We're calling it: you've won the bumblefoot battle, even if those stubborn scabs have you convinced the war isn't over. This reader's saga, weeds, kids, and a fowl foot fiasco, is the kind of cluck-tastic chaos that makes backyard chicken keeping equal parts rewarding and maddening. Two of four birds came down with bumblefoot after the little ones tossed thorny weeds into the coop, and despite weeks of Epsom salt soaks, prid, and careful wrapping, the flat scabs on the bottoms of those feet just won't quit. We get it. That lingering mark is enough to make anyone wonder if the infection is still lurking under there, plotting a comeback. A scab that's flat, dry, and not hiding any swelling or tenderness is a good sign, not a red flag. Your birds are healing, not re-infected. For a little extra reassurance, check out how Hand-feeding your recovering chick won't spoil him: it might just help shows that tender, consistent care is exactly what gets them through the rough patches.
Let's talk about what's actually happening under those scabs. When a bumblefoot core comes out clean, which yours did, the body has to fill that hole with new tissue and seal it over. That process takes time, especially on a footpad that gets scratched, walked on, and pecked at daily. You're seeing the natural end stage of healing, not a hidden infection. The fact that when a scab rips open there's only a bit of blood and an empty hole is proof the pus is gone. That's the finish line, not a relapse. We've seen plenty of keepers panic at this stage, thinking the scab means something is still wrong, when really it's just the last stubborn band-aid your chicken's body put on. If you want to compare notes on another recovery that tested a keeper's nerves, That little yolk sac has us all chickening out: here's what we found is a perfect example of how a scary-looking leftover can be totally normal.
So what's the practical takeaway? Stop spraying antiseptic on those scabs every day. You're not helping, you're just keeping the area wet and slowing down the final dry-out. Check them once every few days, and only step in if you see new swelling, redness, or discharge. Otherwise, let those feet be. The scabs will fall off on their own when the new skin underneath is ready, and your chickens will go back to scratching through weed piles without a second thought. The real question now isn't whether they're still infected, they're not, but whether you'll ever look at a handful of thorny weeds the same way again.