Frozen feet... please help!

[mommiesrcool]

What state are you in? I doubt that you need to bring in the whole flock for the winter, if you have a coop that has not direct drafts, but has some overhead ventilation to help remove moisture. Keeping a thick layer of dry bedding should be enough. Many in Canada deal with subzero temps with little problem. I would probably let you hen have some time with her flock daily just to remain part of the pecking order, even if it is just an hour. It is tough to have to reintegrate a hen who has been gone for a couple of weeks. If you have a dog crate that fits inside the coop, you could keep her there on clean towels for bedding.

She is in Kansas

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What type of water station do you use?
She may have walked in the water dish and got her feet wet.

 

[kaydeetee86]

Alrighty, home and all of the chickens are settled. All of the other chickens are fine. Combs, wattles, and feet.

First, photos of Alpha. She’s still alert, eating, and drinking. The right foot is a LOT more swollen than the left.

 

[kaydeetee86]

This is the main coop. There are 8 hens in there. The straw is all fresh. We’ll be fixing the roosting bars this weekend.

Their waterer is 3 gallons, heated.

Please tell me if you see anything I need to change.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is that water station in the corner on a block? That's the only thing I really see. I elevate water stations to try to keep them cleaner, but of course it still gets straw kicked in it. I have to rinse them everyday regardless.

 

[kaydeetee86]

Is that water station in the corner on a block? That's the only thing I really see. I elevate water stations to try to keep them cleaner, but of course it still gets straw kicked in it. I have to rinse them everyday regardless.

Yeah it is. It’s on one little block but it kind of got buried once we added the straw.

 

[kaydeetee86]

And one more pic of her enjoying spa time. She’s up and around. She made a few laps around the living room, and laid an egg by our wood burning stove.

 

[kaydeetee86]

Update time: Alpha is doing surprisingly well. I appreciate the support, big time.

I’m trying to do what I can to try to help with the pain, and save her toes/feet if it’s at all possible. She’s been getting two pedicures a day, soaking her little feet in warm water with Epsom salt and chlorhexidine gluconate. I dry her feet, spray them with Vetericyn, apply Neosporin, and wrap them loosely in gauze/athletic tape.

Her right foot is swollen, but the left one is in pretty good shape. The spot on her left toe is definitely BluKote and not frostbite.

She’s eating and drinking. She’s getting treats like scrambled eggs with cayenne & cinnamon. I’m still putting electrolytes and Aspirin in her water.

She can walk. She’s curious about her surroundings, and I think she’s starting to like being a house chicken.

I don’t know if it’ll work, but at least I know I’m trying as hard as I can to help her.

First photo is Day 2, the rest are Day 3.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not wrap her feet, since wrapping and handling could impede circulation and damage the skin. The less you handle them the better. But everything else you are doing (soaking and vetericyn) is just what I would do. I would keep her in a dog crate or pen on clean towels for bedding. She is looking better.

 

[kaydeetee86]

I would not wrap her feet, since wrapping and handling could impede circulation and damage the skin. The less you handle them the better. But everything else you are doing (soaking and vetericyn) is just what I would do. I would keep her in a dog crate or pen on clean towels for bedding. She is looking better.

Thank you. I really hope she’s okay.

The shower in my spare bathroom doubles as the chicken infirmary. We’ve got some nice fluffy towels in there, and swap them out daily. She’s currently passed out with her head under her wing. I love that little bird.

Do you think the two soaks and sprays a day would be enough to prevent infection?