Hen in the Process of Autoamputation post Frostbite

[Athenaeum]

So, to be frank, my hen, Latias (not even a year old yet), is in the process of autoamputation post frostbite for a leg and about three toes. Tonight, the leg that is amputating itself has... detached, save for a bit that neither my husband nor I feel safe to remove, after her friend, the tripod cat Noir (that used to help keep her and her nestmates company as chicks), accidentally startled her. He was moving to lay on top of her temporary home as he is prone to doing because he enjoys being near "his" chicks, and misjudged his jump and jostled her awake which resulted in her somehow breaking the leg off.

It's bleeding and dangling and a large part of me wants to comfort her somehow while helping her. I can do neither. And, unfortunately, there isn't a vet around here anymore that we can find that handles chickens.

... Suggestions for helping her? Because google isn't helping and I'm trying not to panic, but I also need to sleep so I can get my kids off to school in the morning. At this point, my husband and I are just hoping it will just... fall off in the night. Will it? I dunno. Do I hope I still have a hen in morning? Absolutely.

I hatched her and her nestmates, then lost both of her brothers in the span of two months (December for Link, January for Gannon; both likely due to genetic defects due to the ages of their mothers or absolute accidents) and she was brought in for frostbite the same day her brother Gannon died while her sister Gwen is still with the others. I really... don't want to lose another bird again for a third month in a row.


Attached is a picture of the precious princess (gentle snark tone here) from yesterday after I tried to dust bathe her since she hasn't been doing it to herself. She received some treats in return for her cooperation.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is it dangling by the skin or?
If you have a photo that may help.

It's possible that it may fall off overnight.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things in helping her. If you have not read the article below, you may find it helpful.
The second link is her original thread going through the process. She compiled info from that thread to write her article.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/

 

[Athenaeum]

Is it dangling by the skin or?
If you have a photo that may help.

It's possible that it may fall off overnight.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things in helping her. If you have not read the article below, you may find it helpful.
The second link is her original thread going through the process. She compiled info from that thread to write her article.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/

No photo, unfortunately. She just laid down, but according to my husband it's by skin from what she let us see? She kept it pulled pretty close to her body, though, and before tonight, it had been looking like she'd lose up to her knee.

Oh! I did read that! It's what helped give me some confidence that Latias could survive, honestly, if we take care of her as well as possible. Because I really didn't want to cull her, not when she was showing that she wants to live.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No photo, unfortunately. She just laid down, but according to my husband it's by skin from what she let us see? She kept it pulled pretty close to her body, though, and before tonight, it had been looking like she'd lose up to her knee.

Oh! I did read that! It's what helped give me some confidence that Latias could survive, honestly, if we take care of her as well as possible. Because I really didn't want to cull her, not when she was showing that she wants to live.

Hard to know.

If she's settled for the night, then you may want to get some much needed sleep and let her rest for the night too.

Tomorrow, when you have time, a bit of rest and relaxed, take another look at the leg. IF it's hanging by a small piece of skin, then I'd consider trimming it off. I'm not a vet for sure, but that's what I'd do.
Have your supplies all ready, to clean/wrap, etc.

Many people have hens/roosters that lose toes/feet and the birds can live well and thrive. It just takes time to heal and dedication on the Keeper's part to give good care.

 

[Athenaeum]

Hard to know.

If she's settled for the night, then you may want to get some much needed sleep and let her rest for the night too.

Tomorrow, when you have time, a bit of rest and relaxed, take another look at the leg. IF it's hanging by a small piece of skin, then I'd consider trimming it off. I'm not a vet for sure, but that's what I'd do.
Have your supplies all ready, to clean/wrap, etc.

Many people have hens/roosters that lose toes/feet and the birds can live well and thrive. It just takes time to heal and dedication on the Keeper's part to give good care.

Fair. It's the next day now and we've had time to give her a chance to recover from the mishap last night. Managed to get a picture of the leg, if you still want to see it? I think it might be her skin, but I don't know.

If it is, what do you recommend trimming it with? Because she still isn't letting anyone near it, and I don't want to stress her out more, honestly. Though, I know I'll have to for her health.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Fair. It's the next day now and we've had time to give her a chance to recover from the mishap last night. Managed to get a picture of the leg, if you still want to see it? I think it might be her skin, but I don't know.

If it is, what do you recommend trimming it with? Because she still isn't letting anyone near it, and I don't want to stress her out more, honestly. Though, I know I'll have to for her health.

Yes, a photo may be helpful.

If she's babying it and it seems painful to her, then it may not be time to fall all the way off.

 

[Athenaeum]

Yes, a photo may be helpful.

If she's babying it and it seems painful to her, then it may not be time to fall all the way off.

That's what I had been thinking? That the timing for the breaking had been off? Here's the pictures though. One's further back when she first let me see it, the second is zoomed in and when she let me be a little closer to take the pic.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's what I had been thinking? That the timing for the breaking had been off? Here's the pictures though. One's further back when she first let me see it, the second is zoomed in and when she let me be a little closer to take the pic.

Go ahead and trim it if it's still attached. The bone has been separated and at this point its not helping her at all. I have a hen with one leg (named One Leg unironically) and she figured out pretty easily how to continue on after losing it last year.

One thing I will say is you'll want to watch her closer for foot injuries after this. All of her weight will be on the one foot when moving, and it does cause the toes to deform a bit and widen/fatten from the pressure.

 

[Athenaeum]

Go ahead and trim it if it's still attached. The bone has been separated and at this point its not helping her at all. I have a hen with one leg (named One Leg unironically) and she figured out pretty easily how to continue on after losing it last year.

One thing I will say is you'll want to watch her closer for foot injuries after this. All of her weight will be on the one foot when moving, and it does cause the toes to deform a bit and widen/fatten from the pressure.

Fair. I'll have to have my husband help remove it, if it's still attached? But the foot injury risks are actually why we plan to get her a prosthetic leg or even a wheelchair, if deemed necessary, to help try to lessen the risk.

 

[Daisy June]

It is great learning to learn so much in this online group! I would have never guessed this could even happen. Animals' resilience is such a blessing to all.