Bumblefoot! Help!

[Ritzydoll]

Help! While my mother was holding one of my hens today I noticed a small black scab on the bottom of her foot. I wasn't sure what it was and it pulled off easily only to leave a bleeding hole in her foot!!! Now, I'm panicking! Could this be the dreaded bumblefoot? I decided to check out my other hens. I'm new to chickens but I pride myself in trying to take the best care of them as possible. AND...4 out of my 5 hens have smallish black scabs on the bottoms of their feet. Looks like all the pictures I've seen of bumblefoot. I've also noticed that one of my hens has been laying down a lot more than the others throughout the day. None are visibly lame nor do I notice limping.

The above picture obviously isn't of my bird, but this is exactly what the bottom of their feet look like (none worse than this pic and some more mild).
First, I'm feeling incredibly guilty for not noticing this sooner.
MY SLW had the black scabs on the bottoms of both her feet. So, I start watching videos on bumblefoot.I soaked her feet for 10 min in epsom salt bath. Then used grooming scissors and tweezers to remove the black scab. The scab had a tiny plug on the underside but the other scab I removed didn't come off with the "plug". I applied Triple antibiotic oint. and wrapped feet in gauze/vet wrap.
Afterwards, my sweet bird and I are both traumatized. She is panting and stressed. I'm stressed and feeling extremely guilty and unsure if what I did helped or hurt her. I knew that it probably caused her pain for me to cut that out of her foot. I feel barbaric!
Now I'm faced with 3 other birds with the same black scabs on their feet and what to do about it. I've been an RN for eight years and will graduate with my NP in one year. So, I've done and seen my fair share of things in the hospital, BUT doing this to my bird bothered me.
I need support. I need advice. Are there any other effective, less invasive means of treating bumblefoot? Also, why do all my birds have this? They roost on 2 in natural branches that are approx 24 in from floor. I do have stickers in my yard that could be a problem...They free range in my fenced backyard during the day. What else could be causing this?

I'm feeling like a terrible chicken mom.

 

[Camellia]

Don't feel bad it isn't your fault, every chicken is bound to get it. It's usually caused by splinters or something pointy they step on which eventually gets infected and results in bumble foot. there's no right way to treat it, what you did is basically what you have to do. You must remove all the infection or it'll worsen, it's tedious work but it helps your hens a bunch.

 

[MandS]

You're doing the right thing. Camellia's advice is spot on. Keep it clean (as a bumble seems to pick up anything that the chicken stands on, like poop, and it just sits there) and apply your cream. The triple antibiotic cream is what we use too. It will clear up but getting the plug out is important and seems like it's cruel but it isn't.

We also use a toothbrush and iodine liquid (WEAK - like a very very weak tea colour) to clean the foot. I don't do that on the open wound, only to clean off the muck that is there before you start to apply ointment.

Good luck, she sounds like she's in good hands.

 

[cottagecheese]

Yes, there are other very effective and not at all invasive means of treating and curing bumblefoot. My favorite one is PRID (found in the first aid section of pharmacies, including the Walmart pharmacy.) Here is the wonderful person who came up with the idea of using PRID for bumblefoot:

I think it's important to wear disposable gloves, especially when applying it, because the ointment is homeopathic in nature and it can be easily contaminated by our hands. If you have additional questions, please ask.

 

[coach723]

Here are a couple more links with info on treating bumblefoot. I always attempt non-surgical methods first and they will usually have results (though they may take some time and effort) especially on smaller lesions. Many times smaller lesions will respond well to consistent topical treatments. For those that don't you will have to soak and remove as much of the core/infection as possible to get healing. Every foot is different.
https://www.tillysnest.com/2015/12/non-surgical-bumblefoot-treatment.html/?spref=pi
https://ouroneacrefarm.com/2013/11/09/bumblefoot-treatment-tricideneo/

 

[Ritzydoll]

Yes, there are other very effective and not at all invasive means of treating and curing bumblefoot. My favorite one is PRID (found in the first aid section of pharmacies, including the Walmart pharmacy.) Here is the wonderful person who came up with the idea of using PRID for bumblefoot:

I think it's important to wear disposable gloves, especially when applying it, because the ointment is homeopathic in nature and it can be easily contaminated by our hands. If you have additional questions, please ask.

I’ll definitely check this out. Thank you!

 

[Delaneygraces]

Adding on, Ive found it best that once you clean it out, try to keep it as dry as possible. Good luck, there’s a lot of good information here!