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

[ruth]

Before amputating, I would cleanse the wound really well and align the two bones as best possible and apply Neosporin (nonpain type). Then wrap the toe tightly with vet wrap. Vet wrap is a stretchy gauzy roll that can be bought at feed store. It sticks to itself and can be easily unwrapped, unlike the tape you used. It can be cut into thin strips. It can also be wrapped very tightly if necessary. Leave a little bit of the toe sticking out so you can monitor its color. I would leave it on for a few days before unwrapping and checking toe.

I have had to amputate a chicken's leg but I've also seen them heal from some amazing wounds. If you can get the two bones to even closely align they will probably heal together and even if they don't the toe can still be functional. I have some 15 pound roos who came to me as little chicks with their middle toes very crooked. Even though they now weigh 15 pounds they get around like everyone else but their middle toes are completely crooked and curved and look like there's no bone at all in them.

 

[Pullet Pimp]

Thank you all for the replies I really don't want to have to put her down unless there is no other option.

Imp The toe is swollen but not the area around it. I think the pic makes it look a little more swollen than it really is.

mrsma7670 The toe is not mushy and is as firm as the others. It also seemed to be the same temp as the other non-injured toes. Thank you so much for the instructions on amputation. I think I could do something like that as a last resort before having to cull. I have all the tools on hand. Cutting off at the joint of the toe makes sense but there is the exposed joint in the one photo. I'm not sure there is enough skin to close over the exposed joint. Would you suggest trying to leave a little more skin on the part that I cut off and stitch it over the bone? or bad idea?

The epsom salt didn't bother her the first time but you are right about using external only. I will just use a mild soapy warm water and Betadine from now on.

buckeye lady I will post a new pick when I change the dressings tomorrow. I just checked on her and she is sleeping. She was running around in the hospital pen and still eating and drinking fine. There was no foul odor to the wound before or after cleaning it. It did clean up pretty well. I am not a big fan of taking any medications and probably wont give her any asprin I don't have any in the house. She doesn't appear to be in any great pain.

ruth I did use vet wrap under the tape. I applied the tape to make it more durable when she walks and runs around. After cleaning and putting Betadine on it I put a big old dab of the Neosporin (triple antibiotic ointment) in the wound before dressing. When I redress the wound tomorrow I will try harder to get the bones to align before wrapping again.

Again thank you all for the advice. I will give an update on the condition and probably need more advice or direction then, because as I mentioned there are not vets that will look at a chicken in my area.

 

[Imp]

Sounds like you've got everything under control. Best of luck to you and your pullet.
Imp

 

[buckeye lady]

Sounds like she's in good hands. Now us Nancy Nurses can go to bed. Keep us posted.

 

[chickenzoo]

I had a pheasant that was attacked by a dog underneath a wire pen and broke/ ripped apart it's big toe also. I soaked it in Epsom salts, applied bedadine and then Neosporin and gently wrapped it with vet wrap(black). Continued to rewrap and apply Neosporine as needed. The dead ends of the toe fell off with time and now you would never know unless she stops for a moment for you to see it missing. Her name is Socks, because of her bandage, at age 2 now is one of my best hens.

 

[ruth]

Once you align the toe you might could make a small spint out of a stick or something and position on side of toe before tightly wrapping with vet wrap. That way she can't bend it. Then I would leave it alone for a week before removing. The bone needs time to heal and if you apply Neosporin in the wound before wrapping it should be o.k. as far as infection but if you want to be sure you could give her a Pen G shot each day. Penicillin G can be bought at feed stores - or - put Terramycin in her water for a week.

 

[Pullet Pimp]

Well I changed the dressings tonight and I think it is improving. It may be that I am just a glass is half full type of guy but I DO think it looks better.....well not as gross. The bandage must have aligned the bones because when I carefully cut off the old bandages the bone was not protruding as much and I had to look harder to find it. She did not struggle as much and actually fell asleep when I laid her in my lap to apply the new bandage.

I again washed it out really good with just a mild soap and warm water. No epsom salts this time. I applied more Betadine and Neosporin and wrapped it with the vet wrap again and put one wrap of tape over that. I didn't use a splint but the medical tape made the wrap stiff enough I don't think she can bend it.

chickenzoo That story is very reassuring and I hope my efforts are as successful as yours were.

ruth After reading your first reply I was going to make every attempt to realign the bones when I redressed the wound today but much to my surprise they appear to be much straighter from the first time. I put a big ole glob of the Neosporin in there this time and i will let it go for a few more days before doing it again. As far as infection I will make that determination in a couple days when I see how it is healing. There was no puss and the wound appeared surprisingly clean before I cleaned it out again.

Here's the pic of the toe tonight.... Do you think it looks aligned pretty well? It didn't look as black to me this time but we'll see how it goes.

And since she was such a good patient I gave her a couple minutes at the treat bowl. (no she didn't get to eat all of it just a couple minutes)

 

[buckeye lady]

Looking real good. Keep it up chicken nurse!

 

[rivers2011]

Pullet Pimp,
How is the hen and her foot?
I started reading this thread bc I just got a chick from the farmer's market with almost exactly the same problem. I'd be great to hear how things turned out!
best,
River