Chicken Bumblefoot – The Cause And Prevention
The Symptoms of Bumblefoot
An abscess forms in the sole of the foot of the chicken and often can be overlooked as bumble foot because it can look very much like calluses. It’s going to be swollen and frequently hard tissues build up. Then the bird begins to limp and in more serious cases there’ll be blood in the chickens footprint. Bumble foot in chicken can deform the feet seriously but when noticed early, treatment is pretty simple.
What Causes It?
Chicken Coop Perches – Bumble feet starts with a bruise on the foot that later progresses to small wounds that get infected. These are due to the habit of chickens perching anywhere and everywhere they fancy. Perching on really narrow wires, living in a chicken house and run where the floor is made with wire and perching on narrow edges and sharpened corners all cause bumble feet. Another usual cause is jumping from a perch that is too high and landing hard.
Improper Nourishment – Bumble feet is also certain to occur when there’s inadequate Vitamin A in the system. Seeds, a chicken staple is low in vitamin A. The vitamin promotes resistance to infection as well as promoting digestion and appetite. A sure sign the chicken lacks vitamin A is when the plumage loses its luster, becomes pale and appears rough. There is also the absence of color in the cere and there will be a yellowish and scaly accumulation on the beak.
Contagions – The little scratches and lacerations on the undersides of the feet is a good breeding zone for bugs and bacteria that when untreated will eat thru to the bone, become acutely painful and even endanger the life of the chicken.
Preventing It
Provide good perching areas in the coop and replace the chicken run if the floor is made of wire. If possible, have perches in the hen house with different diameters so the hens have the option to find a perch they are more comfy on.
Chicken will eat just about anything and so they respond well to vitamin A supplementation. Provide food that is loaded in Vitamin A. Carrot for one is an excellent source your chicken likes. Greens are also excellent for the vitamin and so are potatoes. Add veg and orange peel to their diet as chicken loves this. It’s been shown time and time again that once the vitamin deprivation is resolved, bumble feet heals.
How To Treat It
Antibiotics will be needed to heal bumble foot once it has set in. When the infection isn’t serious the technique is to soak the feet first in luke warm water for ten minutes before applying the ointment or the antibiotic.
If the bumble feet is serious, soak the feet in warmed water for 15 minutes and then employing a sharp knife carefully clear away the scabs and the puss until you are left with a clean and clear hole, apply the balm or the antibiotic, bandage the foot or use a vet rap and repeat the process every day until you are sure the bumble foot is healed.
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