Some bleeding around the toe nail

[Tacswa3]

3 days ago I noticed a small amount of blood around the nail of one of my RIR. After some aggravation I was finally able to catch her and apply some Blu-kote. I did see another hen try and peck the blood.

Today I noticed some more bleeding. From what I can tell its the same wound and it may have opened up again. Appears to be where the nail meets the toe. (Right around the base)

All my reading (I'm a newbie) says blu-kote is good to use to prevent pecking and aid in healing. Now I just some posts where it shouldn't be used in food producing animals.

It is a real chore catching her to try and treat her. I don't know if she is causing the injury or others??

Any recommendations on what to use to seal this wound up before it gets worse? I really don't have the means to separate her at this point.

 

[Judy]

BluKote is widely used here despite that warning. I use it myself, although I haven't needed to often.

Do you perhaps have wire floors? If not, maybe she is re-injuring it in the course o ordinary foraging, and will need a few days of confinement.

 

[Tacswa3]

No, no wire floor(s). I'm probably not gonna be able to apply more blukote on her til Saturday when I have some help. She is hard to catch and once I catch her I need some hands to apply treatment. Problem is whats gonna happen to her from now til Saturday.....

 

[Judy]

Can you go in the coop after dark and sneak it onto her?

 

[Tacswa3]

Can you go in the coop after dark and sneak it onto her?

I doubt it, unless she is huddled in a nesting box like they have been lately. The coop is not a walk in and the roost bars are to far forward from the access door to reach being sneaky. However, after inspecting her toe today I didn't see any blood and things looked good. Hopefully will stay that way.

 

[Tacswa3]

I haven't seen any more fresh blood as of today, but she appears to be favoring the foot/leg. Only places it down to walk. While standing still, she holds it up close to under her belly. I can't see anything obvious, or I just don't know what I'm looking for??

 

[Eggcessive]

I had one that got her toenail caught in the chain link fence after hopping over it too may times. It came off after a few days, and it was quite painful for her. It got better without any treatment, however the nail did not grow back.

 

[Judy]

I'd just keep an eye on her, then. Look for signs of infection: redness, warmth or swelling. It may just still be sore and take a while longer to finish healing.