Let’s get right to it: Chickens are dirty. They dig around in the dirt all day and with that comes a certain amount of, well, mess. So bumblefoot happens. It’s sometimes possible to have a non-invasive bumblefoot treatment where you don’t have to cut into your chicken’s foot but can heal the bumblefoot with soaking and topical medications. Read on, and know that I’m here to help!

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What Is Bumblefoot?

Basically, bumblefoot is an infected cut. Your backyard chicken (or duck, or quail, or turkey) got a small incision on the bottom of their foot, and then bacteria got in there. This article is excellent if you want to read more into it. Usually the infection is Staph. Untreated, it can go into the bloodstream and become fatal.

Why Did I Create This Non-Invasive Bumblefoot Treatment, Anyway?

If I’m totally honest, it’s because the thought of cutting into my sweet chicken’s foot grossed me out, especially when I consider how I need to keep it super clean. My chickens live outside and poop, peck, dig, scratch, bathe, and play in the dirt. If I can think of a regimen to heal them and keep them safe, without having to take a razor blade to their little body, I’m going to try it!

By “non-invasive” bumblefoot treatment, I mean there is no cutting into the flesh. No blood. No incisions or razor blades. We do a topical treatment to pull the infection out. It takes a while but it’s a lot easier on the chicken and recovery is a breeze!

Remember that this treatment isn’t always appropriate and will not always work. I am not a medical professional.

How Do You Know If This Non-Invasive Treatment For Bumblefoot Will Work?

In short, you don’t. Ultimately the decision is up to you – you can try my method for a few days to see if it shows improvement, or you can immediately go to an incision and removal.

I personally help advise people on this all the time and this is what I look for: A nice big brown or black scab, no redness of the flesh around the scab (indicates a more serious infection), and the bird is not limping heavily nor acting sick. The scab is fine and we can proceed; the infected-looking flesh or a really sick bird will need professional medical attention, and thus should be seen by an avian vet asap.

Remember for goodness sakes that I am not a medical professional, this is from my research and experience but you should do your own too, and make decisions that are best for you and your flock! But email me if you like, include photos and details, and I will help if I can.

How Long Will It Take For Me To Know If This Non-Invasive Bumblefoot Treatment Is Working?

I would say that within five days, you should either see definite improvement and can continue this regimen, or you will need to move to an invasive procedure.

Pro Chicken Tender Tip: Take photos of the bumblefoot, particularly the scab, every two days. That way you can see a time lapse and diagnose if your bird is improving over time, or if they need to go to a vet.

The Non-Invasive Bumblefoot Treatment: Supplies

Let’s get to it! Here’s what you need.

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The Method

  • Sterilize all supplies including the bin or tub where you will soak the chicken’s foot.
  • Pre-cut gauze and vet wrap to necessary size, if possible.
  • Have a trash can nearby.
  • Put on latex gloves.
  • Prepare the soak for the chicken’s foot by adding warm water and Epsom salts (I add approximately 6 ounces of Epsom salts to 48 ounces of water but this is my own estimate and in no way medically precise).
  • Hold your chicken with their wings up against their body. Use the towel or shirt to wrap around your chicken so that it’s easier to hold them with one hand, and keep them bundled up with wings flat against their sides.
  • Hold the chicken so that their foot is submerged in the warm water. 20-30 minutes is ideal if they can stay that long, otherwise let them be in it for as close to 20 minutes as possible. Both feet can soak in it even if you’re only working with one bumblefoot.

Try not to let your chicken’s “undercarriage” get wet as the down feathers there aren’t waterproof and your bird can get chilled.

  • Take the chicken out, carefully dry the foot, move them away from the bath so they don’t spill it.
  • Liberally spray Vetricyn over the scab and surrounding area. Let air dry.
  • Use your finger or a Q-tip to scoop up Prid, and rub into the scab. Do this for 10 seconds, then leave the Prid on the scab.
  • Use a small square of the non-stick gauze to place over the bumblefoot, folding if necessary. This should not be particularly thick or too large, as it will affect your chicken’s ability to walk if you stack it up too much.
  • Use a long strip of vet wrap (remember don’t use red!): start at the bottom of the foot at the gauze, and wrap between each toe and over the top of the foot to secure the gauze in place.

You need the vet wrap to stay in place for a day or two, but you don’t want to cut off circulation.

Want to see RSM in action doing this non-invasive bumblefoot treatment? Check it out here on her YouTube channel.

  • Secure the vet wrap by “squeezing” it around the chicken’s toes and foot, so that it adheres to itself.
  • Unwrap your chicken and let them back down on the ground gently. Watch them for a minute to make sure that they can walk on the wrap.
  • You can leave this on for up to 48 hours, and you can change it as often as every 12 hours. The bottom line is for the chicken to keep the wrap on (not scractch or peck it off), and to let the Prid “draw out” the infection.
  • When you are ready, repeat the process again, throwing out the old bandage and taking photos as necessary. Clean off the old Prid with a clean paper towel before you do the next soak.
  • Make sure to document who you are treating, what supplies you’re using, and how it heals with your own copy of RSM’s Chicken Tender’s Journal.

There you have it! I hope that this has been helpful. Feel free to email for more specific help or to let me know how you and your flock are doing!