze the foot pad to help remove the hard kernel and all the white stringy stuff - that's the actual infection.
Fold a gauze pad on top of the open wound and wrap it well with Vet Wrap, separating the toes and add some tape to hold it in place.
Ducks are also susceptible to bumblefoot, just like chickens. The condition will manifest itself in the same manner with a lump and black scab on the underside of the foot or on the toes.
During one of my routine health checks, I discovered a spot of bumblefoot on one of our Pekin ducks. I finally managed to fashion a bandage that our duck Brigid would keep on and could still manage to walk with.