Bumblefoot: lethargic, dark purple comb, minimal appetite- Help!

[kms13]

Hello all! I noticed my 2 year old girl has bumblefoot around stage 3-4. It seemed to come out of the blue! I’ve read various articles about treatment and began epsom bath soaks the last 2 days and put a bandage with prid on today to see if I can loosen it up and pull it out in a few days of repeated treatment instead of having to cut it out. She doesn’t struggle to walk at all but she seems extremely lethargic, stays put for hours at a time and doesn’t have much appetite (no desire to eat her feed). She devoured an apple and a raw egg yesterday but today only managed to get her to eat an apple with some hemp seeds, no egg which she usually inhales.. I put electrolytes in her water today and made sure she drank it and I think I’ll isolate her to see if she’s laying. Her comb is completely flipped over covering her left eye and the tips are a very dark purple. Most of the chicken videos I saw with bumble seem fine otherwise. Could the bumble be causing these symptoms or could it be a mosquito related illness? I also checked for mites and she’s negative (had that fun experience last year) my mom wound up in the hospital for 2 weeks but that’s another story…. I’d love any and all of your valuable tips and suggestions. Thank you so much!

 

[LaFleche]

Hi and welcome to the BYC community!

Looking at her foot it does not seem to be infected, did you feel both her feet to see if it is hotter than the one without bumble?

The bumble should come out easy enough as it seems to have pressed already through her skin.

You can check your hens butt to determine weather she is laying or not, this article by @aart describes how to:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Feel her crop in the morning, does it empty properly over night?

Her purplish comb colour is concerning and hints to a more serious problem such as heart or other organ issues.

 

[kms13]

Thank you so much for the information! It didn’t feel hot when I took off the bandage from yesterday, soaked it and redressed it with the salve. I’ll pay more attention when I redress tomorrow morning.

I was just reading about the crop and emptying issues. I’ll try to open her mouth and see if I can see anything in there.

She’s now sitting very lethargically eyes closed, hasn’t moved much the latter half of the day. I tried to give her raw egg and a little piece of steak just now and she didn’t budge. She did eat some apple when I soaked her foot.

How do I assess if it’s a heart or organ issue? What can I do to help her?

 

[charlie1051]

Thank you so much for the information! It didn’t feel hot when I took off the bandage from yesterday, soaked it and redressed it with the salve. I’ll pay more attention when I redress tomorrow morning.

I was just reading about the crop and emptying issues. I’ll try to open her mouth and see if I can see anything in there.

She’s now sitting very lethargically eyes closed, hasn’t moved much the latter half of the day. I tried to give her raw egg and a little piece of steak just now and she didn’t budge. She did eat some apple when I soaked her foot.

How do I assess if it’s a heart or organ issue? What can I do to help her?

Canned cat food has always been our go-to when we need a chicken to eat.

 

[kms13]

I couldn’t get a look down her throat but her crop feels like a mushy,
grass filled balloon, bearing in mind she hasn’t eaten much all day aside from part of a half apple. It’s almost bedtime for them so shall I wait and check tomorrow morning to make sure her crop empties or do I have to try to empty it now?

 

[kms13]

Canned cat food has always been our go-to when we need a chicken to eat.

Wow that’s fascinating! Thank you for the tip! She usually devours eggs raw and cooked and loves fruit and mealworms but nothing aside from the apple was of interest.

 

[kms13]

I thought to post a vent photo just to make sure I’m looking at poop and not lice. Would love any confirmation!

 

[LaFleche]

Do not try to empty her crop as this can easily lead to aspiration of fluids and death.

Feel her crop early in the morning before she had anything to eat or drink.

Does she always have granite grit and crushed oyster shells available free choice?

When did you last deworm?

I couldn’t get a look down her throat but her crop feels like a mushy,
grass filled balloon, bearing in mind she hasn’t eaten much all day aside from part of a half apple. It’s almost bedtime for them so shall I wait and check tomorrow morning to make sure her crop empties or do I have to try to empty it now?

 

[kms13]

Do not try to empty her crop as this can easily lead to aspiration of fluids and death.

Feel her crop early in the morning before she had anything to eat or drink.

Does she always have granite grit and crushed oyster shells available free choice?

When did you last deworm?

Sadly I woke up this morning and she has passed away. My heart is broken that I was not able to help her. Thank you all for your invaluable suggestions and help.

Yes she always has access to crushed eggs shell (they didn’t like oyster shell) and have not dewormed them but I will be sure to now!! How often do
I need to do it?

 

[LaFleche]

Very sorry you lost her!

have not dewormed them but I will be sure to now!! How often do
I need to do it?

The deworming schedule can vary a lot depending on the amount of chickens, the general weather conditions and whether they are kept in a run or are allowed to range freely over some acres.

Once or twice a year would be good, preferably in spring and then again in autumn.
If you live in a very humid and warm climate, deworming more often can be necessary as parasites thrive in these conditions and speed up their reproductive cicles.