possible toe amputation needed?

[dfchaser]

I have a silkie chick hatched this spring. When she hatched her toes were curled, i tried to straighten them with splints and nothing worked. I figured maybe its just a bone deformity. Well i was expecting there to be some problems with the toe since one on both feet curls under her foot pad, so she is basically walking on her crunched toe. Well we forgot to take into account that she would have feathers there and now she is getting a huge number of ingrown feathers which is causing the toe to fill with puss. We cleaned up both feet last night removed what junk we could and put penicillin right into the cut and wrapped her foot. I know that this will be a constant battle, I also know that culling is an option (would like to use as a last resort) Do you think that removing the toe would be the best idea or if will the feathers eventually stop growing if we keep plucking them? I will try and get pictures tonight.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Did the splits do any good at all? Meaning, did her toes remain straight while the splints were in place? I think that i (having no experience with this, mind you) would consider a permanent splint - or even breaking the toe to let it heal in the proper position - before i would consider amputating the toe.

Again, i have no experience with this. Those are just my thoughts, and i'm hoping someone here will give a better answer.

 

[dfchaser]

the splints did not help, her toes just does not bend that way.