Best bedding for isolation

[MariaChickenMama]

We have one chicken isolated because she’s fragile and has a leg issue. I’m just curious during these hot months what is the best kind of bedding to use in the isolation crate which is a dog crate. I’ve been using pine bedding, but it feels like I have to clean it daily because it gets dirty fast, etc. but I was just wondering if there’s any other alternatives….

 

[Mrs. K]

When you confine a bird to a small area - it is just going to need a lot of cleaning.

Confining a bird in the heat can be doubly dangerous, because it limits her ability to move into cooler areas. Laying on soil, allows the heat in the bird to transfer into the earth. Most bedding does not, it acts more like insulation, keeping the heat in the bird.

What is the long term prognosis? What do you mean by fragile and a leg issue? I tend to think that separation causes more problems than it fixes, but I may not understand the situation.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

My preference is confining them outside in the run, so they still get the socialization of the flock. It also makes maintenance much easier. Several of my options (such as my brooder, which has been used for medical isolation) have no floor so there is no specific bedding, the chicken poops on the run litter and I just clean that when I'm doing my regular clean ups.

 

[MariaChickenMama]

When you confine a bird to a small area - it is just going to need a lot of cleaning.

Confining a bird in the heat can be doubly dangerous, because it limits her ability to move into cooler areas. Laying on soil, allows the heat in the bird to transfer into the earth. Most bedding does not, it acts more like insulation, keeping the heat in the bird.

What is the long term prognosis? What do you mean by fragile and a leg issue? I tend to think that separation causes more problems than it fixes, but I may not understand the situation.

Mrs K

She hurt her keg numerous times after confronting a hen. When I say fragile she is so small. She is a brown leghorn. I let her eat as much as possible but can’t seem to fatten her up. She is one of my favorites so I’m not getting rid of her. I just need to figure how to fatten her up.

 

[MariaChickenMama]

My preference is confining them outside in the run, so they still get the socialization of the flock. It also makes maintenance much easier. Several of my options (such as my brooder, which has been used for medical isolation) have no floor so there is no specific bedding, the chicken poops on the run litter and I just clean that when I'm doing my regular clean ups.

Well I do have a dog kennel that has no floor. I’ll put her in the run when I can but I’m not making her stay out there at night by herself.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well leghorns really do not fatten up - they are egg layer breed.