bumblefoot treatment

I've got two chickens with what looks like bumblefoot.  We're doing the normal treatment (as well as prevention for the other chickens) but they aren't responding well.  Any suggestions for treating foot infections?  

Hi R,

I'd never heard of bumblefoot.  Had to look it up.  I actually look it up in a book called the smallholder encyclopedia, circa 1937.  The then remedies were as follow: If abscess is soft, lance it and disinfect appropriately; if hard, paint some iodine and bandage up.  In either case, keep separated and free of dirt.

If it was me, and be sure to understand that it is not something that I have done in the past, but  if it was me, I would separate the chickens and put them in a clean and dry environment.  I would then make a mixture of turmeric and and echinacea tincture with a few drops of tea tree essential oil, put it in a spray bottle and spray at least half a dozen times a day.  I'd probably put some echinacea tincture in their drinking water also.  I'm sure there are other remedies but this is what I have on hand, and this is what I would use to start with.  You can make a paste with turmeric and water or even echinacea tea  if you don't have tincture.

Maybe someone with better knowledge might be able to help.  Good luck with your birds.

If it's weak cull it, unless it has some other super redeeming quality.
Other than that I would do the usual:
-extra water, more nutrient dense food (less grain/feed), more herbs, more probiotics.
-separation (more rest), less stressor (humidity, ammonia, forced light if it was say winter)
-topically applied medicine
-light surgery (lancing and draining it)

I've only encountered bumble foot with ducks...but its caused by a wound in the foot so first find out wherethey are injuring them selves and fix that, for me it was a sharp piece of plastic on their "pond" then i kept cleaning the foot for several days...long story short it didnt work but i ended up giving the ducks to my mother inlaw who had a real pond and it ended up healing up just fine with daily baths after a month or so. So for your chicks keep cleaning their feet or cut your losses and get new chickens.

I've been meaning to give you an update.

The iodine is working a treat on the healthier chicken.  She's playing nursemaid for the really ill one.