Sometimes chickens will develop a bacterial or fungal infection if not cared for properly. Foot pad dermatitis can develop quickly in broiler chickens kept in overcrowded conditions and in any chicken raising coops, including backyard chicken flocks, particularly if living in unsanitary conditions, or has injured it's feet by jumping off high perches, have been exposed to dirty or wet bedding, dirty or green water, moldy feed, have worms or all of the above.
Jumping or falling off a high perch-If the bird has jumped off a perch that is too high (can happen when a perch is 3 feet or higher off the ground or floor of coop, jumping out of trees or off tall fences) and injured themselves, or they may have something stuck in the bottom of their foot like a small shard of glass, metal, a tiny stone, or even stickers. The most likely causes of bacterial and fungal infections in poultry feet are:
Dirty bedding-Your chickens bedding should always be kept clean and dry. Bedding can be composted for gardens. Some people prefer the deep litter method which if done improperly can cause foot infections.
Dirty or green water-Water should be clean and clear at all times, kept covered, clear, and cool with no signs of green mildew or slime on the sides of water container or inside the water.
Injury-Sometimes sharp objects left in or around areas your chickens have access too can harm them. If they step on something sharp or a hard sticker, it can get stuck in their feet and cause and infection which can quickly cause bacterial fungal infections.
Moldy feed
Can cause bacterial infections, bumble foot, and fungal infections in chicken feet and respiratory systems that can be deadly as they quickly deteriorate your birds condition.
Poor Coop Ventilation-Chicken coops need regular cleaning and proper ventilation.
Worms
Poultry should be de-wormed monthly. Chickens with worms are at more risk of contracting bacterial and fungal infections like bumblefoot.
Symptoms of Fungal Foot Problems
Study Results on Type of Coop Flooring Effects on Foot Pad Dermatitis in Chickens
In one study 42 broiler birds were placed in 13 pens and it was discovered that the type of flooring such as plastic slat flooring or disinfected mats containing providone-iodine had little if any effect on preventing or remedying foot pad dermititis or contact dermatitis. The study also showed the effects of birds kept on dirty bedding and clean bedding. It was determined that clean bedding not only prevented but remedied foot pad dermitis in broiler birds. "Contact dermatitis is an overarching term for inflamed or necrotic lesions after contact with an allergen or irritant. Broiler chickens commonly experience these lesions due to prolonged contact with moisture, feces, and ammonia within litter" Contact dermatitis can appear on foot pads, hocks and the breast in broiler birds.....When these lesions are left untreated, and environmental conditions remain the same or deteriorate, lesions will worsen, eventually encompassing the entire footpad, including the toes [2]. The lesions can be associated with bacterial infections, especially with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli) that can be present in the litter and on the skin [3]. FPD is a common condition found in commercial broiler chickens. ....
Besides on the feet, similar types of contact dermatitis can occur on hocks (hock burns) and the abdomen (breast dermatitis) [6].
The most important risk factor for the development of FPD is the litter condition [7]. The litter moisture and ammonia concentration from built-up fecal material can burn and weaken the dermis of the footpad [8], with an increased severity of FPD resulting from the prolonged exposure of feet to wet litter. Moisture causes the outer layer of the dermis to soften, posing a risk of microbial contamination, leading to necrosis [9]. Broilers reared on wet litter had 43% of the feet plantar surface affected with FPD compared to 0.2% to 0.3% in broilers reared on dry litter [10]...
Untreated FPD lesions can lead to lower body weight gain, feed intake, and water intake, resulting in overall lower carcass weights [17]. FPD lesion scores were positively correlated with condemnation rates and negatively correlated with the live weights and leg meat yields [18]. ..
". (Animals (Basel). 2020 Oct; 10(10): 1761.).
Jumping or falling off a high perch-If the bird has jumped off a perch that is too high (can happen when a perch is 3 feet or higher off the ground or floor of coop, jumping out of trees or off tall fences) and injured themselves, or they may have something stuck in the bottom of their foot like a small shard of glass, metal, a tiny stone, or even stickers. The most likely causes of bacterial and fungal infections in poultry feet are:
Dirty bedding-Your chickens bedding should always be kept clean and dry. Bedding can be composted for gardens. Some people prefer the deep litter method which if done improperly can cause foot infections.
Dirty or green water-Water should be clean and clear at all times, kept covered, clear, and cool with no signs of green mildew or slime on the sides of water container or inside the water.
Injury-Sometimes sharp objects left in or around areas your chickens have access too can harm them. If they step on something sharp or a hard sticker, it can get stuck in their feet and cause and infection which can quickly cause bacterial fungal infections.
Moldy feed
Can cause bacterial infections, bumble foot, and fungal infections in chicken feet and respiratory systems that can be deadly as they quickly deteriorate your birds condition.
Poor Coop Ventilation-Chicken coops need regular cleaning and proper ventilation.
Worms
Poultry should be de-wormed monthly. Chickens with worms are at more risk of contracting bacterial and fungal infections like bumblefoot.
Symptoms of Fungal Foot Problems
- Pink or red areas on feet and toes.
- Round red circle on bottom of foot pad indicates possible injury, early stages of Bumblefoot, ring worm, or fungal infection.
- Lameness
Study Results on Type of Coop Flooring Effects on Foot Pad Dermatitis in Chickens
In one study 42 broiler birds were placed in 13 pens and it was discovered that the type of flooring such as plastic slat flooring or disinfected mats containing providone-iodine had little if any effect on preventing or remedying foot pad dermititis or contact dermatitis. The study also showed the effects of birds kept on dirty bedding and clean bedding. It was determined that clean bedding not only prevented but remedied foot pad dermitis in broiler birds. "Contact dermatitis is an overarching term for inflamed or necrotic lesions after contact with an allergen or irritant. Broiler chickens commonly experience these lesions due to prolonged contact with moisture, feces, and ammonia within litter" Contact dermatitis can appear on foot pads, hocks and the breast in broiler birds.....When these lesions are left untreated, and environmental conditions remain the same or deteriorate, lesions will worsen, eventually encompassing the entire footpad, including the toes [2]. The lesions can be associated with bacterial infections, especially with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli) that can be present in the litter and on the skin [3]. FPD is a common condition found in commercial broiler chickens. ....
Besides on the feet, similar types of contact dermatitis can occur on hocks (hock burns) and the abdomen (breast dermatitis) [6].
The most important risk factor for the development of FPD is the litter condition [7]. The litter moisture and ammonia concentration from built-up fecal material can burn and weaken the dermis of the footpad [8], with an increased severity of FPD resulting from the prolonged exposure of feet to wet litter. Moisture causes the outer layer of the dermis to soften, posing a risk of microbial contamination, leading to necrosis [9]. Broilers reared on wet litter had 43% of the feet plantar surface affected with FPD compared to 0.2% to 0.3% in broilers reared on dry litter [10]...
Untreated FPD lesions can lead to lower body weight gain, feed intake, and water intake, resulting in overall lower carcass weights [17]. FPD lesion scores were positively correlated with condemnation rates and negatively correlated with the live weights and leg meat yields [18]. ..
". (Animals (Basel). 2020 Oct; 10(10): 1761.).
Signs of Foot Pad Dermatitis (Bumble Foot)
Bumblefoot: Signs/Symptoms/Prevention/Treatments
Hard pus filled abscess on the pad on the bottom of the foot covered by a black or brown scab.
Go to Bumblefoot Treatments
Hard pus filled abscess on the pad on the bottom of the foot covered by a black or brown scab.
- Lameness/reluctance to walk
- Swelling on the foot
- Heat (feels warm or hot to the touch)
- Redness
- Black or Brown Scab (Savage/Dr. Darre, 2016).
Go to Bumblefoot Treatments
References:
1. Animals (Basel). 2020 Oct; 10(10): 1761.
Published online 2020 Sep 28. doi: 10.3390/ani10101761
PMCID: PMC7599451
PMID: 32998380
1. Animals (Basel). 2020 Oct; 10(10): 1761.
Published online 2020 Sep 28. doi: 10.3390/ani10101761
PMCID: PMC7599451
PMID: 32998380
