Broken toenail? Inside exposed, not bleeding. Need help!

[MetroMutt]

My special needs hen has broken a toenail, she lives indoors due to special needs and has access to a variety of floor types and I use a good amount of supplements with her

I noticed that her one nail was shorter then normal and that there was something red/pink sticking out of it

I checked it out and it's not bleeding at all but it looks exposed and I'd like to make sure it's ok! I found the other part of the nail too and it seems like it just came off? Didn't break the inner part at all

I have no clue what could have caused it other then possibly maybe needing more calcium? She lays eggs but she can't eat normal oyster shell as she has a crossbeak, I make her vegetable smoothies I add calcium/brewers yeast/probiotics and I put chick grit in her crumbles! She's never had any issues with thin egg shells but I'm always watching her with it

Could low calcium/etc have caused this and how to I treat it? At the moment I only have blue kote, peck no more, vet rx, and some general dog/cat stuff. Should I bandage it and should I worry about infection?


Here are some pictures, I can get more if it can help!

https://imgur.com/2aaVcmB

https://imgur.com/a/rsn5rtL

https://imgur.com/a/yJwLalR

 

[MetroMutt]

Also we already asked a vet if her nail length was okay before this happened, she sees a bird vet every 6 weeks to get her beak trimmed because of her condition

 

[Faiyumi]

Hello, chickens can break their nails just like we can. There's many ways her nail could have broke off, even indoors. It's not a health concern in my opinion. I would personally clean it with some saline spray and put a drop of liquid stitch on it but honestly that's probably overkill. It will heal over. Just clean it with some saline and keep her bedding clean. I wouldn't take the risk of wrapping it. If you got super glue that will work for this instead of liquid stitch. Possibly even clear nail polish.

If her eggs are not thin shelled then she is getting the perfect amount of calcium. It sounds like you're taking wonderful care of her

 

[MetroMutt]

Hello, chickens can break their nails just like we can. There's many ways her nail could have broke off, even indoors. It's not a health concern in my opinion. I would personally clean it with some saline spray and put a drop of liquid stitch on it but honestly that's probably overkill. It will heal over. Just clean it with some saline and keep her bedding clean. I wouldn't take the risk of wrapping it. If you got super glue that will work for this instead of liquid stitch. Possibly even clear nail polish.

If her eggs are not thin shelled then she is getting the perfect amount of calcium. It sounds like you're taking wonderful care of her

Thank you so much! I always get really anxious and hyper cautious with anything with her just because she has multiple external deformities and has challenges due to her beak, she's my little girl and I'd do anything for her and I'm glad it seems ok!!

She's not acting like it hurts or anything and she's already in bed so I'll do this in the morning <3 there's no blood or anything and I will likely be making her little broken off talon into a resin pendant with some dried flowers

The little girl means the world to me and I'm so glad she's gonna be ok!!

 

[Faiyumi]

I completely understand how you feel. I have a one legged chicken they are really easy to worry about sometimes but chickens are incredible survivors. The pendant idea is beautiful

 

[MetroMutt]

<3

 

[Siebee]

Hello, chickens can break their nails just like we can. There's many ways her nail could have broke off, even indoors. It's not a health concern in my opinion. I would personally clean it with some saline spray and put a drop of liquid stitch on it but honestly that's probably overkill. It will heal over. Just clean it with some saline and keep her bedding clean. I wouldn't take the risk of wrapping it. If you got super glue that will work for this instead of liquid stitch. Possibly even clear nail polish.

If her eggs are not thin shelled then she is getting the perfect amount of calcium. It sounds like you're taking wonderful care of her

Can you put clear nail polish on a chicks foot?

 

[Faiyumi]

Can you put clear nail polish on a chicks foot?

The chemicals in the polish are bad for their lungs. Chickens/birds have really sensitive lungs. It won't kill the chicken but it's not healthy for them and could mildly damage their lungs. They might also peck at it. Especially if it's a chick. You can get away with super glue because it dries so fast and it's usually a matte finish which won't attract pecks.

The less exposure time the better. If your clear nail polish is actually fast drying (5 minutes or less), used in a ventilated space, and you don't mind holding the chick while it dries (head away from the foot) then I think that would be okay. Huge plus if it's a matte finish and not a gloss. They are going to peck at glossy stuff.

What's going on with your chick that you need to use some polish? I might have a safer solution.