Help! Frostbite taking over my hens feet

[Eggcessive]

Those are great questions about wrapping the stumps that are probably best answered by those who have experienced this with their chicken. Here is a good thread about losing both feet, and toward the end of the thread, there are more links to past threads on the same subject where you may have more info and picture. I went ahead and linked those other threads as well.https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite-lost-both-feet-my-hens-story.1343701/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frost-bitten-feet.842760/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-with-no-legs.852723/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-advice-on-a-rooster-with-no-legs.1299773/

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I just have a few questions, if anyone has answers that’d be great. what should I wrap her stumps with? How long after the feet detach should I wait until wrapping them? Do the wraps stay on 24/7? How often do they need to be changed? When will the pain be gone from her stumps? I’m assuming they still hurt her because she refuses to set it down. Also, here’s a few photos of my little fighter. she’s a Belgian D’Uccle View attachment 2962281View attachment 2962282

Sage is precious and looks so sweet. Did you find satisfactory answers to your questions?

 

[oellian]

how wide are your roosts? Wider roosts though collect more poop, allow chickens to lay on them covering their toes (as opposed to narrow roosts they have to grasp). I went with 2x4" boards on their flat side. No frost bites on feet, we have no colder than -20C nights though.

This is what I wanted to make sure that folks saw.
Prevention is so important, and for frostbite, so easy.

WIDE, FLAT PERCHES !!!

 

[Emilyrose974]

Sage is precious and looks so sweet. Did you find satisfactory answers to your questions?

I did not find the answers I was looking for unfortunately

 

[AmyJane725]

@Serenity Lane could probably give you some good advice on chicken nub bandaging.

This wouldn't be applicable for a while yet, as she still needs to heal, but there are people on Etsy who sell prosthetic chicken feet if you think she would benefit from them.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/990917559/avian-prosthetics-customized-please-send?ref=ap-listing

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1145199773/henchickens-prosthetics?click_key=366ca92c2e47d91488bbda1c48e28343d04216bf:1145199773&click_sum=77ab54f9&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=prosthetic+chicken+feet&ref=sr_gallery-1-6&organic_search_click=1&frs=1

As a side note, Sage is super cute! I love the picture with her neck extended and the one where she's on the roost all loafed up. So adorable. As someone who has semi-recently taken on permanent house chickens I highly recommend it. I love them so much. It's wonderful having them around 24/7. I can't imagine ever being without one now.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

I just have a few questions, if anyone has answers that’d be great. what should I wrap her stumps with? How long after the feet detach should I wait until wrapping them? Do the wraps stay on 24/7? How often do they need to be changed? When will the pain be gone from her stumps? I’m assuming they still hurt her because she refuses to set it down. Also, here’s a few photos of my little fighter. she’s a Belgian D’Uccle View attachment 2962281View attachment 2962282

OMG she's so beautiful, it's so sad that she had to go through frostbite. I'm glad our temps don't drop bellow - 5C.
I wish her lots of luck, I'm wondering if there are prosthetics for chickens...

 

[oellian]

OMG she's so beautiful, it's so sad that she had to go through frostbite. I'm glad our temps don't drop bellow - 5C.
I wish her lots of luck, I'm wondering if there are prosthetics for chickens...

I was wondering the same thing. I was thinking of how one might design one. Finger cuffs for the legs? Silicone rubber for the feet, maybe made from an oven mitt or similar? Not a trivial enterprise in any event. R&D project of sorts...

 

[AmyJane725]

I posted links to chicken prosthetics right before your guys' messages. Post #35.

 

[smdcleland]

She is so sweet!!! <3

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I just have a few questions, if anyone has answers that’d be great. what should I wrap her stumps with? How long after the feet detach should I wait until wrapping them? Do the wraps stay on 24/7? How often do they need to be changed? When will the pain be gone from her stumps? I’m assuming they still hurt her because she refuses to set it down.

I'm sorry I just saw your reply from last Friday that you didn't find answers to your questions.
Here is some of the great advice I received on my hen's frostbite thread:

1. Keep stumps coated with triple antibiotic ointment or vetericyn spray until each stump has healed. Lightly wrap/cover stumps for the first few days after feet detach to help prevent infection in the remaining healthy tissue and bone. After a few days have passed, allow the stumps to heal uncovered, as long as the remaining live tissue has scabbed over to form a protective barrier to infection. Keep the healing stumps clean and dry.
2. It will take at least several weeks before each stump has fully healed. When they finally do, stumps should be kept padded and wrapped, which will allow for greater comfort and mobility. Once every week, remove wraps, check to make sure the stumps look ok, then re-wrap.
Due to her breed, Sage's shanks are tiny. Whatever type of wrap you use (most use coban wrap), you will need to cut wrap strips into 1" widths before wrapping, maybe even smaller.
3. It's best that she NOT put weight on or try to walk on the stumps until they are well on their way to healing.

How is Sage doing this week?