Nail Bleed Stopped BUT "WHY" was it bleeding???

My EE's nail was bleeding today, we got it to stop, but my question is "Why was it bleeding?"  There is a small tear at the tip, but we also noticed that the nail is small than the rest.  Did she get a new nail?  Is there an inner and outer nail and she lost the outer?  I tried to find chicken nail anatomy to no avail.

I know it is dirty in the pics, but we did clean it up well with warm water and then put triple antibiotic ointment on it and then cleaned it again later putting a drop of lavender oil on it.

Thank you for your help!

Yes, she does Free Range nearly all day long, unless we are not home and then we put them in the run.

Do chickens have an inner and outer nail of some sort?  It looks like this particular nail is much smaller than the others.  She is STILL limping and favoring that leg.

She was separated when it was bleeding on the first day.  Now she is back with everyone and she is fine, other than she is limping (less and less each day) and standing on one leg some.  I tried to research whether they have an inner and outer nail and came up with nothing.  It just "looks" like that is the case when you observe the difference in the nails.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin565 

Sounds like she's recovering slowly but surely. Hope she makes a full recovery!

Thank you, I hope so also.  I bathed her foot today in warm water and brushed the nail with a soft toothbrush.  It definitely looks as if an "outer nail" is growing over the other.  I feel bad for her, as she stands alone under a bush on one foot; or she hobble-runs as best she can when we go out back to see if we have a treat for them.  She is still laying, eating, drinking, and pooing, so these are good signs.

Thank you very much for the reassurance.  Each day she is hobbling less and less.