Circulation on Chick Foot Cut! Help!

[rhysbrahma]

Looking for some help on treatment. I’ve just bought 6 x SL Wyandotte chicks (4 weeks old) I’ve driven home, got them into their brooder and noticed one had a swollen foot and was limping.
After closer inspection, there was a very tight zip tie that has completely cut circulation off and the foot is swollen. I removed the zip tie and there is quite a serious gash - I’ve applied anti septic and wrapped her wound gently.

What am I looking at here?
What circumstances require amputation?
Poor little chick is in a fair bit of pain but still eating & drinking etc

 

[Debbie292d]

I would soak the leg(s) in Epsom salt water for several minutes, then put Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment where the gash is. There was partial circulation to the foot and hopefully that was enough, so there's a chance it will improve now.

I would repeat doing this two or three times a day.

 

[CoopBoots]

I'm so sorry! Any chance you got pictures before wrapping or can get some later?

From what I've read, chickens with appendage damage often auto-amputate given enough time if the tissue fully dies off... Hopefully it won't come to that, but I doubt you'll end up having to decide if that is necessary or do it yourself. There are some frostbite threads that cover similar (but obviously not identical) situations.

Edit: Excellent article on frostbite auto-amputation, which isn't relevant yet, but covers what it looks like IF the foot is actually dying off and how to treat that. Your bird might very well still have enough blood flow that this is not applicable at all and the foot remains, so I wouldn't stress over how to handle any of this part yet.

 

[rhysbrahma]

Yes, see the photo attached.
I disinfected the wound yesterday and very gently (not tight at all) put a bandage around it to stop her picking at it.
The swelling has gone down significantly but still swollen. She can put pressure on it now and hops around quite quickly but still lifting it often in pain.

 

[CoopBoots]

I'm so sorry! Any chance you got pictures before wrapping or can get some later?

From what I've read, chickens with appendage damage often auto-amputate given enough time if the tissue fully dies off... Hopefully it won't come to that, but I doubt you'll end up having to decide if that is necessary or do it yourself. There are some frostbite threads that cover similar (but obviously not identical) situations.

Edit: Excellent article on frostbite auto-amputation, which isn't relevant yet, but covers what it looks like IF the foot is actually dying off and how to treat that. Your bird might very well still have enough blood flow that this is not applicable at all and the foot remains, so I wouldn't stress over how to handle any of this part yet.

I forgot the article link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/

Foot isn't looking too bad so far, aside from the swelling. So glad that has improved... Keep us posted!