Peahen foot injury

[Littlebird6]

We have a one year old peahen who we noticed limping recently. I've gotten a closer look and it looks like her two outside toes were severed near the joint and her middle toe is partially cut through. We have no idea what happened. They are free range. Maybe she got caught in something or run over? She has been hopping around for a few weeks now I think. Her foot and leg are swollen. What can we do for her? My husband thinks it will be hard to catch her, but I think we can do it. I have the feeling that she wants me to help her.

On the bright side we hatched six peachick eggs in our incubator and they are doing well.

 

[zazouse]

sounds like she may have landed on some tin or sheet metal, my birds sometimes loose their toenails flying up on the metal carport especial when it is wet and they slip.

I would just keep an eye on her unless she goes down , is having trouble or you see flies landing on her foot, not alot you can do really. IMO if you clean it and turn her loose it will get dirty again only this time the good bacteria they need to heal will have been washed away leaving her prone to infection, also cleaning it if it is not infected can start her to bleeding again and i am sure she has lost enough blood already.
While peas are prone to all kinds of things internally i have found that they can heal from some pretty bad injuries.

This is just how i would treat her, other will may have a different opinion but mabe that will give you an idea how to proceed in your case

Keep us posted and some photos of the injury would be helpful also

 

[Littlebird6]

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate the advice. She seems to be getting through it but it looks painful. I feel like I should keep an eye on the swelling. I imagined maybe giving an antibiotic shot if it seemed infected. I guess I'll just keep an eye on it and try to take some pictures to share.

 

[zazouse]

Just in case i missed telling you

 

[zazouse]

Thanks for the reply! I appreciate the advice. She seems to be getting through it but it looks painful. I feel like I should keep an eye on the swelling. I imagined maybe giving an antibiotic shot if it seemed infected. I guess I'll just keep an eye on it and try to take some pictures to share.

You are welcome this is how we learn together here we do love our peas

If you decide to start her on antibiotics make sure you giver her more than one dose, depending on the severity of the infection will dictate how long she should be on them.
is the ground pretty dry at your place or have you had alot of rain?

 

[Littlebird6]

It's been maybe a little damp? I think her leg looks less swollen than yesterday, so that's good. Here are some pics:

 

[zazouse]

It looks like something sharp fell on her toes, i bet she was standing near something sharp and another pea may have been perched on it and it fell over landing on her toes.
I would say that middle toe is definitely broke, not much you can do after this much time has passed without expensive surgery if you could find an avian vet, but even then they might recommend amputation.

I was asking about dampness because wet ground and the heat of the summer can cause all kinda of bacteria to bloom.

 

[PeepsCA]

Ouch. That is one nasty ugly looking broken toe

Poor girl.
If that was my Hen I'd catch her and see if there's any way to brace/splint that toe straight, and then slather on some NuStock or plain Neosporin, and wrap the foot (weaving between the toes) with vet wrap for a couple/few weeks. If it hasn't already re-set and started to heal you still may be able to help it heal correctly.

 

[zazouse]

Peeps did you see where she posted the toe had been this way a few weeks? the only way to straighten it at this point would be to re-break it and set it, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks for a break in a small bone to heal and she is half way there

 

[PeepsCA]

Nope Zaz, I didn't see that part, I just saw where the OP said that the Hen had recently been limping (sorry sometime I just skim)...

But with me being an OCD "bird fixer" I'd still at least catch that Hen and see if it's set on it's own yet. Owies!