Help! My chicken lost a toe!

[DavidKerk]

I was cleaning the coop today and I stepped on one of the chicken's toes. Later I noticed that there was blood spots in the coop so I looked over all the hens combs. I finally noticed that one of my chicken's toes was off! It isn't bleeding terribly but the claw is gone along with about a half centimeter of toe. Isolating the chicken isn't really an option because it is winter here and the temperature doesn't generally get above freezing. What should I do. This chicken also lost part of a toe and a nail when it was at its previous owner.

 

[Judy]

If you have some BluKote (gentian violet) it will help mask any blood on the wound, to keep the others from pecking it. Otherwise, a little simple wound care flour or corn starch for bleeding, soap and water to clean it, a little antibiotic ointment like neosporin should do the trick. I'd watch for a day or two to be sure they aren't pecking it. You could try a small dressing and duct tape or vet wrap if necessary, though she will probably pull it off. Be sure any ointment or cream has no "caine" ingredient, such as benocaine, cetacaine, etc.

I am not a "house chicken" type of person at all, but twice now I have had a chicken spend a night in my bathtub.

Good luck!