Broken toe - with a twist... Toe fixed, now the foot is swelled up and hot...

[Crazie Eddie]

About a month ago Mildred had to have the tip of her toe amputated. After a few days of oral antibiotics, she was much improved so I moved her back in with the rest of the flock. Everything seemed fine and she even seemed to have moved from the bottom to the top of the pecking order.

A week or so ago I noticed her limping, and after the usual "I'm sure it will sort itself out" period, I realized something needed to be done.

My friend with medical training said the foot (same foot as the amputated toe) is definitely infected, so we lanced the swelling and it was not pretty. Lots of goop.

So, Mildred is back in the infirmary recuperating. The wound is dressed and she's back on tetracycline. We expect to have to lance the foot again.

So, questions are:

Should we leave the foot undressed so it can drain?

Would shavings be better than straw?

I'm giving her the tetracycline on moistened bread - is there any possible problems with that? I figured it would be less stressful than trying to eye-dropper it down her throat.

What else can I do to help her?

She laid an egg today - bless her little heart! Is it safe to eat (my partner is worried his foot will swell up), can I cook it up to feed to the chickens or should I just pitch it? She had just started the antibiotics before she laid it...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Stiggy]

No the eggs aren't to be consumed by humans or sold, sorry but not on the tetracycline. also you can mix it with water. or both if you don't think she is getting enough. the general rule with the tetracycline and eggs is after 10 days where the chicken is free from the antibiotics then you can eat them. try to keep the wound clean, wrapping it can help. either is fine unless it gets stuck to the foot.

 

[Crazie Eddie]

Thanks Stiggy. I don't think she'd had any antibiotics at that point, but with the infection in her system wasn't sure how it would affect the egg. Will remember the 10 days once she's healed up.

The procedure seems to have helped, she's started putting weight on it and was on her roost last night for the first time in days.

Thanks again...

Pat

 

[Stiggy]

well that's good to hear, especially if she is growing/ putting on weight and is happy in herself. a missing toe/ or 'shortened' toe shouldn't affect her to much and she should keep up with the rest of them.