Chick with fused toes

[CozyCove]

Hi all. I just picked up an order of chicks and one of my black copper marans has two toes that are fused together by a thin membrane. It seems to be getting around ok for now. The claw on the smaller toe is digging into the bigger toe and causing it to bleed slightly. I almost feel like I could cut that membrane myself...but I know nothing about chicken surgery lol. Is there anything I can do other than call a vet? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

If it were me, I would cut the webbing with a pair of relatively dull scissors (to limit bleeding) and then treat with some sort of a styptic powder/pencil -

 

[aart]

I'd use sharp scissors to prevent just stretching or tearing the skin.

If you don't have 'blood-stop' or styptic powder, corn starch works pretty well.

 

[CozyCove]

Thank you both! I think I just needed someone to tell me I could do it haha.
She came through surgery fine. I used a new exacto knife and cayenne powder to stop the bleeding.

 

[aart]

Thank you both! I think I just needed someone to tell me I could do it haha.
She came through surgery fine. I used a new exacto knife and cayenne powder to stop the bleeding.

Congrats!
Why cayenne powder?

 

[CozyCove]

Congrats!
Why cayenne powder?

Well for years I’ve used it to stop wounds from bleeding...don’t even remember where that knowledge came from tbh. I’d have used cornstarch but I’m out. Cayenne has always worked for me although I just read it is an anti-coagulant
Anyway there wasn’t much blood from the chick, but it did seem to stop what little there was.

 

[Blue Raptor]

Thank you both! I think I just needed someone to tell me I could do it haha.
She came through surgery fine. I used a new exacto knife and cayenne powder to stop the bleeding.

Congrats! how is she walking?

 

[CozyCove]

She’s walking on it fine. It’s dry, no open wound. Eating and drinking too. I treated her with homeopathy for pain/trauma and used frankincense oil on the wound. Watching her closely, but she seems to be doing really well. Luckily the membrane was super thin.

 

[CozyCove]

Here’s a pic of her...the visible foot is the one I cut. Just in case anyone needs assurance that she’s really ok!
Btw, it’s basically impossible to find a vet that will work on chickens. I did the best I could for her.

 

[aart]

Luckily the membrane was super thin.

Did she even squeak?
I'll bet she was over it pronto.