Pullet losing nails

[CrockChickens9]

Hello!
My 21 week light Brahma pullet lost a nail on her middle toe about a month ago. I had gone in to clean and noticed a bit of blood on their platform. I inspected them and found her toe nail missing but it was no longer bleeding and I did nothing since I did not want to disrupt a scab or anything. She healed up fine. I looked around and saw some people mention similar experiences (some specifically with a Brahma) but no one had a definitive answer as to why. Well I went in today and the toe to right is now missing a nail too. A little blood at the area that is dried but none in the run or coop I could find. Any idea what’s going on? Thanks in advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like frostbite damage. Has it been cold? Bigger breeds need wider roots so they can cover their toes more efficiently at night. I've had chickens lose the tips of their toes. They do okay.

 

[CombNWattles]

Perhaps they are catching on something and breaking.

 

[CrockChickens9]

Looks like frostbite damage. Has it been cold? Bigger breeds need wider roots so they can cover their toes more efficiently at night. I've had chickens lose the tips of their toes. They do okay.

It has been. I’m in New England and we had a cold stretch a week ago in single digits for 3 or so days. Maybe I missed the signs of it being frost bit and then it fell off and bled today? So that’s not just the nail then? She is walking fine is there anything I should do for it? I actually had thought about switching out the roost from a 2x3 to a 2x4 at the start of winter (this is my first winter with chickens) for that very reason but when I saw them roosting their feet seemed covered so I put it on the back burner. I do have the 2x4 purchased so I’ll switch that out tomorrow. Darn, wish I had gone with my gut. Thanks for your help!

 

[CrockChickens9]

Perhaps they are catching on something and breaking.

I looked everywhere and saw nothing she could be catching on that was my thought at first as well.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It has been. I’m in New England and we had a cold stretch a week ago in single digits for 3 or so days. Maybe I missed the signs of it being frost bit and then it fell off and bled today? So that’s not just the nail then? She is walking fine is there anything I should do for it? I actually had thought about switching out the roost from a 2x3 to a 2x4 at the start of winter (this is my first winter with chickens) for that very reason but when I saw them roosting their feet seemed covered so I put it on the back burner. I do have the 2x4 purchased so I’ll switch that out tomorrow. Darn, wish I had gone with my gut. Thanks for your help!

Generally it take a few weeks for the ends of the toes to fall off due to frostbite. Were you colder at around Christmas or the new year? I personally have never messed with frost bitten tissue. If you want you can spray the end with a wound spray.

 

[chickachicka12345]

do you have chicken/hard ware wire? could they be catching on that?

 

[CrockChickens9]

do you have chicken/hard ware wire? could they be catching on that?

No, the only hardware cloth we have is covered by plastic sheeting right now for winter. Except for about 1.5 feet at the top but they don’t get close to that. I’m thinking it may be frost bite so I widened the roost. We will see if we keep having problems. I do have ventilation that I think is enough!

 

[chickachicka12345]

No, the only hardware cloth we have is covered by plastic sheeting right now for winter. Except for about 1.5 feet at the top but they don’t get close to that. I’m thinking it may be frost bite so I widened the roost. We will see if we keep having problems. I do have ventilation that I think is enough!

yes. it could have deffinetly been frostbite