Foot problem on my Ameracauna hen, I thought was bumble foot but it didn’t present like bumble foot

[Jakal94]

Hi all,
New member, first time post. (But I’ve been lurking and learning for two+ years!) This is the group that always seems to deliver great information! Thank you!

So about my post today. I’ve got my beautiful Black Ameracauna, Dorothy (born Spring 2023) with an on-going foot problem. I had a terrible problem with bumble foot in the flock that I treated for months last year and got cleared up for the most part. I had a few that lingered on. And I treated them as needed.
In all the other instances of bumblefoot I was able to remove the black growth and the yellow infection from the feet and get them healed up. But not my Dorothy. I don’t know how else to explain it other than it seemed like her bumblefoot went ‘inward’.
I opened up her foot at different times last year (over the spring-summer) in places that seemed ‘hard’ thinking I there must be a ball of infection in there somewhere. I had watched so many videos plus my daughter is a vet tech - so I never did any of this without pain meds and antibiotics. (And of course the proper egg withdraw period.)
But at some point, after a few attempts when I thought the growth in the foot seemed to be shifted and might be operable to remove the infection, I decided that perhaps o was doing more harm than good. So I decided to let her heal up and let it go and see.
Well, now she’s limping more. The growth seems a bit bigger but it’s only slowly growing if at all. It may have just shifted. But she seems uncomfortable now.
She’s eating and her weight is good I think.

So my question is…what ELSE could this be? If it isn’t bumblefoot…is it something else that I’m just not finding information for.

I’ll attach a picture. It looks like she’s smuggling a bouncy ball!

Any suggestions would be appreciated. My next step is to take her into a vet but it’s so pricey and I want to be realistic.

Thank you!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Since she has been treated by opening the foot pad up last year, she might have some scar tissue or a lingering infection. I think I would try to pad her feet with neoprene bottles or silicone, but first I would use some sugardine or Prid Drawng Salve for a bit. Those can draw out infection and disinfect.
https://www.amazon.com/vomvomp-Pack...cphy=9006725&hvtargid=pla-2281435177578&psc=1

 

[Jakal94]

I wondered if it might be scar tissue. After soaking today it did have some yellow liquid escape through a place in the skin that had opened on its own. I did open it up a bit more and squeeze and it was under immense pressure. It’s not thick, it’s watery and yellow.
I have Ichthammol Ointment.
I applied salve and wrapped the foot. But I will add some padding.

I’m assuming I should wait until that spot closes up before applying the Ichthammol, is that right?
And from what I understand Ichthammol and Prid are the same thing. Is that correct?

 

[Auntiejessi3]

And from what I understand Ichthammol and Prid are the same thing. Is that correct?

They are similar, Prid actually contains Ichthammol along with a bunch of other natural drawing, drying and antiseptic ingredients. I don't even do bumblefoot surgery anymore, just soak in epsom salt apply prid and wrap, rinse and repeat every coupe days.

 

[Jakal94]

Good to know. I don’t like doing it (cutting) that’s for sure. And I did it sparingly and with antibiotic and pain meds. Which meant withdraw and keeping them separated and so on. Almost every other hen had the distinctive black spot and the yellow nodule/infection was right there under the black spot and came out. All of this was after soaking. Only two or three did I ever have to open up the space a bit more to get the infection out. But this girl; just very atypical.
Thank you!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Good to know. I don’t like doing it (cutting) that’s for sure. And I did it sparingly and with antibiotic and pain meds. Which meant withdraw and keeping them separated and so on. Almost every other hen had the distinctive black spot and the yellow nodule/infection was right there under the black spot and came out. All of this was after soaking. Only two or three did I ever have to open up the space a bit more to get the infection out. But this girl; just very atypical.
Thank you!

You're welcome I would just give her for some good warm soaks in epsom salt and apply the prid (a good thick glob after fully dry) wrap in vet wrap (be sure it's not to tight) then repeat every other day. Skip all the antibiotics and pain meds, chickens have a high tolerance for pain and I feel like the ongoing antibiotics may be hindering the healing process. Keep us posted, and I hope your hen has a rapid recovery!