Hair Around Toes! Did I Do Everything Right?

[AmyJane725]

Was out spending time with my babies when I noticed a few drops of blood on the feathers of one of my silkies. I looked for the injury and found that the foot was bleeding. I found a piece of hair wrapped around/embedded in the connection between toes #4 & 5 and the rest of the foot.

I took the baby inside, washed the blood off with warm water, removed all the hair from the toes, did a tiny bit of debridement to get rid of some whitish and yellowish goopy skin stuff, rinsed again under warm water, sprayed liberally with Vetericyn, then patted dry with a Kleenex and sprayed with Blukote.

Once the Blukote dried I returned the baby to the pen with the others. A few of them messed with the foot a bit (I was hoping since the Blukote is so dark and the silkie skin is black anyway they might not notice, but wishful thinking I guess considering they can see more colors than we can).

The foot is definitely painful. Baby limps and tries to not really put any weight on it. It's a bit swollen in that area, but I'm hoping now that the hair is gone the swelling will go down. It's weeping a bit of fluid.

The baby at some food and got a drink and is now snuggled up with the others taking a nap.

I'm wondering if I should put it in the hospital crate and give it clean towels to walk on? I feel like that might hurt less than pine chips, and be cleaner too. I'm just worried it would be more stressful than just letting it stay in the pen.

Thoughts?

Also, a brief PSA for those of us with long hair: We really need to keep an eye on our chickens' feet. Hair will cut into a foot just like leaving a chain around a dogs neck for a long time. Slices right down to the bone eventually. I'm glad I read a topic from another member recently about the same thing happening to her bird. Made me aware that it was something to look out for.

 

[courtsmarans]

I think you did a great job, quick thinking. If the other chicks are picking at the foot I would put her in a different crate away from them, don't want them making the situation worse. The chick would integrate back in with the others just fine once healed a bit.
And seriously, I never thought of that! I incubate eggs and keep the chicks in my room for a week until I move them out to the barn (not as bad as it sounds, very fun actually) but I didn't consider my own long hair being a danger haha

 

[AmyJane725]

I think you did a great job, quick thinking. If the other chicks are picking at the foot I would put her in a different crate away from them, don't want them making the situation worse. The chick would integrate back in with the others just fine once healed a bit.
And seriously, I never thought of that! I incubate eggs and keep the chicks in my room for a week until I move them out to the barn (not as bad as it sounds, very fun actually) but I didn't consider my own long hair being a danger haha

They seem to be leaving it alone this morning, but I'll keep an eye on it. If they mess with it too much I'll separate her.

I kept my babies in my room for 2 weeks and then moved them out to the garage. I sit in the pen with them though, and apparently I lost a hair at some point. I feel really bad. I should shave my head...

 

[maadroj]

Keep a close eye on it. My quail chick recently endured a hair tourniquet also. I asked a doctor friend who said that if it is still favoring the foot after a day or two, it's possible there's a blood clot or other complications, and it should go to the vet immediately. So keep a close eye on it.

I feel terrible, too, especially because I saw the swelling but didn't figure out the cause for a whole day. I thought it sprained or fractured its foot. Thankfully I finally noticed a little strand of hair that disappeared into the swelling. I still didn't get it at first and just thought it was some debris sticking to the foot! It was when I tried to move it away that I realized it was wrapped and probably the cause of the swelling. I still feel sick over it.

If it makes you feel better--in a very macabre way--I've since learned that this also happens to human babies. So I don't think we need to beat ourselves up that it happened, but we do need to be very vigilant. Lesson learned.

I'm so glad you figured it out immediately. I hope your baby recovers quickly, fully, and smoothly.

 

[AmyJane725]

Keep a close eye on it. My quail chick recently endured a hair tourniquet also. I asked a doctor friend who said that if it is still favoring the foot after a day or two, it's possible there's a blood clot or other complications, and it should go to the vet immediately. So keep a close eye on it.

I feel terrible, too, especially because I saw the swelling but didn't figure out the cause for a whole day. I thought it sprained or fractured its foot. Thankfully I finally noticed a little strand of hair that disappeared into the swelling. I still didn't get it at first and just thought it was some debris sticking to the foot! It was when I tried to move it away that I realized it was wrapped and probably the cause of the swelling. I still feel sick over it.

If it makes you feel better--in a very macabre way--I've since learned that this also happens to human babies. So I don't think we need to beat ourselves up that it happened, but we do need to be very vigilant. Lesson learned.

I'm so glad you figured it out immediately. I hope your baby recovers quickly, fully, and smoothly.

My chick isn't favoring the foot anymore, but I'm wondering how long it'll be before the foot starts looking normal again. It still looks puffy to me. I'm worried there might still be more hair in there or something. I'm pretty sure I got it all though, so I probably just need to be patient/calm down.

I'm sorry it happened to your baby too. Poor little thing. Is the foot better on yours yet?

I looked it up after you said that and yeah, I guess it does even happen to human babies. Quite bizarre. I never imagined that was a thing that happened to animals or people. So weird.

I'm just glad we both know what to look out for now, and that other people can read this and learn about it too.

 

[maadroj]

I read that it can take anywhere from a month to a year for the lymphatic fluids to drain (in a human). My chick's foot is enlarged/puffy, a little more pink than the other, and seems a little sore, so I'm trying to add foods with anticoagulant properties to the food mix (like kale, broccoli, sunflower seeds).