SEVERELY Frostbitten Toes - Update **Graphic Pictures**

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
Unfortunately, they don't recognize oatmeal as food, maybe I'll try sprinkling some crumbles on oatmeal tomorrow. We did worm them with ivermectin today and switched them over to electrolytes. The one with the worst frostbite has all kinds of lice eggs stuck to her feathers under her neck, so we'll have to cross that bridge a bit later.

The vet didn't seem to think they needed pain medication and I can't handle another vet bill, so we've decided to leave it at electrolytes. Their feet (while still looking horribly nasty) are looking better. There is a bit of pink flesh and the swelling has gone done drastically. They are getting more active too and are ravenous. Their poops are looking normal and healthy, never knew I would spend so much of my time looking at chicken crap.

Hopefully all good signs. Once again, thanks for all the wonderful advice!

 

[azygous]

This discussion has shed more light on this issue of frost bite than what I've been able to glean previously from searches and other frost bite threads.

I admire your willingness to rescue these poor little guys and give them such personalized care. It has to be awfully hard watching them try to survive the pain and disability. I'm sure what you're doing, though, will enable them to heal, and they'll end up surprising you with their durability and resiliency.

I've seen photos of badly frostbit chicken feet, and it brings tears to my eyes imagining how painful it must be. This is why I want to learn what conditions cause their feet to freeze. Wild birds don't seem to have this problem, do they?

I understand about combs being highly susceptible, and wattles freezing if they get dunked in a deep water dish, but how on earth do their feet end up freezing?

Keep up the good work, don't get discouraged, they'll pull through before you know it. However, one of the things I've read in my searches is that they'll be way more susceptible to frost bite from now on. I guess you'll just have to subject them to a life of pampering and privilege.

 

[hen-thusiast]

So the two pullets with frostbite are still hanging strong. The one with the newer frostbite started panting, so we added aspirin to her water. It's definitely helping her. Unfortunately, her frostbite has turned out to be worse. It looks like she will lose all of her foot as you can tell by the following pictures.

These pictures are actually 100% improvement from when we first got them. The swelling has gone down and remaining live tissue is regaining color. Before color was grayish, now live tissue is turning pink and yellow again. The purplish tissue has now/or is the progress of turning black.

They are being kept in a rabbit cage with pine shavings. Third bird is kept in dog crate next to them. If they get a clean bill of health from their quarantine (it's been almost a week and they still appear to be healthy) they will most likely live inside until the spring. Any suggestions on how to wrap the stump on the one are appreciated. I've had lots of mild frostbite over the years and understand how much frostbite sensitivity can hurt, even years later. That will be something we will factor in to their upkeep.

**The following pictures are graphic**

Pullet with older frostbite. She's actually been cruising around a good bit. Yes that is one of her nails just kind of dangling there.

Pullet with newer and obviously worse frostbite. She'll put weight on it when she walks, but is in discomfort when she does so.

 

[Luke0987654321]

ohhh dear
poor thing
i hope she gets well soon!!!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Those lucky girls are very happy to have you. Even though painful looking, the feet look like they are healing for all the damage done and I think you are doing a fabulous job.

Vet wrap would be good to help wrap the foot – it will not stick to her leg but will conform and can be cut off easily. Also maybe if her foot becomes a peg leg, those rubber finger tips (sometimes used to count money) might fit her and offer a bit of protection. Or maybe a disc of memory foam.

 

[strawberryfields]

I agree! Those girls are sooooooooo LUCKY you found them!

This has been an extremely beneficial post for me since I have a rooster at the moment who lost blood circulation to one leg. The information is great

! I really, really appreciate it!

Poor babies! Good for them you found them

 

[Terri O]

I really like the idea of a disc of memory foam. Maybe you could put that inside the thumb of a glove and vetwrap the top so it stays on? Maybe it would fit in one of those rubber thingies like the OP said...how about the thumb of a rubber glove? (they even come in yellow!)
I never made anything for Charlie to wear on his stumps--yes he lost both his feet and most of his lower legs. He did fine for 3 years and just died from complications from an infection this afternoon. (RIP Charlie) I am sure with your great care you will have some nice pets for a long time! Terri O in WI

 

[hen-thusiast]

Thanks for the great suggestions about wrapping her stump! I might be back on here asking more questions when we get to that point, but this is a great starting point.

Terrie - once again I'm sorry about Charlie's passing, I was really pulling for him.

 

[ginbart]

I don’t mean to turn this around but can you tell me what happened to the people you got these chickens from? Do they have any more animals? Boy I hope not, as far as I’m concerned this is crudity to animals and they should be charged with something. Or it could be they didn't know any better, some people just don't realize.


Please everyone. I asked the question so don’t start a war here with everyone complaining and saying this should be done to them or that should be done to them. We have enough of those threads on there. I’m just hoping they don’t have any more pets. Because that’s a sad thing that happened and could have been avoided. Remember I said PLEASE.

 

[ChickenladyinMN]

Quote:
When my rooster got to the point yours is in in the picture we used a vitamin E cream then wrapped with non stick gauze, then regular gauze and then vet wrap to keep it all in place and when they step in their poo it won't get into the wounds. One of my roo's lost both his feet a little higher up than yours and the second one just lost the toes. Several of my hens have lost the tips of their toes but I'm not sure if it was due to frost bite. After the dead parts fell off the roo's and they were completely healed they had no problems getting around, they adapted quite well. It also seemed to mellow them out.