Suggestions for hen with hurt toe

Posted by Jan Carlson on September 7, 2011 at 7:08pm

Hi all, I just discovered one of my hens has a hurt toe. It happened sometime this afternoon, and is not bleeding any longer. On close examination, the toenail, and possibly a small part of the toe itself, is missing! We were able to notice it because she kept holding it up. We picked her up, checked her for anything else, and rinsed her feet in clean water. That is all we have done. It was less than an hour before they went in for the night. She has no problem walking, or getting on the roost.

 

We want to make sure she'll be ok. Any suggestions on what we should do?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide.

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Replies

  • Jan Carlson September 7, 2011 at 10:06pm

    Thank you so much for responding and for your sympathies. I will follow through with the treatment suggested for Betdtine, antibiotic ointment, and bandage. We did suspect that the nail probably would not grow back :(  We don't mind that so much, we just want her to be healthy and not end up with an infection.

     

  • Carrie September 7, 2011 at 8:43pm

    Hi Jan,

      Sorry about your girl's toe. I had this happen to two of mine over the last couple years and each time I cleaned it up with Betadine solution & put antibiotic ointment on it and a flexible fabric band aid with the open end sealed shut and no ends available to peck at. I took the bandage off after a few days and they were well on their way to being healed up. Neither one ever got the nail/claw back though.  Hope this helps.

    Carrie

     

    • Rachel > Carrie September 7, 2011 at 10:09pm
      I would do what Carrie suggests. I had this happen to a hen once several years ago (the nail did grow back in this case). Ideally, wash it as soon as you notice it and put a little iodine or something on it (don't use any antibiotic lotion with "pain relief" as birds are allergic to the -caine family of painkillers) and put some kind of band-aid/bandage for as long as she will tolerate it.
  • Angie Chandler September 7, 2011 at 8:21pm

    What bummer!! Poor little girl. Finger cots-finger bandages may work best if a band-aid is required.   Here are some animal medical websites I found:
    http://www.organicvet.co.uk/Poultryweb/Home.htm

    (quick & easy site)
    http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat-cuts-and-wounds-...

    http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat-chicken-foot-sor...

    http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080508122225AAgN7zO

    http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/farmlife/msg061236149159.h...
    I hope these help!!  Good luck!!  Only site talks about Neo-sporin.  May consider Polysporin instead.  Neomycin reaks damage to human kidneys....I know we are not the same...but..... just a thought.
    Sympathy-Angie

     

    http://www.organicvet.co.uk/Poultryweb/Home.htm
    See related links to what you are looking for.
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