Chicken's Foot Pad with Small Indent/"Hole

DesertBird

Songster
Jul 26, 2017
474
467
186
Arizona
Earlier today, I noticed my chicken walking with a slight limp. When I picked her up to check her foot, it seems like there was a very slight, flat scab? thorn? on the pad of her foot the same color as her foot (no redness, no swelling, no black scab) and she was definitely not happy about it being touched. Since it didn't seem to be bugging her too much and she was still running around, I left for an hour or two and put her back with the other chickens, assuming it was just a thorn and that maybe she could work it out herself while I was gone and if not, I'd try to get it out for her. Checking her again when I got home right before putting them all to bed, the slight scab or whatever it was is gone, but now there's a tiny hole in it's place?? It also doesn't seem swollen, no blood, etc. but I'll try to get a pic in a bit to attach.
 
Here are two images I was able to get. She does have a bit of dirt, straw, and who knows what else on her feet - pulled her from digging around. lol What does this look like? What should I do? Leave it be or wrap it?

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If it looked anything like this it’s a bumblefoot.
A staph infection in the pad.
A common chicken issue.
Sounds like you had a minor one. You’ll probably have best results if you clean it , treat (antibiotic ointment) and bandage, so the hole stays clean and fills in and so the infection doesn’t come back. Healing time for a minor one is a couple of weeks usually.

If it comes back:

Soak the foot (feet) in warm water with Epsom salt in it (couple of tablespoons to a half gallon).
Do this a few days in a row to soften the scab.

If it’s minor, pulling the scab and the plug of hardened pus underneath of it out, then some triple antibiotic ointment in the hole -without pain reliever- and keep it wrapped for a week or two while it heals (changed every few days) should take care of it.
 
Here are two images I was able to get. She does have a bit of dirt, straw, and who knows what else on her feet - pulled her from digging around. lol What does this look like? What should I do? Leave it be or wrap it?

View attachment 1551895 View attachment 1551896
You’ll want to soak and scrub that to get it really clean


then squeeze it to make sure the pus is out.
*Pus in a chicken is usually thick, almost like yellow wax. Then treat it and wrap it with vet wrap, changing every few days until it’s healed all the way.
 
You’ll want to soak and scrub that to get it really clean


then squeeze it to make sure the pus is out.
*Pus in a chicken is usually thick, almost like yellow wax. Then treat it and wrap it with vet wrap, changing every few days until it’s healed all the way.

Thank you! Soak it in Epsom salt, then? And what kind of antibiotic ointment? Is it just like Neosporin or something? What kind of wrap do you use, just vet tape? Sorry for all the questions, haven't had to deal with bumblefoot yet - glad this isn't a serious case of it!
 
Thank you! Soak it in Epsom salt, then? And what kind of antibiotic ointment? Is it just like Neosporin or something? What kind of wrap do you use, just vet tape? Sorry for all the questions, haven't had to deal with bumblefoot yet - glad this isn't a serious case of it!
Yes neosporin works great just be sure to NOT get the kind with a pain reliever.
And vet wrap or similar sports wrap for humans works very well.
 
Yes neosporin works great just be sure to NOT get the kind with a pain reliever.
And vet wrap or similar sports wrap for humans works very well.

Thank you, I'll make sure to get some Neosporin tomorrow, then! Does it worsen the issue or is toxic to them or something?
 

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