A week or so ago, while feeding chickens, I noticed one of my black silkieXs limping around. I caught her for a closer look and discovered that her right foot was dead. I brought her into the house for a closer look and a toe on her right foot fell off! Another was also dead and not long for the world.
She was my girl who would refuse to go into the coop sometimes this past winter and either her feet got frostbite or she was the chicken found hanging upside down last fall in the coop, foot tied to a string (no idea how that happened, it was a bit freaky). I kept her in the house that night, fully expecting to have DH dispatch her to chicken heaven the next morning. Both of us are wimps when it comes to killing anything but he'll do it if he has to. She hopped around the house all evening, jumping in and out of her box. It was obvious that the dead foot was not slowing her down.
I checked her for any other problems. I found no infection, the 'live' section of her leg looked fine, had no redness and looked like it was separating from the dead area cleanly. I was shocked when the toe on the right foot fell off but looking closely, the majority of them were in good shape - just the two were damaged and only down to the first knuckle. Good thing Silkies have extra - she might not notice them gone.
We discussed killing the chicken and decided that if she had avoided infection and managed to survive in our flock of 100+ as long as she had that we'd let nature continue to take its course and see what happened. I've been watching her daily ever since - making sure she could access food and water. She was still able to jump up into the nesting box area and onto the lower, geriatric roost we have (made out of that plastic covered closet material).
When I found her today - out in the 'spa' - I noticed she wasn't balancing on one leg - the foot had fallen off and she is hopping around on it fine. The run area is muddy and I have to wait until DH comes home to catch her, so I haven't had the chance to make sure it is all healed. Tonight I'll wash it off, check it off and officially dub her Peggy.
If it isn't completely healed, I sort of hate to bring her into the house until it does because the other chickens aren't paying her any attention. I'd hate for her to have to go through 'pecking order' again when re-introduced to the flock. But no need to worry about something that might not have to happen.
Thanks to all who gave me their opinions and shared their experiences with this problem. Just wanted you to know that she is still surviving and looking ok.
Mary Ann
She was my girl who would refuse to go into the coop sometimes this past winter and either her feet got frostbite or she was the chicken found hanging upside down last fall in the coop, foot tied to a string (no idea how that happened, it was a bit freaky). I kept her in the house that night, fully expecting to have DH dispatch her to chicken heaven the next morning. Both of us are wimps when it comes to killing anything but he'll do it if he has to. She hopped around the house all evening, jumping in and out of her box. It was obvious that the dead foot was not slowing her down.
I checked her for any other problems. I found no infection, the 'live' section of her leg looked fine, had no redness and looked like it was separating from the dead area cleanly. I was shocked when the toe on the right foot fell off but looking closely, the majority of them were in good shape - just the two were damaged and only down to the first knuckle. Good thing Silkies have extra - she might not notice them gone.
We discussed killing the chicken and decided that if she had avoided infection and managed to survive in our flock of 100+ as long as she had that we'd let nature continue to take its course and see what happened. I've been watching her daily ever since - making sure she could access food and water. She was still able to jump up into the nesting box area and onto the lower, geriatric roost we have (made out of that plastic covered closet material).
When I found her today - out in the 'spa' - I noticed she wasn't balancing on one leg - the foot had fallen off and she is hopping around on it fine. The run area is muddy and I have to wait until DH comes home to catch her, so I haven't had the chance to make sure it is all healed. Tonight I'll wash it off, check it off and officially dub her Peggy.
If it isn't completely healed, I sort of hate to bring her into the house until it does because the other chickens aren't paying her any attention. I'd hate for her to have to go through 'pecking order' again when re-introduced to the flock. But no need to worry about something that might not have to happen.
Thanks to all who gave me their opinions and shared their experiences with this problem. Just wanted you to know that she is still surviving and looking ok.
Mary Ann
