Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

Today, mid afternoon, saw a hen wasnt doing so well. Just sort of huddled. Didnt move when I threw grain.

This evening at close up time, she was inside, still sort of huddled and eyes sort of half open. I picked her up to see if I could find anything.

She hadnt been limping or anything, but I found a bumblefoot on the side of the main pad, not on the bottom like usual. I picked it with my fingernails, mostly to clean it a little and see if I had to open it or what. And the bumblefoot core, like a small corn kernel just came out with the scab. Sort of filled the hole with antiseptic ointment. Set her down and she almost fell over. So I picked her up and set her in a nest box. Will see how she is in the morning.

So to my question: Is or does bumblefoot infection become systemic? What bacteria causes it? Anything else anyone else might have done? Thought and opinions are encouraged.

PS, I washed my hands after I came in.

I think that you've done eveything you can. Bumblefoot is caused by Staph.aureus infection. Yes it can become systemic but that is not common due to the poorer blood supply to the foot. I suspect something else may be going on. And as vets say "did you have a ritz cracker ready"

Dam I hate when they go and die on me.

If they breath they die , even vehicles . Sorry man . Always the favourites

Farrier, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Linda

@Farrier1987 thing is by the time they start to look sick it's normally too late.

It's a shame...sorry for your loss.......

So sorry to hear this.

Farrrier - Bumblefoot was included with our introduction to keeping hens. With ours, it is usually caused by a cut in the foot that gets infected. We're on a century old farm, and with that, there can be broken glass where the hens dust bathe. And I've gone through their yard with a metal detector and found old nails, bits of fencing, and other small pieces.
That was really good that the kernel came out cleanly and that you bandaged it. We usually bathe the feet in warm water, a bit of soap and Epsom salts, scrape out what we can, spray on Vetracin, then bandage the foot with polysporin, gauze and vetwrap.
Has your hen survived?

Sorry farrier. But i doubt that was the bumblefoot. If they are hunched and just sitting eyes closed or half closed and not caring about being moved or anything, they're weak....very very weak and will go any time. It's usually either extreme old age, or heart failure or liver failure in my experience. I've had horrible horrible bumblefoot that never went systemic....in fact, it rarely goes systemic without travelling up the leg first at least a little bit. So my bet is something else was going on, and without an autopsy you will likely never know....but the ones that go on me that way are always either heart failure or some other organ failure. I'm really sorry.....its still sucks. BIGTIME.