New chick with "dead" damaged toe. Need advice!

[The Yardbird Life]

Greetings folks,
Got home with some new pullets from TSC to build our small backyard flock after 10 years of no chickens. Upon first letting them loose in the brooder box, we noticed this one Speckled Sussex had a badly damaged toe on her right foot. We'll call it the pinky toe. It was probably smashed/squeezed in shipment when it was real tiny and it appear the tissue has all gone necrotic leaving just a boney protrusion. They wouldn't take the bird back but they gave us another in case this goes bad.

Currently, the bird is acting absolutely normal, keeping up and acting just like her 3 siblings and 3 Barred Rocks. She's eating, drinking water, as well as water w/electrolytes and probiotics. Currently eating Purina Medicated Starter.

I'm assuming amputation of the boney segment with be necessary. This is new to me but I'd like to take care of this while the foot is still developing and hopefully prevent further necrosis to the remaining tissue. Anyone care to chime in on how to best approach this and carry out the procedure?

My thoughts would be to prep the site with Chlorhexidine. Make the amputation at a joint if I'm able to identify one, use styptic powder to control bleeding, and apply an antibiotic ointment, and get it protected with a small swatch of vet tape that I can frequently change.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on the process and please correct my thoughts on the method! I'm not certain how I can keep this little peep still during the process. Please chime in! I can add more photos if neccesary.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sally PB]

The affected toe might self amputate if left alone...?
@Wyorp Rock
@azygous
Tagging people who know more than I do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Most toes that turn black will just fall off. We see that a lot with frostbite in winter, or a crush injury from stepping on or having something set on the toe. I would clean with Betadine or chlorhexidene daily. I don’t recommend amputation since then you may risk a bone infection.

 

[The Yardbird Life]

In the back of my mind, the self-amputation was what I was wishing for but then talked myself out of that thinking that these aren't lizards!

If there are some real-life examples of that happening, that's pretty cool. I just hope it will fix while the toes are so tiny and still forming.

I'm all ears at this point. Thanks for the replies.

 

[azygous]

Oh, but chickens are close cousins of lizards. When comb tips and toes are damaged and the tissue begins to die, the chicken's body walls off the injured part, cutting off blood supply. This also cuts off any danger of infection. Neat, huh? There is some swelling as the dead part separates from the healthy tissue. Then the dead part falls away as @Eggcessive mentioned. You don't need to do anything as the chicken's immune system does all the work.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Most toes that turn black will just fall off. We see that a lot with frostbite in winter, or a crush injury from stepping on or having something set on the toe. I would clean with Betadine or chlorhexidene daily. I don’t recommend amputation since then you may risk a bone infection.

Agreed X3

When comb tips and toes are damaged and the tissue begins to die, the chicken's body walls off the injured part, cutting off blood supply. This also cuts off any danger of infection. Neat, huh? There is some swelling as the dead part separates from the healthy tissue. Then the dead part falls away as @Eggcessive mentioned. You don't need to do anything as the chicken's immune system does all the work.

 

[The Yardbird Life]

Okay, so leave it alone?

I really don't want to do it so I'll just let it go and let her do some soaking in some chlorhexidine.

Would it be wise to introduce an antibiotic ointment or just clean and go?

Thanks so much for the firsthand knowledge!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Most of the time the toe will self amputate. This thread is an excellent record of self amputation from the very first signs of frostbite through healing of the amputation site. It does include images of the neurotic feet (this hen lost both feet).

 

[Eggcessive]

All I would use on the toe is either 10%Betadine or Hibiclen/chlorhexidene. Walmart has the generic Betadine called Equate First Aid Disinfectant that is 10% povidone iodine for $7. Target has povidone iodine for $10.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-F...MInfaFwt_yjgMVmEdHAR1MJgRHEAQYASABEgJPwvD_BwE

 

[The Yardbird Life]

All I would use on the toe is either 10%Betadine or Hibiclen/chlorhexidene. Walmart has the generic Betadine called Equate First Aid Disinfectant that is 10% povidone iodine for $7. Target has povidone iodine for $10.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-F...MInfaFwt_yjgMVmEdHAR1MJgRHEAQYASABEgJPwvD_BwE

Thanks! The chlorhexidine I have on hand is 2%. I do have the Betadine on hand, always for me! I just gave her a ClHe treatment just now by letting her stroll through a bit of the solution in Pyrex container and then dabbed her feet dry. I'll just keep it up with one or the other throughout the day when I go and interact with them.