*UPDATE* Hen pecked off half her toe, advice needed

[Billy_WitchDoctor_Dot_Com]

In early April one of my hens pecked off the top half of her toe. In May I posted here to ask for advice as the bone was still exposed. Here is a link to the original post with pictures of the toe’s condition at that time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...is-it-healing-properly.1579346/#post-26851343

The pics below were taken yesterday.

We’re now nearing the end of September and the bone is STILL exposed. Since the injury I’ve kept her foot wrapped to promote healing and fight infection. I change the bandage twice a week. Each time I change the bandage I clean her foot, spray some Vetericyn, apply a little triple antibiotic ointment, then re-wrap with clean gauze and Vetrap.

Should I keep wrapping her foot, or is the bandage doing more harm than good at this point? I haven’t seen a change in the toe’s condition in months, but the exposed bone makes me feel compelled to keep it wrapped.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

In early April one of my hens pecked off the top half of her toe. In May I posted here to ask for advice as the bone was still exposed. Here is a link to the original post with pictures of the toe’s condition at that time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...is-it-healing-properly.1579346/#post-26851343

The pics below were taken yesterday.

We’re now nearing the end of September and the bone is STILL exposed. Since the injury I’ve kept her foot wrapped to promote healing and fight infection. I change the bandage twice a week. Each time I change the bandage I clean her foot, spray some Vetericyn, apply a little triple antibiotic ointment, then re-wrap with clean gauze and Vetrap.

Should I keep wrapping her foot, or is the bandage doing more harm than good at this point? I haven’t seen a change in the toe’s condition in months, but the exposed bone makes me feel compelled to keep it wrapped.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

I had a hen that got her toe caught in something and it was just hanging there. I asked my farmer neighbor if I should cut it off or leave it. She (who is an old farm woman I trust) told me to leave it be and let nature take care of it. Two days later, she lost that toe, but it was already healed, so the defenses inside that toe must already have realized the other part was dead and just sealed itself off. I never had to do a thing.

In your case, it's been three months, so I'd tend to think the same thing happened, that the tissue sealed inside. I would let it go for a few days or a week and just see how she does. Check it over to see if it may have gotten infected. I highly doubt it will after this long, but it'll be good to just check on her now and then to be sure.

You did awesome for her. Good luck!

 

[Billy_WitchDoctor_Dot_Com]

I had a hen that got her toe caught in something and it was just hanging there. I asked my farmer neighbor if I should cut it off or leave it. She (who is an old farm woman I trust) told me to leave it be and let nature take care of it. Two days later, she lost that toe, but it was already healed, so the defenses inside that toe must already have realized the other part was dead and just sealed itself off. I never had to do a thing.

In your case, it's been three months, so I'd tend to think the same thing happened, that the tissue sealed inside. I would let it go for a few days or a week and just see how she does. Check it over to see if it may have gotten infected. I highly doubt it will after this long, but it'll be good to just check on her now and then to be sure.

You did awesome for her. Good luck!

Thank you!!

 

[PandemicChicken]

Hi! Did her toe and toenail ever grow back? My hen tore hers 1 week ago, her toe quick was exposed and 20-25% of her toenail (base of nail) remained. Unfortunately, I slacked off rebandaging it after a few days, since she kept happily digging and it kept coming off. Just to realize her exposed quick is gone now too! I'm freaking out because I thought the nail would grow back if her quick is there, but now it's just a nub with exposed tissue where her quick was. It looks like your pictures now. Will the toe quick/bone and nail ever grow back?

 

[Eggcessive]

Toenails don’t grow back once they are torn or frozen off. It happens every now and then, and is very painful for a week or two. My hen who experienced this toe it half off jumping onto the chainlink fence and got it caught. Chicken who lose a toe tip to frostbite or a crush injury, do fine with the rounded off toe.