URGENT! MY CHICKEN'S FEET HAVE BEEN BITTEN OFF!

[hoojib88]

I'm brand new to chickens and last night like dummies they slept in the nesting box which is open to predators and my two lavender orpingtons got their toes chewed off by some hungry animal... I'm really sad and worried that Princess fluff is going to have a really hard time now she all the toes from one foot are gone and the middle toe of the other gone. Petunia just lost her middle digit. My fiance cleaned their feet with water peroxide and neosporin other than that I have no idea what to do?! They must be in sooo much pain! Their little faces are white instead of their deep red hue. :'(

PLEASE HELP! How can I make them feel better? Should I wrap their feet in gauze or something? I think all I have are bandaids....



Thanks! and these are still babies they're only 3 months old...

 

[Judy]

Poor birds! You can give aspirin for pain. Dosage is approximately 25 mg per pound of chicken's body weight each day (A standard baby Aspirin is 80 mg, and a standard adult Aspirin pill is 325 mg). Warning: aspirin thins the blood and should not be used if internal bleeding is suspected or in cases where a wound will not stop bleeding.

Rats are the most likely culprit. Many people use traps but I never had much luck with anything but poison. If you use a bromadiolone product, the chickens are much less likely to get sick from eating a dead rat or mouse who has been poisoned. It domes in several brands. Of course you must place the rat poison out in a manner that they chickens can't reach. One brand at least is sold with a container that does this.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/57525/rats-rats-and-more-rats/20_20#post_606272

 

[hoojib88]

Thank you! I have a feeling it was a feral cat from my neighborhood. Our nesting box is an open slatted bottom and their little baby toes hang down from the nesting box. We cleaned their feet and used a septic pen to stop bleeding and new skin. When I put them all back into the run they started chowing down on food and their yogurt breakfast. That made me really happy! So no free ranging for a while till they heal and are strong.