Hen with necrotic and lost toe!!!

[Carterborchers]

When I first separated my hen, Speckles, with the male she got along with best, I had them in a 32” brooder with pee pads initially. They occasionally got mealworms, and suddenly, Leo, her mate, began pecking at her outermost toes. They were so swollen, she was walking funny, trying to keep her toes under herself or stand on one foot and I could tell it was painful, so I applied ointment and added fluffy bedding. It seemed to stopped and she returned to walking normally.

Anyway, two months later, last night, she seemed egg bound as she hadn’t laid at her normal time. She eventually did lay late that night, but same thing is happening today, so I turned her over because I couldn’t feel anything, and I noticed her toes!!! Poor girl! I feel horrible for not noticing before, but my birds hate being on their backs. A portion of the left toe is just gone—there’s no nail—just a stump. The other toe on the other foot is there but clearly necrotic and dead. I don’t think there’s any hope for saving it…. It’s black. What should I do from here? Apply ointment and bandage what’s left? I feel like it’s only a matter of time before the remaining toe falls off. Will she be ok missing these toes? I can’t cull her—she’s my favorite button quail.

 

[Nabiki]

She'll be okay. My friend has an old button male (about 5 years old now) who has been missing most of the toes on one foot for most of his life. Just make sure to keep her clean and apply a bit of antibacterial ointment (without pain killer). Yes, she will probably lose the toe, but will adapt and get along okay without the toes.

 

[GodLovesU]

My bearded dragon (who had another owner) is missing a lot of toes.Some of them are just messed up.She had a necrotic toe,but it fell off.We haven’t had any problems since she’s been receiving proper care.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Necrotic toe is fine, whole foot bad. She’ll just be lousy at math (joke) though most quail are.