New chick with "dead" damaged toe. Need advice!

[The Yardbird Life]

It's happening!
First pic is this mornings' check-up. 2nd pic is just now upon my return from buying some more coop supplies and food. When I came in to check on the ladies, poor girl was solo in a corner kind of hunkered down and then some of her coopmates came over and were pecking at her toe quite aggressively and that's when I noticed the small injury. I hadn't really noticed any others pecking at her dead stick in the past so they either decided ti go after it finally or it broke off on its own. The wound doesn't look bad at all. In fact it looks to me that a natural, normal closure and healing will give her a perfect thumb, albeit on the wrong side of her hand!

I'm going to do some wound clean up and treatment and then see if I can use just a tiny patch of skin colored flex wrap to cover it in between inspections and cleanings.

EDIT: I think I'll dab some Betadine on it first and I have some Hen Healer Ointment to place on it before a wrap. Anyone ever use Naylor's Blu-Kote spray. I bought some thinking it was Poultry related. It's gnarly purple spray! Any thoughts on it

EDIT AGAIN! I'm not using Blu Kote. I just saw a couple threads after a search here and it sounds like a bad dream! Think I'll return it to Tractor Supply where I bought it unless someone has some useful suggestions on when it's use might be acceptable?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's happening!
First pic is this mornings' check-up. 2nd pic is just now upon my return from buying some more coop supplies and food. When I came in to check on the ladies, poor girl was solo in a corner kind of hunkered down and then some of her coopmates came over and were pecking at her toe quite aggressively and that's when I noticed the small injury. I hadn't really noticed any others pecking at her dead stick in the past so they either decided ti go after it finally or it broke off on its own. The wound doesn't look bad at all. In fact it looks to me that a natural, normal closure and healing will give her a perfect thumb, albeit on the wrong side of her hand!

I'm going to do some wound clean up and treatment and then see if I can use just a tiny patch of skin colored flex wrap to cover it in between inspections and cleanings.

EDIT: I think I'll dab some Betadine on it first and I have some Hen Healer Ointment to place on it before a wrap. Anyone ever use Naylor's Blu-Kote spray. I bought some thinking it was Poultry related. It's gnarly purple spray! Any thoughts on it

EDIT AGAIN! I'm not using Blu Kote. I just saw a couple threads after a search here and it sounds like a bad dream! Think I'll return it to Tractor Supply where I bought it unless someone has some useful suggestions on when it's use might be acceptable?

I think it looks good!

Your plan sounds fine to me.

Blu Kote...it does have it's uses, but it stains really bad. And of course it makes it hard to evaluate a wound if it's large. Taking it back may be a good idea. And no!!! don't every spray it, my word you'll end up with purple everywhere (believe me). If you do use it, dip a qtip or use a cotton ball to get some out. But the product can be a good antiseptic and antifungal.

 

[Eggcessive]

I prefer Betadine for wounds.

 

[The Yardbird Life]

........And no!!! don't every spray it, my word you'll end up with purple everywhere (believe me).

Too late!
Popped the cap off and with chick in one hand, test sprayed it since it was brand new. It all ended up in a white porcelain bathroom sink that I had just had a lot of water in. Yeah! That's sure purple! I saw the immediate result and threw chicky back in the brooder and went to quick scrubbing. Fortunately, I got it all cleaned up just in time.

I'll keep it 'just in case' with the consideration of using a Q-tip with it next time.

It's gonna be hard to keep that wound covered so I'm thinking maybe just a dot of BluKote right on the wound. My concern is it'll be a obvious target for all the little peckers to hit as she walks around.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Too late!
Popped the cap off and with chick in one hand, test sprayed it since it was brand new. It all ended up in a white porcelain bathroom sink that I had just had a lot of water in. Yeah! That's sure purple! I saw the immediate result and threw chicky back in the brooder and went to quick scrubbing. Fortunately, I got it all cleaned up just in time.

I'll keep it 'just in case' with the consideration of using a Q-tip with it next time.

It's gonna be hard to keep that wound covered so I'm thinking maybe just a dot of BluKote right on the wound. My concern is it'll be a obvious target for all the little peckers to hit as she walks around.

Oh No!

Just a tip, alcohol or an alcohol based hand sanitizer will *help* removed some of the purple staining (on skin).
Glad you were able to get the purple off the sink!

A tiny toe like that would be hard to wrap, but hopefully the others will leave it alone once its scabbed over. Chickens are a curious bunch that's for sure.

 

[The Yardbird Life]

Today's check-up shows little to no change. It's not worse, at least, but I did notice the other chicks are really giving her some grief. Last night she was off in a corner huddled up. As expected, they're pecking at the red dot they see and have her in a corner. Last night and today, I caught her up on a new perch I have provided for them to learn on. That's the best means for her to keep her toe covered up as she settles down and rests.

First pic is today's pre-treat. 2nd is a drop of BluKote. I can't keep it covered, obviously. I figured the properties of B-K would be useful since I can't be there every hour to clean and treat. Gave her a good swab with Chlorhexidine and followed up with B-K.

I welcome any other advice on potential treatment methods or ideas.

She's not happy, maybe because of the treatment they're giving her or possibly pain involved? Not sure what else I can do but I may sequester her with fence in the brooder to keep the little peckers at arms reach for a while.

 

[azygous]

You've observed that the other chicks are attracted to the red tissue now exposed since the dead toe fell away. I find Blu-kote useful as a camouflage since blue is a neutral color to chickens. Dab some with a Q-tip each morning and when the Blu-kote is wearing off. It will heal soon, and all will be well.

You're giving her excellent supportive care. Next time someone here has a chicken with a dead toe, you will be able to help them now.

 

[The Yardbird Life]

Thanks azygous!
I was hoping the purple would help but the others are really giving her grief and pecking at the tip of her toe. The poor Little was huddled in a corner to keep them away from her toe. I think she has some pain from it as she favors it and sometimes holds it up. After watching the ongoing show, I decided to separate her from the others but didn't want to remove her from her flock so the closest she'll get to a Meat Smoker will be the grates from mine that I used to construct an apartment for her. Tonight, I turned her back in with the others since they're good about their roosting routine already and nobody is up and about. I'll move here out in the morning if I see the behavior.

 

[Wynter Willow]

Greetings folks,
Got home with some new pullets from TSC to build our small backyard flock after 10 years of no chickens. Upon first letting them loose in the brooder box, we noticed this one Speckled Sussex had a badly damaged toe on her right foot. We'll call it the pinky toe. It was probably smashed/squeezed in shipment when it was real tiny and it appear the tissue has all gone necrotic leaving just a boney protrusion. They wouldn't take the bird back but they gave us another in case this goes bad.

Currently, the bird is acting absolutely normal, keeping up and acting just like her 3 siblings and 3 Barred Rocks. She's eating, drinking water, as well as water w/electrolytes and probiotics. Currently eating Purina Medicated Starter.

I'm assuming amputation of the boney segment with be necessary. This is new to me but I'd like to take care of this while the foot is still developing and hopefully prevent further necrosis to the remaining tissue. Anyone care to chime in on how to best approach this and carry out the procedure?

My thoughts would be to prep the site with Chlorhexidine. Make the amputation at a joint if I'm able to identify one, use styptic powder to control bleeding, and apply an antibiotic ointment, and get it protected with a small swatch of vet tape that I can frequently change.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on the process and please correct my thoughts on the method! I'm not certain how I can keep this little peep still during the process. Please chime in! I can add more photos if neccesary.

Thanks in advance!

How is the toe doing? Did it fall off on its own?

 

[The Yardbird Life]

How is the toe doing? Did it fall off on its own?

If you roll back a few posts, you'll catch a play by play on what transpired. Not sure what caused the actualy dissection but now we're dealing with it.