Chickens and chicks can suffer from a variety of diseases.
The effects of these diseases can range from a temporary upset with no long-term effects, to long term issues with health and egg laying.
10. Bumblefoot
Because many of these chicken diseases are contagious you should isolate them as soon as you suspect something may be wrong. In this article we will discuss ten of the most common diseases and explain how to identify them, what causes them and how to treat them…
This is probably one of the most common problems with backyard chickens.
Bumblefoot is caused by an infection in the sole of their foot and is usually caused by a small cut or splinter that goes unnoticed. The infection starts under the skin and causes a cyst like structure.
The top of the cyst that is visible is usually black and hard.
You may notice your hen limping or favoring one foot when she walks or roosts.
Unfortunately bumblefoot can cause a lot of pain if left untreated.
The good news is that it is easy to treat.
You should start by washing her foot and removing all the dirt before starting treatment.
To do this you will need a bowl or container big enough to cover their foot in water. Fill the container with Epsom salts and warm water then stand the chicken in the water for around ten minutes. The skin should be soft and if you are lucky the bumble will be ready to pull out. Wear some protective gloves since the staphylococcus infection can also infect humans and use a pair of tweezers to try and remove the black scab.
If it won’t come off then do not force it. Just put your chicken back into the footbath for a further ten minutes. Most bumbles will pop out after two or three soakings. The bumble will look somewhat round like a pea and should come out in one piece. The wound should not bleed much, but it may ooze a little at the edges.
You should fill the hole with plain Neosporin and place a gauze pad over it. You can also spray the entire sole of their foot with Theracyn or Vetericyn to make sure the area is clean.
Let the foot air dry then wrap well with vet-wrap or similar and tape into place.
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