Hen broke a toe

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Happy
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Hen broke a toe

Post by Happy » Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:15 am

Pretty sure I've got an old girl with a broken middle toe. Noticed her not feeling well yesterday morning and after checking her over I realized she had a knarly looking toe that I hadn't noticed before. She limps a bit, doesn't want to move around much and holds her foot up a fair bit. It seems swollen but not hot to touch. She seems in pain as she's not eating with her normal gusto. Aside from confining and aspirin in her water anything else I should do? Would wrapping it help or hurt? Foot soak? She's my head, bossy hen so it's very odd to see her like this.
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Killerbunny
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Killerbunny » Mon Oct 16, 2017 10:57 am

A couple of my girls got busted up and dislocated toes when we were hit by a dog couple of years ago. I just gave them baby aspirin, made sure they were eating and they healed well. One girls toes stayed dislocated but she can roost no problem, the other girl just has a slightly odd looking middle toe. I am watching for any signs of arthritis or pain though. If it heals funny make sure you keep her toenails trimmed so she can use her foot OK.
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Ontario Chick
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Ontario Chick » Mon Oct 16, 2017 11:30 am

Arthritis was my first thought if it's an older girl, quite common.
All good points by KB
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windwalkingwolf
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by windwalkingwolf » Mon Oct 16, 2017 1:33 pm

Confining her/limiting how much she can walk on it is helpful. If you can't cage her, splint her foot. It will still heal if she's free ranging, but it will take longer, hurt more, and is more likely to heal bent. Bent toes change their balance and can cause problems in other joints later on.
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Happy
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Happy » Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:21 pm

Thanks ladies. She's making one heck of a fuss tonight. I have a built in pen in the coop so she's been in there just not impressed. I came home tonight to Little pouring blood out of a toenail she ripped off. Arrggg. I haven't changed anything so not sure what's going on out there.
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Jaye
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Jaye » Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:59 am

How is she doing this morning?
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Happy
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Happy » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:25 am

She was getting out of that cage this morning no matter what lol. I figure if she can be that feisty she's fine in the general population. Still limping a bit but moving around more. I haven't had time to give her a good long foot soak and have a look but that toes is definitely crooked and wasn't before. Of course all of this happens right when I start back to work AND start preparing food for hubby's hunting trips. Little is miserable this morning. It seems the outer nail casing is gone and the soft inner nerve part is exposed. I got the bleeding stopped last night with cornstarch but it obviously hurts and she has no desire to go outside. I also have Miss Kitty my "chicken" chicken half naked from molt and getting picked on so she's now in her apartment (2nd cage) dust bathing in a kitty litter pan and happy as a pig in poop. And another old girl feeling very under the weather with molt. I'm watching her crop because it's moving VERY slowly and feeling a bit spongy. This happens to her every year during molt and her crop goes sour if I don't catch it soon enough. Best thing I ever did in that coop was make some built in cages. At the rate I'm going it may be easier to cage the healthy ones and let the gimps have the pen!
Thanks for asking @Jaye
Hopefully things calm down for them all soon.
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Jaye
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Jaye » Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:48 am

Sometimes it seems like there's never a dull moment with chickens, doesn't it? Good idea that you came up with to have your "infirmary" housing situated within your coop - makes for much more seamless re-entry into the flock.
I'm glad your bossy hen is showing signs of recovery. Her toe may not heal straight, but she should still be able to get around with it. My Silkie has a full bum leg, twisted inward with gnarly crooked toes (happened before she became part of my flock) and she still gets around just fine. Flings dirt and mulch around with as much gusto as the others when it comes to foraging.
Poor Little. Hope her nail heals up soon.
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Killerbunny
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Killerbunny » Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:10 pm

Re Little There is a spray on bandage by Nexcare that will help seal it up. Hurts like blazes when you put it on but it may help.
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:iheartpto:
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
:turkey:

:bat:

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Happy
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Re: Hen broke a toe

Post by Happy » Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:11 pm

Thanks @Killerbunny for that idea. May see if I can grab that. They got 1/2 hour out in the yard tonight when I got home and she did go out for a bit. I threw my slow crop girl into a pen tonight so I can see what poops coming through and keep her away from food. Her crop is huge tonight but it feels full of food. About 1000 feathers fell out of her as I relocated her lol. Will see what things look like in the morning.
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