Hey guys. My chicks are still coming inside overnight (winter here and they've not been properly introduced to the rest of the flock yet). After I pulled my 11 week old RIR X NH Sophie out of the nesting box I noticed that my arm was wet. Thinking she'd pooed on me I lifted her up to find blood on my shirt and arm and one of her claws torn. 
It seems to be quite low, involving the entire claw and some of her toe as well and is bleeding slowly but freely.
I'm waiting for my husband to get home with the items from the chemist to treat it (and so he can hold her while I do it). I'll take a couple of photos if I can...in the meantime, I wanted to run through what I think I should do and see if there are any suggestions from you guys.
From the small amount of research I've done, I think what I should be doing is to sterilize a pair of nail scissors, snip off the claw (which is hanging on by a thread), clean the wound with an antiseptic (I have iodine) and wrap the wound with gauze or cotton and medical tape. I've asked him to inquire about an antibiotic ointment but they're a bit tricky to get over the counter in Australia where antibiotics are more tightly controlled.
My husband is treating this as though it is the end of the world and as though we must be the worst chicken keepers ever - but I told him that I'm pretty sure this is a fairly common occurrence.
Opinions? Suggestions? Ideas?
It seems to be quite low, involving the entire claw and some of her toe as well and is bleeding slowly but freely.
I'm waiting for my husband to get home with the items from the chemist to treat it (and so he can hold her while I do it). I'll take a couple of photos if I can...in the meantime, I wanted to run through what I think I should do and see if there are any suggestions from you guys.
From the small amount of research I've done, I think what I should be doing is to sterilize a pair of nail scissors, snip off the claw (which is hanging on by a thread), clean the wound with an antiseptic (I have iodine) and wrap the wound with gauze or cotton and medical tape. I've asked him to inquire about an antibiotic ointment but they're a bit tricky to get over the counter in Australia where antibiotics are more tightly controlled.
My husband is treating this as though it is the end of the world and as though we must be the worst chicken keepers ever - but I told him that I'm pretty sure this is a fairly common occurrence.
Opinions? Suggestions? Ideas?
