help, my hen is pecking off her own toes

topic posted Wed, September 9, 2009 - 2:51 PM by  manda
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for the past few days now shes been laying around all depressed, tail droopy and won't respond to the other chickens. She just recently started pecking at her toes, right where the nail connects to the flesh. She's got two open sores on 3 different toes. and now the other hens are starting to pick on her. Not even going after her open wounds, which would make sense, but just attacking her and pecking at her back and head. And she just lays there and takes it. she's just the sweetest hen you'll ever meet. As soon as I step into the yard she runs over and practically leaps into my arms and falls asleep while I pet her head. I can't tell if she's just glad to be off of her feet or if she's glad to be away from the other hens. So does any body have any ideas what could be causing this foot biting? Mites, fungus? I've seen a lot of information on bumblefoot and I don't think that's what this is. We live in the inland northwest. Any ideas on what I should treat her with?or how? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
posted by:
manda
Idaho
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  • Re: help, my hen is pecking off her own toes

    Wed, September 9, 2009 - 7:25 PM
    they will kill her
    take her out and put her in a box or other pen, maybe you can spare some room in your laundry room?

    if she doesn't have bloody stools, follow the below, if she does, buy some corid and follow the directions on the bottle

    In the box, put hay/shaving or something, (her feet will be buried a bit) then force a capsule of vitamin E down her throat. Poke a hole and squeeze the goo down her throat, you can gently open her beak with your finger nails and keep open with your pinky. Do that three times a day for two days, then down to once a day for another week. Fresh food and water but mix the food with whatever her fav is, because sounds like she is off food, you may need to hold pieces of red grape in front of her so she pecks at it, eating tiny morsels. Just enough to keep her alive. If you have the money, buy meal worms from the pet store, WAY better but pricey. Hand feed her the meal worms until she is back to foraging on her own.

    keep me updated on symptoms, just in case it's something else entirely



    Ok, if she isn't responding to this treatment but is drinking water on her own, put in Corrid, again pricey but she is
    • Re: help, my hen is pecking off her own toes

      Wed, September 9, 2009 - 7:29 PM
      OH and rub olive oil or mineral oil all over her feet, a temporary cure for leg mites if that is the case..

      find out if she has mites after treatment of the oil, its only temporary
      • Re: help, my hen is pecking off her own toes

        Wed, September 9, 2009 - 7:33 PM
        sorry I'm sick and my head is fuzzy, don't listen to me when I said " Ok, if she isn't responding to this treatment but is drinking water on her own, put in Corrid, again pricey but she is " give me an update on symptoms first. Corid is very expensive and stupid to waste that kid on money. Sorry about that.. just thinking while typing..
  • Re: help, my hen is pecking off her own toes

    Sat, September 12, 2009 - 9:34 AM
    I'm guessing that you live in dry conditions which would cause the feet to be dry. So, yes, get some oil on her feet (I use a mixture of jojoba and tea tree) and definitely separate her from the rest of the flock. The other chickens know that she is not well. She is asking you to help her. Try to get her to eat some sprouts. They are good for all of your flock.

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