Solitary chicken - need advice

[melly264]

We let our 2 lots of ex-batts out together as part of our intro plan, and although the scuffles weren't too bad poor old Cookie has a bit of a problem.

 

I'm not sure wether one of the others pecked her toe, or if she got it stuck in something whilst she was running away, but the result is still the same, she has torn the nail on her back toe. It has snapped below the quick and looks like a bit of damage to the nail bed too.

 

Obviously they were all seperated quickly and we assessed the damage. Although it was bleeding a bit we decided to put her back in with her friend (who hasn't been pecking or harrassing her) and we used the purple spray.

 

Everyone seems to have gone to bed happy - I assume just to top up the spray in the morning if needed, what about continuing intros?

[Looney]

You might need to keep it as clean as possible (ok, tough task for a chicken's toe!) to try and prevent infection.....hopefully someone will come along with some better advice.

[Madchook]

This has happened to one of my exbatts too - about 2 weeks ago she suddenly started limping and I noticed it had gone - a couple of days after I started to let them out to free range. I think she got it caught as it was a bit long and wonky and panicked. Anyway, I hadn't noticed until the day after and I ummed and ahhed a bit abut purple-spraying incase that just obscured the wound if I had to take her to the vet. Anyway, by then it was healing and she is fine now (watched her like a hawk incase infection set in though).

[Jennyhenny]

I took delivery of my and three last Saturday. The Gingernut Ranger had a nail missing altogether, didnt notice til Mr. Omlet left but I assume it doesnt matter

 

Jennyhenny

[Looney]

Jennyhenny one of my Omlet chickens had a nail missing too. It looks like she either never had one or it was pulled off and never grew back. It hasn't ever bothered her though.

[Lizzie]

Hi

It happened to Flo on Friday evening, it took an age to stop bleeding but eventually it did (we covered it for the night).

Her other nails seem very brittle, is there anything we can put on them or give her to try and make them in better condition quicker ? The others girls nails do not seem as bad. They are having suppliments anyway each day, so its probably a time thing

 

Regards

Liz

[melly264]

thanks for the advice chaps seems like this is a common problem.

 

I'll re-spray it latter and watch out for any signs of infection please be fine, please be fine!

 

Am I the only person who just wants to keep the birds seperate for an easy life!

[alih]

It happened to one fo my ex bats too as she was running away! I cleaned it with warm, salty water and sprayed it with purple spray before putting vaseline on to try and keep it isolated from any more dirt...it healed really fast.

 

Don't despair with your merging - mine took about 2 months and they are still 2 little flocks but much calmer and happier and it's worth it in the end.

[32RJE]

Thanks to everyone for their comments on here. I have just got back from a week in wet Wales to find Maureen has a bleeding nail. Logged on to try and find some help and there it was! Am going back out to try and sort her out.

 

We have 6 chickens named after the Nolan sisters. They are all fairly mildmannered except Coleen who is a bit manic! They follow us around the garden and I often feel like the Pied Piper but without the outfit or the pipe!!