My chickens toes fell off

[ChickenFriedRice]

Her front three toes turned black and litterally fell off she just has a bloody stump should I wash it and wrap it I don’t want it to get infected someone send help

 

[Egg Snatcher]

She had frostbite on her toes. I’ve not had an issue with infection when just the toes fall off. I would wrap and clean the area if more than just the toes fell off. Can u get a pic?

 

[TwoCrows]

I am so sorry, sounds like bad frost bite. This is common when using thin roost bars. Make sure your roost bars are wide enough so the birds can cover their feet with their breast feathers. Use a 2x4 with the 4 side up.

Here is an article about frostbite and how someone else dealt with the loss of toes....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/

Good luck, I hope your bird will be ok!

 

[ChanP]

Hope she gets better.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Immediately after her toes came off and left a bloody stump behind was when your hen was most exposed to infection, so you were on the right track to clean, medicate and wrap the stump. Now that the remaining viable tissue has scabbed over, there is much less risk of infection. For the first few days after autoamputation, it is recommended to soak remaining viable tissue in Epsom Salts, Hibicens, etc. This is soothing and will help deter any chance of infection. After the stump has fully dried, medicate topically with triple antibiotic ointment, Vetericin spray, etc. There was much discussion on my hen's thread as whether to wrap her stumps after her feet came off, or leave the stumps uncovered while they healed. I chose to wrap them for the first few days, then leave them uncovered for the remainder of her healing. I kept both stumps clean and dry. If your hen's stumps are exposed to soil and poop, may be best to keep them wrapped.

 

[Callender Girl]

I have been dealing with frostbite damage to a hen's feet since Christmas.

My incredible avian vet -- who later told me Eleanor was "nearly dead," gave my girl an IV for dehydration and sent me home with an antibiotic ((WS sulfa/tribrissan), pain/inflammation medication (Loxicom) and instruction to soak her feet in warm Epsom salt baths twice a day, apply a burn ointment (silver sulfadizine cream)and wrap the feet with gauze and Vet Wrap. Much off the dead tissue sloughed off, but Eleanor was still left with entire stiff, black toes on both feet.

At the last vet visit, Dr. Meyer cut off Eleanor's dead toes, leaving two healthy pink-skinned toes on each foot. I have had my girl indoors during her recovery and I won't put her back outside until winter weather recedes (we are looking at sub-zero temps tomorrow).

Recovery is taking much longer than I anticipated, but I am thankful that she is alive and able to walk fairly well. Best wishes for taking care of your girl!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

You and your vet have provided Eleanor with stellar care! IF severe frostbite is suspected within 24-48 hours of injury, a drug called pentoxifylline can be administered which will usually prevent permanent frostbite damage. Pentoxifylline improves vascular flow and prevents ensuing tissue damage. The med must be prescribed by a vet. Most don't realize severe frostbite has taken place in time to prevent severe injury, but I wanted to mention it for anyone who has access to a vet. Bravo on your care of Eleanor!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

By chance is the frosbite-injured toe/foot re-exposed to freezing temps before it has a chance to complete the autoputation process? I know your Montana winters are extreme, but I don't know of any reason why necrotic tissue would fail to autoamputate, unless it refroze before detaching, which makes the injury worse. Sincerely curious.

Some of them, yes, some of them no. But plenty of the successful birds I have are also exposed to below freezing weather as well each day and still were able to auto amputate woth very little blood. Leading suspects now for my failures is that it's either a bacterial frostbite or frostbite with gout. All I know is the ones that successfully auto amputate are almost always better off than the ones that don't

 

[JacinLarkwell]

If the toes auto amputated, they should be okay. I run into trouble when they don't, which results in the foot and later the leg dying off

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@ChickenFriedRice I'm sorry about your hen.
I suggest that you read the thread below, @Allsfairinloveandbugs was in a similar situation and the thread details treatment along with photos. You'll find a lot of helpful info there.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/

This documentation thread is still ongoing, there's useful information here too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite.1558605/