Good for you! You're making progress! Is the lump between the toes easier to get at from the top or bottom? That will determine where you lance it, I think. All things being equal, a cut on top of the foot will be easier to keep clean. Lancing sounds scarier than it is. The object is to create a small clean cut to relieve the pressure and to allow the pus to get out. Any sharp tool -- a fresh blade of an exacto-knife, a razor blade with the back taped for safe handling, or a sharp pointed knife -- can be used to open the wound. Be sure to heat it in a flame first to sterilize it. Remember that the pressure of the pus is what hurts and she will hardly feel the incision itself... but she will experience instant relief once the pressure is eased. So don't worry that you are hurting her. You may want someone to help by holding her still. Failing this, immobilize her by wrapping her in a towel or old sheet with the injured foot sticking out. If you like, sing lullabies while you work. It will calm both of you. Really! Make a short cut. You'll know you've got it when the pus, blood etc. starts coming out. Once the wound is open, press out as much of the pus as you can and then I suggest another soak in epsom salts and comfortably hot water as this will help draw out more of the infection. Then put on the peroxide (which doesn't sting) and a bandage of clean cloth or gauze. Marquisella is right that you may need to repeat the treatment. But the second time you open the wound it will be easier because it will not be fully healed. You can handle this. You are doing it to save your hen's life. Walk through the steps in your mind so you are confident - and then just do it. You - and the hen - will be fine.

The Bottom Line  Like all living organisms, plants have natural resistance mechanisms to fight insect attack or disease.  Covering wounds with traditional sealants inhibits oxidative processes, which in turn will reduce callus formation and subsequent compartmentalization.  Optimal pruning time for insect- or disease-prone species is in the fall or winter when temperatures and infection rates are lower.  If you must prune a disease-prone species when insects or fungi are active (i.e. during the warmer times of the year), a light coating of an insecticide or fungicide may be warranted.  Try sterilizing pruning tools. Such measures can help reduce the transmission of certain plant diseases to healthy plants.  Control disease spread through preventative management practices such as disposal of contaminated organic material and use of disease-free compost and mulch Here is a link that might be useful: Wound Sealer

Dog Bowls: I was visiting with a bunch of young professionals involved in dog rescue, and they were discussing the fact (?) that plastic dog bowls can cause a dog's nose to turn pink. I would not have given this any credence except that they are engineers - rocket scientists to be exact - and tend to analyze things before repeating them. They claim it is a chemical reaction as the nose touches the bowl. My dog bowl system: I was experiencing wrist pain and realized how much wrist movement is involved in handwashing the dog's bowls. I bought a third bowl for the dog, and now I pop both his food and water bowls into the dishwasher at night. The dog gets a fresh clean bowl of water at night, the two used bowls come out of the dishwasher in the morning. One bowl is used for food and the clean bowl sits on the counter all day until evening when it is filled with water.

I always use a pre laundry treatment like spray and wash to remove residue from stickers on windows and furniture. Just spray it on and wait about 5 minutes. Rub the area with your finger and the residue will ball up and come right off. No harm at all to fabrics. Works like a charm everytime! The nice thing is, most of us have it readily available in our homes. Trin