Definitely bumblefoot - now what?

[CluckyCluck]

So I found the spot on the bottom of her foot which needs to come off I guess so the infection should come out.

After reading the board, I plan to get epsom salt and soak the foot.

After I soak it, if the hard spot on the bottom of the foot is soft - can I just kind of pick it out and then massage the foot to get the hard stuff out?

IS bumblefoot enough to make it so that the chicken cant walk at all?

Here are photos. Hard to take them myself while holding her.

 

[dawg53]

Sometimes the scab is soft enough after a long warm epsom salt soak to simply pull it off with your finger. Personally I prefer to just go ahead and cut it open after soaking. Then I squeeze the heck out of the footpad while manipulating the footpad at the same time.
Staph infection caused by bumblefoot can and will eventually kill a chicken. That's why it's important to remove it as soon as possible. Once the infection is removed and the foot heals properly; you shouldnt see any redness/swelling on or around the footpad, nor limping.

 

[yo burrill]

Where it is it wouldnt hurt to open the top of her foot too to make sure you get it all out. Sometimes it is easier to do that than fight with the bottom. Wrap it with something like vet wrap to keep it clean.

 

[janinepeters]

It looks to me like you've caught it pretty early and might be able to soak it out, without picking or cutting anything. That would be the less painful route for the bird. I would soak with TricideNeo, as described in other threads. When I did it, the scab fell off on its own after about a week, and was totally healed underneath. That's all I did - the TricideNeo soaks - no picking, cutting, wrapping, epsom salts, or anything else. That was a year ago, and the hen has been free of bumblefoot ever since.

Once you start picking and cutting, you've created a wound, which must be kept clean and wrapped, so that you don't continually re-infect it.

 

[CluckyCluck]

I got it out, with no cutting or anything. The rag wet it enough that I was able to pull it out. I can see how they form. This one did not grow large enough to penetrate her skin and so I was able to pick it out with my fingernail....no blood, no broken skin or anything. But now I think I know the problem.....

See new thread.