Bumblefoot excision

[eae]

Anyone done one of these recently? I've read several how-to's online, but wondered if anyone here had any tips or tricks.

I have a 9 month old Australorp who has started limping and pecking at her right foot. I checked the foot and sure enough, there was quite a large black scab with significant swelling at the base of one of her toes. A couple of days ago I cut and picked off as much of the scab as I could, gave it a good squirt of purple spray, wrapped it in coban and put her back out. I'm going to have another look tonight, and if the swelling hasn't started to go down, I was going to have a go at cutting out the core. The swollen area isn't red or hot to the touch, but she most definitely flinches when I touch it.

I have several other birds with the black scab thing on their feet, but have tended to go on the advice given here of "if it doesn't bother them, leave it alone". This is the first one that appears to be in some discomfort and I don't want it to get worse.

[sewren]

Hmmm, it's been a while since we had to do one of these, so I can't remember that clearly, but I do remember that 2 people is necessary! I had to hold the chook very tightly while my other half performed the extraction. I also remember that the core came out much easier than I expected as a whole piece, so it didn't actually take too long to do. Then just keep it clean and keep using the purple spray afterwards to avoid further infection. I think we kept the chook in the laundry for a couple of days to monitor closely (she perched on the edge of the laundry tub, luckily always the right way round!) and then she still had a bandage on when she went back outside and I checked the foot regularly.

Good luck!

[Marina]

Many chooks have a black scab on their pad - and it never causes them a problem. What you see - with the swelling between her toes - unfortunately is a problem.

I'm with Sewren - confine her to a box with lots of straw after the intervention. In one case I've just laced the swelling - a quick cut and the pus came out at the top. No bandaging or anything else - I just kept her on clean straw for 2 days and then she was back with the others - minus her 'bumble'.

The black scab only comes out 'clean' when it's a bit older and in the process of healing (or being encapsulated). In a fresh infection there will be fluid oozing from the swelling for many hours. It's very important that no dirt enters the wound.

Best of luck with your girl!

[tishie11]

I have had quite a few cases of lumps between the toes and have found it's due to a cut underneath and dirt/little stones entering and collecting. I have cut the top of the lump and squeezed the contents and it usually comes out quite easily - black dirt usually which breaks down. The cut seems on top seems to heal OK but my Orpingtons seem quite prone to lumps like this. Maybe because they are heavy girls and they are free range.
I have done the bumblefoot op a couple of times and am not too keen to do it again! Very messy. I agree it's best to leave them as they are unless they are limping.
I find that the chooks don't seem to have a lot of feeling in their feet - they must be quite tough there! Sometimes they don't even struggle when the lump is cut and squeezed.