Need help please! My chickens toe is swollen and broken?

[Kristen D]

Can somebody please help me. I noticed one of my black australorp chicks was acting odd, and not being as active. I picked the little guy up and noticed his toe is broken? Definitely swollen and painful. I need advice until I can get the little guy seen by someone.

 

[azygous]

Have you examined the top and bottom of the foot for cuts, splinters or blisters or scabs?

What makes you think the talon is broken? Can you see or feel a break under the skin? Is the bone protruding anywhere?

Look at the scales. Are any swollen and lifting away from the toe?

I'm guessing there's a superficial injury to the scales or foot pad.

Try soaking the foot in warm Epsom salts. Then look for any foreign body trying to work its way out. Use a magnifying glass if you have one. If you can see it, tweeze it out and treat the puncture with Blue-kote or antibiotic ointment.

Next time you want to post a photo for purposes of diagnosis, use the full size option when adding the file to your post.

 

[Kristen D]

Have you examined the top and bottom of the foot for cuts, splinters or blisters or scabs?

What makes you think the talon is broken? Can you see or feel a break under the skin? Is the bone protruding anywhere?

Look at the scales. Are any swollen and lifting away from the toe?

I'm guessing there's a superficial injury to the scales or foot pad.

Try soaking the foot in warm Epsom salts. Then look for any foreign body trying to work its way out. Use a magnifying glass if you have one. If you can see it, tweeze it out and treat the puncture with Blue-kote or antibiotic ointment.

Next time you want to post a photo for purposes of diagnosis, use the full size option when adding the file to your post.

Thanks so much. I did click full size photo, I do for every photo. I'm not quite sure what happened. I left a message, so hopefully we can get it looked at tomorrow.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

looks to me like the toenail got hung up on something and ripped from the nail bed. My eyes arent the best...

 

[azygous]

looks to me like the toenail got hung up on something and ripped from the nail bed. My eyes arent the best...

I noticed that, too, but my eyes have so many issues, I gave up.

The swelling indicates possible infection. There's no blackening of the toe yet, but that's also hard to discern in the small format.

I'd do the Epsom soaks maybe twice a day, and keep an antibiotic ointment on it. If it's infected, this chick may lose that toe.

 

[Kristen D]

looks to me like the toenail got hung up on something and ripped from the nail bed. My eyes arent the best...

I think you might be right. Is all healed now. My Amish neighbors helped me fix him up

 

[Kristen D]

I noticed that, too, but my eyes have so many issues, I gave up.

The swelling indicates possible infection. There's no blackening of the toe yet, but that's also hard to discern in the small format.

I'd do the Epsom soaks maybe twice a day, and keep an antibiotic ointment on it. If it's infected, this chick may lose that toe.

Thanks, I agree. I was very freaked out. My neighbors took the toenail off and I've been treating the toe with warm water and essential oils. It took soaking it 3-5x a day, but it's completely healed now.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

good to hear !

 

[azygous]

Great to hear! You probably prevented that chick from losing its toe.

 

[Kristen D]

good to hear !

Thanks! I agree the poor chick could have very well lost their toe. Poor thing. I can't believe how fast the little guy bounced back and healed