Solitary chicken - need advice

[Imo]

I have two queries, one which could relate to the chicken clinic, and one that relates to eggs, so I thought I'd post in the chicken bit to avoid confusion!!

 

1. Vivienne has lost a claw! I just went out to see if I could pick Queeny up because she's quite flighty, and the eglu was a blood bath. Saw most of the blood was on Vivienne and Queeny was fine, and so I picked up Vivienne and one of her middle claws has gone, leaving a kind of fleshy stump Sorry to anyone whose just eaten their dinner! We've bathed it in salt water, bandaged it up because it's bleeding a lot and she was pecking at it, and popped her in a cardboard box inside so she has some peace and quiet away from Queeny, and also to give us a chance to clean the eglu. Has this happened to anyone before? Advice? Will it grow back? How long will it take to recover?

 

2. Queeny laid her first egg yesterday YAY but now seems to be doing eggy, watery poos Once again, sorry if anyone has just had their dinner!! Do you think that it's just because she's settling down? Or do I have another 'wobbly egg laying' chicken?

 

Thanks everyone in advance!

[buffie]

Moving you to the clinic for more views.

 

I'd keep and eye on her and see a vet if required. Arnica helps the healing process.

 

The runny poop could just be first egg reaction, again keep an eye and perhaps check for worms (worm if you haven't) and also give a little check over her. Aconite can help for shock and this may sort it out for her.

 

Bx

 

[Gamebird]

As long as you keep the nail clean (salt water) and there is no secondary infection then the nail should grow back. I'm sorry, I have no idea how long this will take but I should imagine it will be quite a few weeks.

[Imo]

Thanks everyone I've ordered some Verm-X to rid of any worms that the girls might have.

Vivienne's foot is looking better today - less raw and not bleeding. Popped another bandage on it to keep it cleaned and bathed it again. I think after tomorrow we'll let the air get to the wound but keep bathing it in salt water regularly It seems to be working and Vivienne's being a remarkably good patient!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear about poor Vivienne's foot . Sounds like she's getting lots of TLC and hopefully will be better soon .

[Imo]

Me again

Took Vivienne's 'bandage' off last night in the hope that we wouldn't have to put a dressing on again, but the claw looked so raw and red, worse than it was yesterday With my boyfriend's help, we managed to bandage her up again after bathing with salt water and spraying with what is effectively savlon antiseptic spray.

Am I do something wrong? She seems still reluctant to stand on that foot at all.

I'm reluctant to take her to the vet, as only one near us owns and knows anything about chickens, and the rest are pretty hopeless with birds!

If anyone's had the same problem before, a little reassurance on how your chook recovered and what you did would be very welcome

[Egluntyne]

Someone's hen did lose a claw a while back. As I recall she was fine after a couple of days.

 

As long as the wound stays clean and there is no undue redness or swelling of the limb, she should be fine.

 

If her foot or leg does get hot, red or swollen, then you should take her to the vet Imo, just to be on the safe side.

 

There is a product imaginatively called Wound Powder, available from equestrian type shops that should do the trick.

 

Good luck.

[Imo]

Thanks Of course I'd take her to the vets if I felt it was necessary She's still very perky and both of the girls had managed to escape out of the eglu this morning before I went down to let them out, so she can't be that poorly

Will take her in again tonight and bathe it. Hopefully there'll be some improvement.

[Egluntyne]

That's good to hear.