Frostbite and Green Feet

[mel88lem]

One of my hens has developed severe frostbite on both feet and I need reassurance that what I've done and am doing is good. Advice would help, too!

She was donated to us by the humane society and the flock rejected her more than any other new bird we've taken. After several weeks I thought she was part of the flock, but the others were not letting her inside the henhouse at night, so she was out in the coop. There are roosting bars in the coop, but she was not using them. We found her one morning with severe frostbite and not able to walk well. I know she will lose some toes, but I'm willing to try rehabbing her.

She is now being housed inside (65 degrees), a small crate she can stand and turn around in, but with food and water within reach, a clean towel under her (charged twice a day), and she's receiving aspirin in her water for discomfort.

After a slow thaw at room temp, she revived and perked up a lot, is eating and drinking well, and seeming normal.

Her feet are done with the swelling blistering that indicates healthy tissue underneath, and some areas are definitely blackened and dead. I worry about infection with the necrotic tissue, and her feet underneath are turning green. We are currently at day 5.

These photos are of her left foot, which has a few scabby areas on top where blisters formed in the first days.

Yesterday she began favoring this foot and lifting the other foot. We started epsom baths today when infection became my fear and I could not find much help on gangrene or non-bumblefoot infection. I decided to open the foot up in case it was gangrenous. The next photo shows where I did cut along the bottom of her foot in a swollen, green area, but I found no sign of infection. The cut oozed blood slowly but no pus or liquid, and digging/scraping did not reveal any of the cheese-like infection I have read about. Both feet are warm, and maybe legs a little, too, but legs are healthy yellow, not swollen.

I was diligent with veterycin spray throughout the procedure, and used blood stop because it was still seeping several minutes after I was done. I used a small gauze and sport wrap to put pressure on it. I think I'll take that off in the morning to let it dry and heal.

I also scraped off a small piece of dry-looking flesh on the side of one toe to assess the tissue, as it did not look healthy. The tissue underneath did not bleed or even seep much at all, and seemed more like what I figure dying tissue would be like. Dryer? Harder? It was red-brown, but not fresh-looking, if that makes sense. The picture is not very good, I'm afraid. I slathered that liberally with antibiotic ointment and left it as is. Should I be concerned about her pecking it? I have Blukote I could put on...

And lastly, she has been seen pecking at one toe which is mainly dead. It is the "thumb" of the foot I made the cut on, and you can see that the tip is blackened. I'm not sure what she's doing, but I've seen it a few times. There doesn't appear to be a toenail there anymore, just a black nub. Should I be worried?

I would have told you earlier today and yesterday that there was a bad smell, but once I had her cleaned up and on her back for surgery, I'm not sure anymore. We have tried to keep her clean, but she sleeps squatting on the towel and today was the first time she really got a good bath, so her backside had been a bit dirty. The feet didn't actually seem to smell.

I'm basically looking for reassurance, advice, tips, concerns, etc. Please tell me what I'm doing right, wrong, and what I could do better. Is the green just bruising? How do I know if she gets infected? I'm new to the severe frostbite on the feet experience! I can't tell you how many answers I've gotten from BYC for all my chicken woes over the years, so thanks in advance, everyone!

 

[mel88lem]

I will add that after her procedure, she was rewarded with some aspirin laced milk kefir (with clean water, not medicated) and thoroughly enjoyed it. She looks like she might sleep standing up tonight, not squatting down like she'd done earlier this evening.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I've got no experience with this sort of emergency/injury but I think you're doing GREAT! Maybe if you were to wrap her feet so she don't peck at it, changing bandages day or tow? You could put antibiotic (Neosporin without the pain killer) on gauze, wrap with Vet Wrap ... She'll peck but won't disturb the healing. If she doesn't want to stand to sleep, put her in a Sling (cutting holes for her feet & pooping).
Waiting to see what the experienced have to say ....
Glad you joined us, sorry it's under this circumstance ...

 

[mel88lem]

Any advice out there?

 

[BantyChooks]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-poultry.73349/
I've dealt with it a few times. They do take on rather a greenish hue.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think you are doing a good job. I would not open any more of her tissue. Typically with severe frostbite, the black shriveled toes will fall off on their own in a few weeks. Since she has some good and bad areas, I would continue the Epsom salts soaks daily. Then apply either some betadine, vetericyn, or the plain neosporin ointment. I would not bandage or use vet wrap, just so there is no problem with circulation. For a good article, Google “frostbite in chickens,” and look for TheChickenChick’s article. This time of year, it is important to do a check to make sure all get inside during the extreme cold weather at night. Prevent water spills where they can get feet wet, and then they freeze. She looks like she may do okay after she heals. Green skin is usually from bruising, but in this case, it could be from the frost damage. Usually there will be a swollen area where the healthy skin starts, just above the shriveled area. Bleeding from the cut signifies that the tissue is healthy underneath.

 

[mel88lem]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-poultry.73349/
I've dealt with it a few times. They do take on rather a greenish hue.

I hadn't seen the green mentioned in any other frostbite posts. Thanks!

 

[BantyChooks]

I think you are doing a good job. I would not open any more of her tissue. Typically with severe frostbite, the black shriveled toes will fall off on their own in a few weeks. Since she has some good and bad areas, I would continue the Epsom salts soaks daily. Then apply either some betadine, vetericyn, or the plain neosporin ointment. I would not bandage or use vet wrap, just so there is no problem with circulation. For a good article, Google “frostbite in chickens,” and look for TheChickenChick’s article. This time of year, it is important to do a check to make sure all get inside during the extreme cold weather at night. Prevent water spills where they can get feet wet, and then they freeze. She looks like she may do okay after she heals. Green skin is usually from bruising, but in this case, it could be from the frost damage. Usually there will be a swollen area where the healthy skin starts, just above the shriveled area. Bleeding from the cut signifies that the tissue is healthy underneath.

Agreed. No more cutting.

 

[mel88lem]

I think you are doing a good job. I would not open any more of her tissue. Typically with severe frostbite, the black shriveled toes will fall off on their own in a few weeks. Since she has some good and bad areas, I would continue the Epsom salts soaks daily. Then apply either some betadine, vetericyn, or the plain neosporin ointment. I would not bandage or use vet wrap, just so there is no problem with circulation. For a good article, Google “frostbite in chickens,” and look for TheChickenChick’s article. This time of year, it is important to do a check to make sure all get inside during the extreme cold weather at night. Prevent water spills where they can get feet wet, and then they freeze. She looks like she may do okay after she heals. Green skin is usually from bruising, but in this case, it could be from the frost damage. Usually there will be a swollen area where the healthy skin starts, just above the shriveled area. Bleeding from the cut signifies that the tissue is healthy underneath.

I wasn't planning to to open the tissue again, and I felt pretty bad about doing it anyway, especially once I determined it is not gangrenous or infected. I can see definite areas where it will fall off eventually, and I am planning to keep it uncovered. I will continue with the epsom soaks and antibiotic spray/ointments. Thanks for the tips!

 

[BantyChooks]

I wasn't planning to to open the tissue again, and I felt pretty bad about doing it anyway, especially once I determined it is not gangrenous or infected. I can see definite areas where it will fall off eventually, and I am planning to keep it uncovered. I will continue with the epsom soaks and antibiotic spray/ointments. Thanks for the tips!

Good plan