Injured Jackdaw

[rook]

Hi,

I wonder if I could get some advice again please. I have got an injured juvenile Jackdaw under my care, who is actually doing fine, apart from an issue with a lost toe nail. The bird has been hit by a car and obtained bruises to its right wing and leg, but no fractures. The bird was slightly malnourished, but is feeding independently and is now gaining sufficient weight. Okay - the lost nail and associated bleeding risk is what is causing me a headache and the bird an occasional painful bleed. When we found the bird, it had a bleeding toe nail, which was mobile and rotating all over the place. Eventually it did fall off, and what is left now, is a smaller nail like structure, which obviously was inside the hollow normal toe nail. What is it? I can't find any anatomical reference about the construction of bird toes. It seems relatively soft and sensitive, and it definitely hurts and bleeds easily. Is this part of the bones of the foot? Or, is this something like our nail bed? Does the toe nail grows again over this soft nail like thing? Have you got any treatment suggestions to avoid infection and / or bleeding? Many thanks for your advice again.

Stephan.