4 week old with missing toe - does the black bit left have to come off?

[appps]

Noticed one of our new chicks has lost a tie. It's sort of there to where first joint would be then black and lump looking just below that.

I read a few threads which mentioned cutting that bit off. Is this needed? I'm a wuz so will mean a trip to the vet but prepared to do that if it's needed.

It's a little silky and had been pecked bare bummed by some larger chicks when we got it. So don't know if this is related to that and has just been noticed or if it's slightly bigger 3 siblings did it since we got it.

Totally new to this so lost toes for dummies needed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Cut it off. Our frizzle chick lost most of his toes (most of his toes dont have a full toe, only 1 does) because we never cut it off and I think the other chicks got more attracted so pecked him more.

Just take a pair of sciccors, hold the toe, when the chick stops wriggling, brace the scisccors, close your eyes, and clip it off. It can be gross but you don't have to look at it, going to the vet will be a waste of money

 

[appps]

Just reading that made me cringe lol

I'm just a sook I guess but took it to the vet. She said it was just hanging by a blood vessel so she took it off. It was also very swollen so infected and she said very close to a tip of bone so we have antibiotics to give it for the next two weeks and have to cross fingers the infection didn't get into the bone.

It is eating well and in good condition so she was hopeful so we shall see. Now own one of the most expensive non show silkies out there, sigh. But it's a child's pet so you do what you must

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Well, good to know shes OK. Feed her yogurt to help with the infection, and

the infection doesn't spread

 

[appps]

Thanks. Just regular yoghurt like the kids eat or does it have to be the natural type?

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

We fed them strawberry yogurt btu I've heard your supposed to use plain

 

[Gittx]

I have a hen with a broken toe too. Hers just takes another direction than the rest from the first joint on. I tried to fix her by putting a cotton ball under her foot and supported the toe with a little stick. Nothing worked. She however is doing great. She has no problem on the perch, can dig with that toe as well as she does the others, although the same straight line isn't created. Unless she's having problems, I'd just leave her alone. (She's the little brown hen in my avatar) The toe broke when she was a chick, and now she's 2+. None of the other chickens have ever picked on her. Good luck!