Hen lost a claw!

[miche]

I noticed blood on the deck yesterday, and after inspecting my 4 gals, I found the injury.

One of my hens is missing a claw. Her "fingertip" just ends in a bloody stump. She is not bothered, happily scratching about in the newly arrived Wisconsin spring weather. Doesn't appear to be bleeding a ton, but not exactly a nice scab.

Any advice for care? Does she need to be separated? (they were all in the coop last night and are fine this morning.) What could have happened to her??

 

[miche]

Info about my hen . . .

Specks is 8 months old. She's a black australorp, and the smallest of my four hens.

I haven't treated her or wrapped the wound. She is eating, drinking, scratching, and seems fine.

 

[Wifezilla]

can you get some antibiotic ointment on it? Other that that...what can you do?

 

[chickensioux]

I would clean the wound and keep a close eye on it for infection but if she seems happy and healthy there's really not much else to do

 

[Mrs.Puff]

Yep-- don't worry about it. I have a rooster that seems to bust a toenail down to the quick occasionally, and he doesn't ever notice.

 

[miche]

Thanks for ideas. I'm totally new to chickens (well 8 months in) and this is the first injury. I tend toward less is more and that if she's eating and walking about the yard, she's likely fine.

I'll try to keep her foot out of the mud . . .

Will her claw grow back?

thanks again,
miche

 

[rooster0209]

i have a guinea that for some reason lost all of hers. She doesnt seem to be bothered.

It was not from freezing either. I have no idea what she got into and how she lost them

 

[chickensioux]

Her toenail might grow back depending on how much of the nail bed was lost. If it doesn't, she'll do just fine.

 

[alyssa558]

My buff cornish broke the nail off one toe and another toe was swollen and she was limping badly. I took her to my vet and what had happened was that she had also broken the nail on the swollen toe but it was still hanging on, causing infection. He pulled it out and gave me some ointment (Synovy G-actually dog ear medicine!) and Tylan (antibiotics) that I have to put in her water. So, she is inside the house now and raising heck! The antibiotic treatment in the water is for, like, 3 weeks. She felt really badly for two days after the vet visit (moping in the cage, not coming out) but I guess the antibiotics kicked in and then she really perked up. Now the biggest problem I have is keeping her off the kitchen counters during her morning "floor time!"
Her other toe, the one where the nail had broken cleanly off, seemed (and seems) totally fine. I would keep an eye out for infection and inflammation but if you don't see that she is probably fine.

 

[PlymouthRockBBredSebright]

I have 12 hens this has happened to 2 of them, one just recently....... they will be fine, it doesn't bother them much!