[LittleRedHen]

We let the hens out this morning and our Light Sussex was limping.  We caught her and cleaned her feet to discover one of them had a red foot pad with a very red circle on it.  The skin wasn't broken, thank goodness.  We cleaned it off and put antiseptic on it - then she REALLY limped.  So we brought the isolation cage in the kitchen, put newspapers in the run bit and fresh Easibed in the nest box and brought her in.  There's no pole for her to have to clutch all night long - just a nest box, so she can give her foot a rest and we can keep her foot clean this way too.  Is there anything else we can do for her?  Are we doing the right thing? 

[beulah59]

Is that what folk call 'bumblefoot'?

[LittleRedHen]

No I looked up bumble foot, and it doesn't fit what she has. 

[joyfull]

check (with a magnifying glass if necessary) for a splinter as that could lead to the swelling, redness and infection.

[LittleRedHen]

I looked at it with a magnifying glass and it is a round red ring.  The skin is not broken.  A real mystery.  We ended up putting her back with the rest of the hens because she made such a lot of noise in the house.  Ours neighbours would not be amused.  She's walking gingerly around now, but not limping badly.  I don't like her perching tonight, but there isn't much a I can do to stop her now.