Chicken update & Bumblefoot

(scroll down for the updates)


Ugh!



So, I was going to do an update on the girls last week but...
...Red got bumblefoot.

Sunday, I noticed Red limping slightly after coming in from a forage in the woods.  She does limp every now and then and thought  little of it.

Monday morning, I noticed she was not doing her usual limp. This time it was a limp that told me she did not want to put too much pressure on the bottom of her foot (I'm not sure how I can tell the difference in these things but just can). So, I took a look-see and sure enough, she had what appeared to be a bumble foot infection.
I won't post photos or details on the infection 'cause I would be re-inventing the wheel. So, here is a great blog I follow by Kathy "Chicken Chick" for reference http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2011/07/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning.html

Now, I get my (poorly stocked) med kit out, grab the carrier and put the Red in the carrier with food and water and get to web attacking. I soaked the foot in warm water and picked the scab a little and rinsed with hydrogen peroxide. That was not working well so I scoured the web some more and headed off to the feed store.
Got back and soaked her feet in Epsom salt bath, pulled the waxy "plug" off and cleaned out the "stringy stuff" best I could without cutting or digging into her foot too much. Even though the bird is wrapped and may be still and not making noises - it STILL HURTS HER severely! I understand "surgery" is in the best interest but I am no vet or even a tech AND do not want to do her any further injury. I opted not to cut out the scab. This is not like causing pain while pulling out a splinter. It is surgery WITHOUT pain killer! I can not bring myself to inflict torture on my bird. Those who can... maybe you can come over and do it for me. I tried to be as quick and gentle as possible by using the soak and letting it "push" out the scab enough for me to remove it with tweezers.  Flushed the wound (no hole) with Iodine, bandaged with neosporin and put her in the carrier.

By this time, I had to rush to clean up and disinfect the "prep area" and myself and rush off to pick up the kids from the bus-stop. Then the rest is the usual after school rush so, Red got put in the garage to rest in the dark till tomorrow.

Tuesday, I scoured the web some more and found Kathy's med lit list (see above link) and decided to call the vet because I don't have the heart to do "surgery". After the vet gave me some advice, I headed off once again to the feed store and stocked up my med kit and got antibiotics (per vets instructions) After all was said and done I could have spent the same just taking her in.

A better stocked kit

more supplies

I had to get some new blood stop (notice the ridiculous price) because the stuff I had that was labeled "for birds" contained a "caine" painkiller. I gave it to a friend who has livestock other than birds.

Started her on the meds, cleaned and bandaged and put her in the tractor on a patch of soft grass to get some air, sun and space.

 I checked the others and Puff looks like she has it on her toe and possibly both pads. UGH!

I can't put Puff and Red in isolation together! I don't have enough room in the carrier. I don't have another carrier. They fight if they are alone together and the other two also fight if they are alone together. OMG. Grrrrrrr.
So, I decide to wait till the morning since I can't do anything today for time constraints.
Red spent the night in the carrier in the garage again.

Wednesday after I get kid off to school, ALL the girls get pedicures!
Everyone got an epson bath, Veterycin leg wash and foot scrub. Non-bumbles got a foot massage with VetRx after cleaning and disinfecting.
Nutmeg is clean.
Zeebra looks like she may have it on the tip of her toe but, maybe not - hard to tell since it is such a small spot and no redness & very little swelling. possibly just a scab.
Red looks like hers is healing nicely but has some "goo" under the scab. I decided to re-open the wound a little and try to get it out and re-irrigate with the Veterycin I got. When I opened it, it just started bleeding so i did what I could and irrigated well and bandaged.
Puffs' toe looks much like bumble but was very hard to clean out because it was on the side and had a kind of hole under a scale. She was in a lot of pain when I messed with the toe. She even vocalized. I did what I could for the toe and pad (small early bumble on pad). The other pad had a large black scab between the toes and pad, but I couldn't see a waxy "plug". Removed the scab, cleaned and bandaged.

Red's pink bandage

Nutmeg thinks Puffs pink boots are pretty.

Since I can't isolate the 2 that are bandaged up, I decided to house them all.
All get the antibiotic, all get "house arrest", all get feet treated every morning.

old roost set-up

I moved the roost down to head height (about 18 inches) as suggested by the extension. I had a "ladder" but they would not always use it and would often just jump down anyways.

notice the new roost height

I clean the litter every morning and add new shavings.
Roost and nest box edges get disinfected every morning.



I checked the coop floor, roosts and boxes for edges and splinters. Had to re-hammer and coat a nail that had popped through the floor. Sanded any possible rough spot.




Got rid of a branch in the run and replaced it with a smooth 2x2.

a perch with a problem

this sanded untreated 2x2 is a much better option

They love this smooth maple branch (about 1.5-2 inch diameter)

Installed a nest box roost to help with the height.

Got then a flock block to keep the girls, who are used to going outside almost every day, from taking out frustrations on each-other.

I figured it is a good opportunity to seed the run.

seeding the run

Every time I check Red, I cant' feel a "kernel" in the pad. She seems like the pad is getting better. The wound looks cleaner and the pad is no longer red, swelling seems to have gone down but I worry because I still think I see the yellow infection under the surface of the new tissue.

Puffs' pads are still a little red but the pad skin looks healthy minus the small black irregular scab on one foot (no waxy tissue). Her toe is still hard to tell - no longer red but still swollen and has irregular waxy area but hole is gone now.

I plan on continuing the systemic antibiotic for the full 14 days. Providing a 3-4 hour window every few days for a pro-biotic and nutridrench supplement.

UPDATE Monday Oct 1

Ugh, Here I go again at an attempt to update (my laptop froze on me after I was almost done ).
So, had to go get more horse tape, antibiotics and some clippers (Puff's nails getting too long).

Spent the entire AM (5 hours) soaking feet, and cleaning coop.

Nutmeg is still good.
Zeebra had 2 teeny tiny spots that were on the surface that just lifted right off after a soak. Her toe tip was questionable but did not soften at all in the soak so, I just sprayed it and sent her on her way.
Red is still swollen a little but the soak did not raise or loosen the new scab that has been forming so I let it be. Bandaged up with antibiotic cream. the other foot pad had a teeny tiny spot that lifted and came right off after the soak. Superficial and no bandage needed.
Puffs' pad cleaned up nicely and showed a healing laceration (the one with the large black scab). I removed the dead tissue and possible infected material from the wound and treated and bandaged.
Her other foot (the one with the toe bumble) pad healed nicely and is down to a superficial scab that came off easily after soaking and needed no bandage but did it anyway because of the toe.
The toe bumble scab softened and raised and I was able to remove more dead and infected tissue than previously. This time a tiny "kernel" came out with the "plug". I removed most of the dead and infected tissue that I could without too much pain (i hope) and it did leave a hole that I packed with antibiotic cream and bandaged up.

This is taking way too  much time to care for these birds!

I am wanting to convert the coop to a sand litter system, "linoleum" the floor and wall behind the roost, and install a poop board. I'm off to take measurements...

UPDATE Wednesday Oct 3:

Freezing today. My fingers are numb. And, to think at htis same time monday, I was sweating! I thought Texas had strange weather - Washington has it beat.
Anyway...

Nutmeg still a champ.
Zeebra. Toes are healing nicely - now the scabs are almost gone, I am thinking more and more it was not infected with staph by the way it looks and is healing. She has no swelling at all now.
Puff - her lacerated foot is also haling very nicely - no swelling and a small scab and scar. Her other foot is healed with just soft pink skin. and the toe swelling has really gone down after the removal of the "kernel". The toe has loose skin. There is still a scab and i suspect there may be more area in there that may need to be removed but I will give it another day or so. If I need to give another betadine foot soak I will.
Red - sore looks to be healing well but I am still concerned about the pad still being swollen.

UPDATE Sunday Oct7

Here are some photos. Maybe you experienced folks can let me know if they are healing well.

You can click the photo to view larger if you need to.

Red day 11 of meds 12 days after 1st treatment

red

Red

Puff - incision (this used to be 1/2 her pad but still concerned about the scab.

Puff pad - no more scab. And toe.

I have also been working on trimming her nails a little every day - her nails grow crazy fast!

The last day of meds will be this weds. I am wondering if i may have to continue on a different antibiotic till completely healed or if it will be ok to discontinue altogether. I ran out of "natural" antibiotic (mahonia / oregon grape berries) but I can make a tincture from the root if necessary.

UPDATE

Thursday Oct 11th

Yesterday, I gave all the girls a betadine foot soak. Ugh! Zeebra is a bear to try to keep her from drinking the water for a whole 10 minutes! But, she does fall asleep with a good vetericyn gel spray foot massage - so cute. 'Cause then she is super chilled out for an hour after the massage.

Red's scab was lifting after the soak, so I removed it and all the dead tissue I could. Revealed fresh skin under and a big divot where the scab was. The pad is still swollen.

Red day 14 post treatment after scab removed day before

Red feet comparison - excuse the dirty right foot.

 Puff - I removed any dead tissue I could and re-bandaged. Both feet are looking good but gelled and bandaged both because of the new skin forming - just in case! Her toe is seeming to look better. Wait and see. I removed as much dead skin as possible and re-treated and bandaged. This one is in a difficult spot on the side of the toe.


Today is the start of a "gut break" to help these girls recover from the antibiotic treatment. They were on (duarmyacin-10 powder) tetracyclene for a 14 day span with a dosage of 1/2 tbsp per 1/2 gallon per day. This is how much they drink daily.

For the next 7 days I will have them on water spiked with probiotics and nutridrench.
I have a feeling my Zeebra may have worms since she is losing a lot of weight but otherwise seems healthy. It's about that time anyway. I just want to give them a week break before attacking their systems again.

UPDATE 

November 2nd.

 Side story...
Zeebra didn't make it - Don't know why - she started declining fast after worming. Had to end her pain today. Necropsy being done at the lab as I write this blog... I never thought I could get this attached to a bird. :; (

 On another note... Here is how the others are doing...

Antibiotics and probiotics done.. The feet seem to be healing up nicely.
They are on a sand floor now in the coop.
As the wounds heal - I have been checking less often and bandaging less to avoid getting sand and gunk stuck in the bandage.
  Here are photos from after thier foot bath on October 29th

Red - oct29th - 5 weeks treatment

Red oct 29 - 5 weeks treatment - comparison

Puff - oct 29 - 5 weeks treatment - pad

Puff - oct 29th - 5 weeks treatment toe and pad

UPDATE November 29th 2012

So... My Zeebra hen had kidney failure. Glad it was something I couldn't have done nothing about. Putting her down was the kind thing.

AND... All is well on the bumblefoot. Puff is completely healed zero residual swelling.
Reds feet are basically back to normal. Still little puffy on the pad but no redness.
Got a pic of her feet today after cleaning her hawk wounds (sory for the dirty chicky feet :-(

Disclaimer:

Oh yeah... I am NOT a vet or tech or nurse or anything of the sort. I am NOT a chicken expert.
SO... Don't take my blog as medical advice or anything like that.
I'm just a lady with crazy chickens trying to take care of them best I can and sharing my experience with the world.
Enjoy.

Slacker

I have been on the "Blog Blahs" lately. It's not like there has been nothing to write about. Just not a whole post worth.

I can also blame it on the weather. Good weather! That means I am taking advantage of all the outside time I can. That will be an update in the gardening section soon.

Then there is my Etsy shop (link here http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoultryPlayground ). Taking time to devote to product development, marketing and fulfilling orders.

There is also a deck to plan. That will also be a future post. Our deck was in unsafe condition when we bought the place and it is a matter of safety to get the thing done before a hummingbird decides to land for a rest and collapses the thing. Yeah, it's that bad!

Y'all know how I like pictures so, here is a picture of our neighbor's sad dog Oscar on our sad deck. Don't let the new looking stair railing fool you. The bank had the contractors do some patch work to the place B4 they listed it. Oh, you just wait for the detail b4 and after pics on the posting about the deck.

Oscar

On top of it... I get ill again. Same illness twice in a 2 month time span. 'C'mon body! Are not you supposed to figure this virus thing out by now and fight it off easier? What is up with that!? But I found a great blog about getting rid of stuff here http://www.getridofthings.com/health/digestive/get-rid-of-diarrhea.htm. Hilarious and entirely helpful! After being bed-ridden, for almost 2 days in pain, fevered, chilled and plain miserable, hilarity helps. Rapid Weight loss = yoghurt, soda crackers, water, apple sauce and a G.I. Virus. Although, I am sure I will have no trouble recovering my losses ;-)

Good news came recently. I am gonna be an auntie again to another precious little girl due in October! I love being an auntie!

and a pic of a chick just for fun

For those of you who subscribe / follow my blog ... I have done some updates. Just float around the pages and look for update posts to check in on them. I remove the updates title when I finish. If I remember correctly, the Sick Chicken post was finalized (minus comments). I updated the Mystery Plant #1 post - will continue to be updated for growth of the plant. I try to make the format easy for you to navigate. If I can make it easier let me know.

Sick Chicken

This post is about an ill chicken.
Please be advised that I write about some gross stuff.
Also, as with all my posts - This is NOT medical advice!
This is just writing about my experiences - there you go.

Patient:
Pullet
about 8 months old
about 4.5lbs

Symptoms:
Watery, odorless diarrhea
lethargy and silence
loss of appetite
increased thirst
Wattles and face were redder than the others - maybe fever?


Saturday I noticed my gold-laced Wyandotte Ginger was ill. She seemed egg bound as she was hiding out panting in her nest box all morning.
I took her out of the box to examine her and "force" her to eat and drink something.
She ate a little and drank alot. Then I noticed she was having trouble passing clear diarrhea. She walked around very slowly in the run for about 30 minutes before returning to her box.
Note - the night before she layed the egg in the hammock during the nite.
She remained in her box all afternoon  - no egg.
But, she remained slow and mopey. I decided to see if she would recover over nite naturally.
I let her stay with the flock thinking she may be worn out from a difficult egg. I decided to keep a closer eye on her the nest day.


 Sunday morning she was down from the roost but was lethargic and would drink a lot but not eat. She wouldn't even make chicken noises. She had layed an egg in a nest box sometime since we put them to bed last nite.

I separated her by isolating her to the run and let the others pasture and have access to the coop all day.
I gave Ginger a handful of feed and a bowl of water with ornacyn-plus.
She drank the water but would not eat or scratch . She was only interested in drinking and laying in the sun.
I was hoping not to have to cull her.
She did not mind being away from the flock.
She just laid around and drank water. No interest in scratching or eating.
I soaked her bum in warm water and cleaned off as much of the gross that I could without traumatizing her too much.
She continued to have watery, odor-less diarrhea all day.

By 2 hours before sunset, she was holding her wings a little higher and starting to walk around.
She still would not eat her feed or earthworms but ate a few grubs and small beetles I threw at her.
An hour later she started eating her feed and ate a spinach leaf. She started to make a few chicken sounds when we approached.
By the time sunset came, I determined she was well enough to sleep in on the roost with the flock.

Monday I separated her again in the morning and gave medicated water. She was feeling so much better by then that she dumped the water and was pushing on the gate to go out with the flock and forage.
I let her out. She was noticeable slower than the rest of the girls but was still interested in eating greens and scratching for bugs albeit in slow motion.
It is more difficult to administer meds to chickens that are feeling better. I mixed the ornacyn-plus powder with shredded cheese, quinoa and bran to make a small antibiotic treat mush. She enjoyed that and ate it up.
I let her join the group today and will be keeping an eye out on her and the others for signs of illness.
Afternoon: she has been slow and still showing signs of illness: sleepy eyes, slow. But, she is up and eating and drinking and even took a bath and is laying in sun with her friends.
Evening: she is back to about 75% herself. Stools still loose but have solids in them.Still a tad slower than normal but is back to running in short bursts. I think I can handle this recovery.

I will continue to give her a dose a day (29mg per day) for 5 days as with all antibiotic treatment you have to keep taking the dosage even when you feel better.

After she is back to normal speed, I will give the girls some probiotics to help restore her system.

Wednesday
Yesterday she gave me a chase around the tree while trying to avoid her morning meds. Although she seemed to slow down in the late afternoon. Was sleepy after foraging but, still held wings and tail normal.
Today she was acting like a normal chicken. Still sluggish in the PM but not as much as yesterday. I would say she is at about 85-90%. Poo is getting more normal. fed tablespoon of yogurt to each girl. Ginger did not lay today or yesterday.


Friday
All better! Off meds. She is back to being a regular chicken. Still no egg.

All better and taking a bath with her friend.

I will have to ditch her eggs for the duration of the treatment time plus seven days after just to be safe.

About my method of treatment:
I prefer to let nature do it's best and only step in and use medications as a last resort. Nature knows best. But, I also do not let my creatures suffer, nor do I want to loose my flock needlessly. I also do not want to spend a stupid amount of financial resources to save one bird. I love them, but they are not people.


Ginger does seem to be a less-healthy bird then the others. This would be the 2nd time she has gotten ill since I got them 6 months ago.

I scoured the web and the Merek Vet manual and could not find any illness that matched her symptoms. Maybe she just is immunodeficient.

Final UPDATE 4/30/2012:

Ginger is her good 'ole diva self again!
She has been laying shell-less eggs from the roost. Her 1st egg was about 2 days after treatment stopped. She "laid" 2 eggs in 24 hours. The next day was also 2 but, one was shell-less and very thin membrane!
Not sure if it is bad because she is not laying in the nest boxes or good because she is not laying in the nest boxes. Hmm... I say good for lack of busted shell-less eggs in the boxes!


Info I used for drug info:
http://www.drugs.com/pro/sentry-av-ornacyn.html

The following is a detailed medical research of the drug in poultry, cattle and humans etc... very detailed and technical but extremely useful!
ftp://ftp.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa/vetdrug/2-2006-erythromycin.pdf


NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE Disclaimer.

Joined the Barn Hop

http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/2012/05/barn-hop-61.html