Bleeding on toes. Please help!

[Ellie78]

Hi, my Buff Orpington (egg-layer, about 25wks old) has a bunch of scrapes on her feet, on the bottom of the toes. This started a week or 2 ago. I brought her inside, placed her feet in an epsom salt bath, put neosporin on and wrapped it. She's eating and drinking normal. It's hard keeping her still. Her feet looked find yesterday again (3rd time) so we put her back with her sisters and today my 12yo brought her back inside because "she's bleeding again". Initially I thought she got a splinter and scraped her feet. RIGHT NOW She's breathing through her mouth because her nose is plugged with mud. Not sure if I should try to fix it and with what?? I did the same thing as before with soaking, antibiotic, wrap. She is not as active as before. But still eating and drinking. Just laying down a lot.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you try and get her nostrils open with QTips and mild soapy water? I would soak her feet and take a couple of pictures when her nostrils are clear. Apply some antibiotic ointment and no dressing. Is she getting picked on by the others? Is there any overcrowding or is she low in pecking order or new to the flock? What is you coop and run flooring like, and what type of bedding or surface? Spend some time observing. If you have a dog crate where you can place with with food and water on clean towels or puppy pads, that may help being open to air. If she can be in view of the flock in her crate that would be good.

 

[Ellie78]

Thanks for replying. I used some saline drops on a q-tip to clean her nostrils as much as possible.
We have a coop with an enclosed run (hardware cloth all around, metal roof) the coop is covered in hemp bedding. Initially after her first injury, I took the roost out and sandpapered it down to make sure there are no rough edges. I checked all the other hens' feet. It does seem like my Orpingtons' feet are "softer" than the other breeds (Australorps, NH reds, Wtandottes & Ameraucana).
When I'm out there, I let them out to free range but never leave them unattended because we have hawks around. I don't see any bullying going on but I have noticed some bleeding spots on her comb.
The run is mostly dirt now since they've destroyed all the grass.
I'm adding some pictures. I really think the injuries are caused by her constant scratching...it's like a layer of skinwas scratched off

 

[Eggcessive]

Could she be scratching at the hardware cloth with her feet? How soft is the hemp bedding? I have never used that. Is scratchy or sharp? It is good that you sanded the roost, since splinters can lead to bumblefoot. I would soak her feet once a day in warm water with either Epsom salts, a little Dawn or Betadine. Sometimes giving a 1/4 tablet of human B complex for the biotin it contains can help with feet. You can get that at Walmart for under $10 (Spring Valley brand.)

 

[Ellie78]

Yes, I think she may have gotten the initial cut from the hardware, it's mostly buried now but I think maybe she scraped it some more on the cement bricks that form the base perimeter of the run. I did put some electrolytes in her water and today I gave her a foot soak and then treated with blu-kote. We'll see how that holds up. Right now she's a house chicken and I'm seriously considering a diaper to keep my sanity. It feels like I've been doing nothing but clean up, sterilize and wash carpets these last few days. I'm so ready for her to go back. She's still laying, by the way...I'm worried she would now prefer to lay indoors (in our house) instead of in the coop
As far as your question about the hardness of the hemp...it feels silkier (softer) than the horse pellet bedding (after it is wet).

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you put her back in the coop in a wire dog crate with food and water? I prefer to keep them in view of the flock so that it isn’t difficult to reintegrate back into the flock. The longer she is away the worse it may be.