Chicken froze into the snow

[jjthink]

Quote:
Yes, grit, as with oyster shell (if she's of laying age - I didn't read whole thread) should always be available. When I've had to have my birds confined I obtained grit for birds at the feed store.

JJ

 

[Slywoody]

One other thing and i'm sure you are probably doing it already, is keep the cage as clean as possible so her feet aren't in the poo. I'd prolly try paper towels for easy change out.

 

[chickygrrl]

Great news!

Our girl is walking around her cage and putting weight on both feet. Still using her wing as a crutch, but the swollen foot looks much better! Following Andora's vet's advice I've been doing Epsom salt soaks 1-2x daily followed by pouring hydrogen peroxide over her feet, then drying them and applying Neosporin. She doesn't mind a bit and actually seems to enjoy soaking her feet--she stretches her toes out in the wam water. I haven't needed to cover her feet--we've been keeping her cage very clean. She's eating and drinking normally again (we did add antibiotics to her water, i should mention) and we've added grit for her.

Now we just need to wait for those feathers to grow back and the weather to warm up...

 

[FortWorthChicks]

 

[jjthink]

So happy she is doing better.
JJ

 

[chickygrrl]

UPDATE THREE YEARS LATER: Just after my last post, a friend and her son "chicken sat" while we were on vacation and named our girl "Lolo". A few weeks after she started bearing weight again, Lolo's toes started falling off...not gruesome, the ends just shriveled up and fell off. She was left with two very usable stubby feet (already healed over). She learned to walk again, using her wings to balance and we were super excited when she started laying eggs again--this seemed to be a sign that her body was done healing. Once the weather warmed up we moved her back out to the coop, where it was difficult to watch the pecking order being reestablished, but she made it. Lolo learned to perch on her little feet and became very good at flying from place to place when she wanted to be fast. Three years later she is still thriving and is our oldest chicken (and the only one with a name).

 

[seminolewind]

Awesome! I remember that story. It's great to hear that the hen is doing well. It still gets me choked up reading it.