10 day old chick with bumblefoot symptoms. Please advise!

[Alabama Jack]

Hi,
I've searched bumblefoot and the symptoms are close, but the chick is only 10 days old and was on paper towels and now on shavings.

Symptoms: She's been favoring one leg (lifting and putting in front of her) when she's still for the last 4 days. She's eating and drinking, but hasn't grown as much as the other Australorps. She's about 70% of the size of the other 11 chicks. She's not been picked on yet. She stretches on her own and is not sticking the leg out to the side. Her foot is visibly swollen on the bottom. It sticks out like a blister by about 1/8". There looks to be a black speck in the middle of the abscess, but no scabbing. How would you approach this?

I also started her on Poly vi sol today (I thought it might be a slipped tendon at first). Thanks in advance.

Day 10










Day 11. We soaked her feet in epsom salt (2 teaspoons mixed with an 8 oz glass of water) for 7 minutes and plan to do it twice a day, until we figure what else to do. It seems to be worse and now her other foot has a "blister." There are also signs of a scab forming. Should we give aniti-biotics, if so which? I'm not good with needles, is there an oral version?

Right Foot

Left Foot

Right Foot

Right Foot.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would probably just watch it. It sounds like you are doing the right things. It may have got a tiny splinter, or it's injured. I would not try doing any surgery on it, just keep doing the soaks when you can.

 

[rancher hicks]

I would separate it to itself and keep an eye on it. Might not be anything really. Might not be getting to eat and drink as much.

Too I once had a Dominique who was just a runt. She was smaller than her sister. She laid and was fine but just a shrimp like me. My mother used to say "Good things come in smaller packages" . I just could never believe that. If I get a diamond the bigger the better. I mean really, do we want a "small" bank roll? When you small you're always the last one picked for a team.

Unfortunately some chicks fail to thrive. The might eat and drink but just don't seem to grow. It's an genetic thing I would say.

Usually if I have a chick with really skinny legs and feet, I know it's a goner. No matter what I do. They just never seem to make it.

Sorry for rambling, anyhow put it by itself and see if things improve. She might be on the low end of the pecking order.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[Wisher1000]

I would probably just watch it. It sounds like you are doing the right things. It may have got a tiny splinter, or it's injured. I would not try doing any surgery on it, just keep doing the soaks when you can.

X2

Bumble foot in small chicks on clean litter (and your's is clean) is unusual. If it is acting normally, eating, drinking, pooing, etc. I would just watch it. The soaks won't hurt anything (and may or may not help) unless it stresses the chick.

I would not recommend a vet visit, but that is up to you. I believe in reasonable husbandry. Help if you can, but understand that many, many, many healthy chicks can be purchased for the money spent on one that, once saved, may always have health problems.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Thanks for all the replies. She is doing better with the soaking, but still gimpy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Please keep us up to date on her progress. Hopefully, she will do well.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Soaking twice a day and the abscess is shrinking. She's doing a lot better and growing. Thanks again.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Let off on the soaking after day 4 to once a day, and then skipped day 6. Swelling came back, but only half as bad. Back to soaking twice a day and she is doing super. Jumping up on the ecoglow and scratching.

 

[Alabama Jack]

Doing fine, but still soaking...

 

[Alabama Jack]

Just an update; "baby" is doing great and has caught up in growth with her sisters.