Oh Dear!!!:(

[di]

Feeling a combination of guilt & worry!!!...A few days ago I accidentally trod on one of the chooks toes...she was determined she wanted to help me dig!
Anyway,other than a bit of a squawk at the time,she seemed fine.
Noticed today though that one of the girls(presumably her)appears to have a broken toe???She seems absolutely fine in herself & still pottering about fine,however one of her middle toes is pointing in totally the wrong direction!
I had a chat with one of the chaps who used to keep chooks years ago & he said it should be fine???
I shall keep a really close eye on her over the next few days...just wondering if anyone else has had it happen?...did they recover?Like I said,it doesn't seem to be bothering her,but should I do anything about it?
Thankyou in advance from a rather sad/embarrassed/guillt ridden Di.

[Nicos]

oooppppssss....

No idea- but I suppose it's either broken or dislocated.

I'm really worried about squashing one of my chicks. They free range under my feet and dart about. The yellow ones are hard to see indoors on the shavings - and the brown one hard to see outside on the soil...I'm constantly looking where I'm going to step next

I'm sure yours will be fine- it can't hurt too much can it- otherwise I'd have thought it would be pecking at it or holding it up????- just a thought- which would make me think it might be dislocated?????

[di]

I think you're right...if it hurt too much she'd probably be making more of a fuss...although don't chickens try to mask their pain/illness to prevent the others from bulying them???
I just feel so bad about it...I know it's a constant effort not to stand on them...but most manage to miss them!!

[Nicos]

You shouldn't be such interesting company!!!!

Don't feel too bad- one day one of us is bound to chop off a foot from one of them whilst digging!:0

[lynda66]

probably sounds horrid, but is there any way you can straighten it? if it's dislocated it should pop back in quite easily, even if it's broke, she'll be more comfortable with it straight .... have you an rspca vets nearby? might be worth popping her down there?? don't feel guilty though, i did the same to my cat when he was little, thankfully nowt broken there

[di]

Well an update...when Andi went to put them to bed,he claims to have given them all an inspection & couldn't see a wonky toe amongst them???I'll check her out in the morning & if need be see if one of the chook chaps from the lottie can give her the once over.
I don't think we have any RSPCA vets local to us & cold as it may sound to some of you we don't have the money to take her to the vet....when we got the chooks we were in agreement that they were predominantly egg layers not pets & although I've become pretty attatched to them all if it ever came that they were "poorly".......I'm sure you all know the next words without me saying them!!!
But hopefully it won't come to that...like I said she didn't seem to be in any discomfort & if Andi's right,then it's all been a worry over nothing anyway!Fingers crossed for her!

[HayleyB]

Don't fret Di, I'm forever treating on the girls toes 23 flocking around expecting food all the time means a feathered carpet constantly If she was hopping or standing putting no weight on it and not moving then I'd be worried but it sounds as if that is not the case so just leave it as is you could do more harm by trying to straighten it.

[lynda66]

yeah, that's why i suggested the rspca ....... if it was dislocated, she maybe put it back herself ..... to be honest, i'm kind of in agreement with you on the vets score, though dunno what i'd do about pingu ..... i definitely think having the same breeds is helpful in that respect, so i can't tell em apart lol