bumblefoot (tibak): one of the more common foot problems in free-range chickens

Bumblefoot ("tibak"/plantar pododeratitis) is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the foot (especially foot pads) leading to limping and lameness. if left unchecked, bacterial infection can further travel up the bird's leg/s and cause inflammation of the joints. it usually starts when there are breaks in the skin where bacteria can enter and start the inflammation process. it starts as a hard scab at the bottom of the foot pad and further progresses if left unchecked to form cheesy exudates inside the foot pads causing disfigurement of the foot. this is more common among free-range chickens since they have access to ranging areas that has more foot hazards compared to controlled-environment houses that have adequate litter. it is also more common in older birds because they are heavier and puts more pressure on the foot pads.

hard, dark scab at the bottom of the foot pad

CAUSES

breaks in the skin can be caused by a variety of reasons namely:

-the bird is too heavy causing too much pressure on the foot pads 

-the flooring/litter is inappropriate (hard floorings like cement increases the incidence of bumblefoot)

-perch are too narrow (pressure is focused on one small area of the pad), too smooth (foot always slipping causing friction between the pad and the perch), or set too high from the ground (a lot of pressure is put on the foot pad every time the bird goes down the perch)

-mechanical injuries caused by protruding nails or any other sharp objects on the flooring/range/litter area

-foot are always in contact with wet/damp litter and especially if there would be a lot of manure mixed with the wet litter

TREATMENT

bumblefoot can be easily treated in the early stage. leaving the condition untreated would almost always lead to aggravation of the problem since the bird's foot has less blood circulation than other areas bringing less anti-inflammatory cells via blood that would combat/control the infection. physical intervention is the treatment of choice. here is the more common practice when treating bumblefoot in birds:

1.) clean the birds foot with warm, soapy water to soften and remove the dirt and soften the scab

2.) remove the scab to expose the pus-filled cavity. wash the cavity with hydrogen peroxide or iodine to clean the wound and remove the debris.
3.) after cleaning the wound, apply topical antibiotic and bandage affected foot to protect wound from dirt and provide soft litter to lessen stress on the foot. apply antiseptic at least every other day until wound has healed.
4.) you could also use gentian violet by dipping the bird's foot or applying gentian violet in the cavity at least once a day.