Foot care

[City Farmer Jim]

Good afternoon/evening all, not an emergency yet BUT don't want it to. We have a 3.5 year old Orpington hen that I have seen laying down quite a bit and was finally able to get ahold of her. Without knowing chicken anatomy as well as I should..she has a dark spot in the botyom center of her foot maybe the size of a pencil lead. She has a noticeable limp. I did/do not want to probe/dig it out without knowing how to care for it and what exactly to do as far as keeping it sterile(if that is possible) and how to dress it if at all. I do know from prior experience that chickens heal remarkably fast and are very resilient. Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have a picture? It sounds like she has bumblefoot, a staph infection that has entered the skin through a small cut. Does she limp? Is it red and swollen? Most people start out by soaking the feet in warm soapy water, and you can add some betadine or Epsom salts to the water. Then it is good to try to remove the scab and squeeze out the solid cheesy pus inside. Then Here is a good article about treating it:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/bumblefoot-causes-treatment-warning/