My hen lost half of her toe..... **UPDATED AGAIN**

[LindsayB]

This afternoon after we got home from eating dinner I went out to the coop to make sure our hens had plenty of food. When I opened it our white rock hen was sitting there next to the door with a very bloody foot. I picked her up and brought her in the house and my husband and I discovered that her toe was hanging on by a scale...Apparently her foot had got caught in the door earlier today when I went to collect eggs. I feel absolutely horrible! : ( We cut the rest of the toe off, poured peroxide over the whole foot, and I dabbed alittle iodine used for surgeries just on the tip where the toe was severed. Then I covered the end of the toe with neosporin and gauze and wrapped it up over the leg with a self adhesive bandage. Shes walking just fine on it, and eating and drinking great! We have her in a dog kennel right now to keep her calm. If there is anything else ya'll can think of for me to do to help her please let me know. I feel so bad about this!!!

here are 2 pictures of her and her toe bandaged up...(she also ate some yogurt so it cant be hurting her that bad! lol)

 

[LindsayB]

ANYONE?

 

[chickenhick]

While I have never had to deal with this bad of an injury, I think you have done fine so far. I would not, however, use any more peroxide on it, as this has been known to irritate healing tissues. People on here use alot of Betadine....also, neosporin without pain killer is good. I think maybe she should have some antibiotics in her water, too. Keeping her isolated for a while will keep others from bothering her......that's all I know. I think she will probably be fine if you can keep it CLEAN and keep infection away. Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[chickygirl2]

Chickenhick had good advice. She will be ok. I had a hen that lost all toes on 1 foot from a racoon attack. She does just fine with the stumps that are left. Keep the area clean and maybe give her some penicillin. I use injectable [for 1 week] from S. States. I would put her on some fresh shavings or keep the area bandaged and not wet.

 

[waibel zoo]

Accidents happen.

I would not use peroxide either. It burns and destroys good cells too. A antibiotic in the water and separation are going to make her a good start. Also a lot of treats won't hurt either.

 

[BarkerChickens]

We have a chick who lost half its toe. We cleaned it regularly with betadine, put neosporin on it and kept it covered. Because the foot can be exposed to lots of bacteria, we put him on a broad-spectrum antibiotic (in the water). His toe is completely healed over fine and he doesn't seem to have any problems with it now. It seems like you are doing the right thing. Just use very little (diluted) peroxide if any. Peroxide destroys healthy tissue and can inhibit proper healing. Sorry that happened to your hen.

 

[LindsayB]

where can you get antibiotics to put in their water from?

 

[Attack Chicken]

Accidents do happen. She looks like she will be fine though. BTW she is a very pretty girl.

 

[sammi]

just keep a close eye on the toe for infection..(swelling, heat, etc)

antibiotics are available at most farm/feed supply stores..
you'd need something to treat staph..
not one for respiratory illness.

I wouldn't give antibiotic unless it looks infected...just continue with the diluted betadine, and ointment.

 

[tellynpeep]

Nice bandage job!!

I bet she will be fine with continued topical treatment and cleaning. You can use antibiotics if it swells.