Chicken must be separated from her sis-hens while recovering from her injury but she is getting depressed

[Pswimmy]

Hi everyone. I will post pics of my birds when I have a chance but I need some problem solving advice right now. I have a small flock of 3. My black australorp (RaeRae) was injured. This was last Sunday. The vet isn't sure if it's soft tissue or mild spinal injury but she has been improving with her ability to walk without toppling over. In short, my dog rolled her- didn't bite her but got jealous and rolled her. She is getting meloxicam and, like I said, she is getting stronger.

I can't let her outside to be with the others because she was already low hen on the pecking pole and they will definitely hurt her right now. She is vulnerable. I keep her indoors in a large dog crate. She will sometimes drink and eat but today she barely did either. Her poop is watery. The weather is terrible here in Portland with cold rain so I can't leave her outside for long, even in a fenced area. She did go out yesterday and she ate her feed and drank from a mud puddle. She acted like a normal chicken. Today I let her go out briefly and she ran and hid.

I know it is important to keep her as much a part of the flock as she can be and I know it's important to take her outside. That's what is natural for her. Any suggestions on how I can keep her safe from the flock and the weather while she is healing and getting stronger?

 

[Thefallenfeather]

Is it possible for you to bring another low ranking hen into sleep with/ near her or spend the day near her?

 

[StarCreekFarm]

I have had similar situations and when the weather was good, I would put the recovering chicken in a sun-shielded crate with water and food in the same area as the other chickens. When the weather was bad, I would do the same thing, but with all in a weather protected area. It was always amazing home much quicker they recovered with company, even if just side by side in crates or cages.

Best of luck !