Ripped off claw nail - how to stop the bleeding???

[jeepgrrl]

Good day everyone! Although this medical emergency isn't as serious as other postings, I am still seeking advice. My 21-month old white leghorn, Gertie, decided to have her first medical emergency, today of all days, during the polar vortex (it's -6 degrees F, -31 degrees F with the wind chill here in N. Central Ohio). Luckily we were called off from work so I could be here to check on all my critters. I went out to the coop at 8 am to check on my girls and water and feed them, and that's when I found the fresh blood (it hadn't frozen yet). I immediately saw it was Gertie so I removed her from the coop and took her to the garage for triage. The tip of her left outer claw is gone but there is a little stump sticking out which I believe is the quick? I sprayed Vetericyn on it, applied a lot of septic powder as well as pressure using a sterile gauze pad, all several times over the course of an hour. Her toe looked like the bleeding had slowed, but then it would start up again, although not to the degree as when I first found her. I am keeping Gertie seperate from her sisters for the time being. I set up their old brooder with a deep layer of pine shavings in the garage, where its a balmy 20 degrees F. She has eaten 1/2 of a hard boiled egg, a little bit of scratch and her regular feed. I just now went to check on Gertie, and she was resting comfortably but her toe is still bleeding. Apparently what I've done for our dogs' toenail bleeds in the past isn't working for chickens. What else can I try? Would applying New Skin or Super Glue be safe to try? Or should I just let it be and keep Gertie separated until the bleeding ceases on its own? Any advice/input would be most welcome!

 

[Kris5902]

I’m surprised that it’s still bleeding... it sounds like you have done everything right. Do you have any pictures of the damage? When my girls nail broke I packed it with cornstarch which seemed to help, but it’s hard to apply pressure properly with the nail. I’m no expert though, and I’m sure you will get more better help soon!

 

[jeepgrrl]

I'll be doing another frozen water bowl check here in a few so I'll get a pic of Gertie's toe. She probably did this on purpose so she could come into the garage where it's "warm".

 

[Kris5902]

Good chance it stopped while you weren’t looking!

 

[rebrascora]

I had one break a nail right off in summer. I became aware because there was blood everywhere and it was quite scary how much. It was one of my exchequer leghorns and they are very flighty so I wasn't able to catch her and despite the apparent large amount of blood loss, she healed fine with no attention from me. In the cold weather I would have expected the blood to stop sooner than in warmer summer weather conditions with mine. How much is it bleeding? You may want to give her some meat or liver or spinach to help replace the iron lost.

 

[jeepgrrl]

Ok, got some pics...

This is to give an idea of how much blood volume was lost since 8am this morning. It looks worse than it is.

Comparison of good toe vs injured toe.

Another comparison.

Close up of injured toe. I don't know why it's black compared to Gertie's other good toe.
This last check it seems that the blood is lessing. I placed Gertie on top of a block of pine shavings to take the pics and the blood that she left behind looked a little watery compared to bright red from before. Gertie seems to be fine, otherwise - eating, drinking, big poops with white urea cap.

 

[jeepgrrl]

Good chance it stopped while you weren’t looking!

I added some pics

 

[jeepgrrl]

I had one break a nail right off in summer. I became aware because there was blood everywhere and it was quite scary how much. It was one of my exchequer leghorns and they are very flighty so I wasn't able to catch her and despite the apparent large amount of blood loss, she healed fine with no attention from me. In the cold weather I would have expected the blood to stop sooner than in warmer summer weather conditions with mine. How much is it bleeding? You may want to give her some meat or liver or spinach to help replace the iron lost.

Hi Rebrascora, nice to hear from you again - you helped me out last August with Chipper, my (now deceased) Welsummer who was internally laying (thank you again for that). Anyway, this doesn't seem too serious; it's good to know your hen recovered without any human intervention. My main concerns are: 1) infection (pain), and 2) alienation from her sisters. Do you think I should put anything on it, i.e., neosporin? Bluekote instead of the vetericyn? New skin? Or just leave it?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Cornstarch or quickstop (for dogs nails). In my experience keeping them from walking around until the blood clots. They can break it back open for a couple of days. I cut my roosters toe with clippers pretty good (worse than yours). I ended up keeping him penned in a small area during the day. It broke open for about 4 days. I tried bandaging the toe...was a stupid choice. Eventually I just let it be and it healed up nicely on its own. Best wishes

 

[MissChick@dee]

New skin does not come off on its own you have to remove it. I would Not use it as you’ll pull uh....the new skin off when you pull the bandage off. It’s seriously adhesive...think it all the way through.