If you see a suspected case of bumblefoot (or for that matter any other chicken that looks sick), it's important to quickly isolate the sick chickens in order to try and prevent the spread of any potential infectious disease throughout your entire flock.
No, bumblefoot is not contagious.
It always starts from a foot injury. If one of your chickens has bumblefoot and the rest of your flock have healthy feet, they will not develop bumblefoot.
Normally, these injuries can heal with little to no intervention on the chicken keeper's part. But occasionally, bacteria can contaminate the wound, and a more severe infection sets in.
Causes of Bumblefoot in Birds
Some of these include: Hard/uneven/rough floor surfaces. Improperly designed or covered perches (small diameter, wooden or burlap covers) Damp, unsanitary bedding.
Bumblefoot is characterized by swelling, sometimes redness and often a characteristic black or brown scab on the bottom of the foot. Left untreated, serious cases of bumble foot can be fatal as the infection can spread to other tissues and bones.
Can I get bumblefoot? While humans can't get bumblefoot per se, Staphylococcus aureus, which is the most common organism that causes bumblefoot, can infect humans—yet another good reason to handle your birds, sick or not, with care.
Is bumblefoot contagious? “No, it's not contagious.
The wound may need to be wrapped for 7-10 days. Once the wound has healed and closed up nicely, you can remove the dressing. Depending on how bad the bumblefoot case was, the foot may never go back to 100% normal.
Bacteria, including staphylococcus spp. have been identified in some rare cases of bumblefoot, if the wound has not been noticed and treated before it becomes acute. Typically antibiotics, such as erythromycin or penicillin, are prescribed by the vet, if the infection is serious enough.
While bumblefoot begins on the surface, it can quickly spread to muscle and bone tissue, and if left untreated, the infection can lead to death.
Post-Care for Severe Bumblefoot
She may still need her foot bandaged just to prevent the scab over the wound from being damaged or re-opened. Remember to make sure the hen doesn't get picked on by the others as she rejoins the flock. You will no longer need to bandage the foot once the scab has completely healed.
Limping or Hopping
In the case of bumblefoot, by the time your chicken is limping, the bumblefoot has already become severe case. Limping is caused by pain, and the pain of bumblefoot becomes overwhelming once infection sets in. If your chicken is limping, it's time to start acting quickly and call your poultry vet.
Antibiotics will be needed as well as anti-inflammatories and antibiotics topically on the feet. If the "bumblefoot" is in the very severe category, a ball bandage may need to be adhered to the feet with regular changes necessary.
Different types of antibiotic have been used to cure the problem: one pill (22.7mg) per day of Baytril, 50-100 mg of clindamycin, doxycycline, lincomycen or doxycycline per day, or 250 mg of amoxicillin per day. Of course it is best to consult with a veterinarian first.
The Causes of Bumblefoot in Parrots
Nutritional causes include diets low in vitamin A, biotin, calcium, D3, or some other nutritional deficiency, or diets high in fat.
Bumblefoot is a bacterial infection that affects the feet of birds, including chickens, and can be transmitted to dogs through contact with infected chicken feet. Feeding your dog chicken feet with bumblefoot can cause them to become infected with the same bacteria, which can lead to serious health issues.
Soak the foot in warm water and Epsom salts. When the scab has softened, remove it to expose the pus-filled cavity. Flush the cavity with hydrogen peroxide to clean out the pus and debris. Pack the cavity with antibiotic ointment, and then wrap the foot to keep the cavity clean.
You are wrapping in a figure-8 pattern between the toes and above the back toe. Press the end of the Vet Wrap to seal it to the rest of the bandage. After applying the wrap, monitor the bird carefully for the next few hours for any signs of distress, swelling of the toes, or increased lameness.
These bandages keep the surgical site soft and allow for healing to occur from the inside of the foot to the outside surface. If the outside heals first, the inside can become abscessed. Bandages would need to be changed at least twice a week until the condition was resolved.
Foot problems in birds can be attributed to a range of health conditions such as inflammatory disorders like bumblefoot or even blisters, nutritional deficiencies like a lack of Vitamin A, and problems in the bird's caging or environment, including dirty or uneven perches.
Bumblefoot (ulcerative pododermatitis) is a common bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction that occurs on the feet of birds, rodents, and rabbits. It is caused by bacteria, namely species of Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia, with S. aureus being the most common cause of the infection.
It occurs commonly in birds in captivity. Symptoms may include swelling, redness, or a black or brown scab on the bottom of the foot. The severity of Bumblefoot is graded using a 5-point scale, with grade 1 being mild and grade 5 being severe.