7 month pullet with broken toe and bone exposed WARNING GRAPHIC PICS!

[Pullet Pimp]

I noticed yesterday that one of my RIR pullets had a swollen toe on her foot. My first thought was bumblefoot but after looking closer I realize that was not the problem. I inspected her closer and noticed that the toe was broken and the bone was exposed. She was running alright and she eats and drinks fine.

I brought her in the house and soaked her foot in Epsom salt and warm water for about 15 minutes. It seems a little tender when I try to bend it back in place but it doesn't stay. The toe is also turning a little black and I'm not sure it can be saved or not. I cleaned it really well and applied Betadine and triple antibiotic ointment then wrapped it and taped it really well so it doesn't bend. She is now staying in the house in a large dog crate and she seems to eat and drink find and otherwise acts normal. She does favor that foot some but it doesn't slow her down. There are no vets in my area that treat chickens (that I can find or my regular vet knows of).

Is there anything else that I should do for her now? Should I let it take its coarse (if it falls off) or should I remove it myself? Not sure how to handle the exposed bone.

 

[steffpeck]

Poor chicken. I really don't know what the best thing to do for her is. I just wanted to say sorry that she is hurting.

 

[timbofarms]

I'm sorry! I wish ya'll a speedy recovery.

 

[chickenbuddy]

wash it well, perhaps put some iodine on it.

 

[crtrlovr]

sounds like you've done a good job w/ the epsom salt & soaking, use some antibiotic ointment WITHOUT painkiller agent, and you might also give her some aspirin in her water. I forget the dose, but I'm sure you can find it by doing a quick search . If infection doesn't set in, she may well recover completely. At least you're trying.

 

[Pullet Pimp]

I just checked on this hen and she left the bandage on her toe overnight. I was concerned that she may pick it off and eat some of it, but she seems to leave it alone.

My questions now are should I soak it every day or every other, or what?

She is currently in a large dog crate away from the other hens but she can see a couple I have in a hospital brooder healing from being pecked and bald. They have seemed to heal and I am just waiting to get their saddles on them before I put them back outside with the others. Do you think it would be ok to put her in the hospital brooder with the others or should I keep her isolated to avoid the others picking at the bandage?

What should my next step of treatment be for the toe, if any?

Thanks

 

[msrma7670]

Thanks for the post. I just went outside and found almost the same problem with one of my pullets that is about the same age. Only mine is not bloody. The toe is obviously broken though by the way it is bent in the wrong direction. My husband is a nurse, when he gets home from work I'll ask him how often he thinks it should be soaked and let you know.

 

[Imp]

Pullet Pimp,
First let me say that I know virtually nothing about this. But it looks like the broken toe is much larger than the other foot. Is it that swollen? or just a trick of the pix? Makes me think systemic infection. May need to think of internal antibiotics, rather than just topical. Good Luck,
Imp

 

[msrma7670]

BLACK TOE SYNDROME not good not good at all.
Basicly what happens is that when any living thing people included lose blood circulation to an area it will quickly begin to rot.

There is a cure:

1.) If the toe becomes black and mushy like when you scrap sum butter for your bread the toe has to go. Graphic I know but if this happen you will know. Amputation is the only way to save the bird. The reason is simple if the toes is allowed to stay on you will become septic and eventually die. Septic is basicly a blood disease in other words it carryies deadly toxins throughout the body and harms other areas.

How to amputate get some bandages/betadine 3% if you can find it/ hobby knife or another instrument to cut the toe off/ and a saudering iron. boil water let tool sit in the boiling water for 15-30 minutes to kill bacteria or use a new tool never used basicly you want it as clean as you can must work fast soak toe in solution . Cut toe off Burn arteries and veins if not done right animal will bleed to death. once done wrapp wound. I know it is alot and seems cruel but sacfrise sometimes are worth it. This is a severe case only LAST RESORT DEAL ok. PS CUT OFF AT THE JOINT OF THE TOE

2.) Wrap it I would not use epson salt stick with the betadine If the wond closes up on own let the chickens body do the work and heal its self keep her calm clean and bandaged and watch it betadine will help keep bacteria away but not full proof. No epson salt on open wounds. B/c it can swell the wound make it worse and it burns. Don't belive me cut your hand and add epson salt to it. OUCH!!!


THE REAL QUESTION I GUESS IS HOW MUCH WORK AND TIME AND LOVE DO YOU WANT TO INVEST IT IS UP TO YOU. I AM NOT TRYING TO BE CRUDE TO YOU JUST WARNING YOU TO USE GOOD JUDGMENT AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

 

[buckeye lady]

How is toe now? Can you post a new Pic?

The first Pic looks like the foot whole foot is swollen and hypopigmented, But that could be from the soaking.
The toe does not look black/necrotic to me, it looks like bruising and scabbing. Is it bleeding and is toe warm? This indicates good circulation.
Does the wound smell bad? It should not have a foul odor after being washed, If it does it is infected.

If she is leaving the dressing on I would give the area a quick soapy water rinse, followed by clean water, pat dry and rewrap with a new dressing daily. If she pulls off the dressing a 10 minute soak in sopay water before a new dressing would be in order. Topical ATB is OK, but I would also give her an oral ATB as a prophylactic. If the foot begins to change in color or get cold I would consult a vet or cull her. I would not be comfortable amputating myself.



? aspirin, remember if you give aspirin and then decide to amputate you will have a difficult time stopping the bleeding. Aspirin prevents platelets from sticking together and forming clots for several days after administration. Good luck.