Yup that's exactly what I've been doing. Though I did have to put a cardboard box around a corner of the crate, because one of the more aggressive hens will literally go after her while she's in the crate... and they'll all eat her food
but I'm sure having her outside helps keep her spirits up lol.
Her foot is doing okay, though it could be going better. I've been changing the bandages daily. I'll rinse her foot off, spray vetericyn, apply triple antibiotic, and wrap it again.
1 day after removal
View attachment 2276798
2 days after removal
View attachment 2276802
After the first two days it was looking really good. I was really surprised with how the hole filled in so quickly.
3 days after removal
View attachment 2276814
4 days after removal
View attachment 2276805
After 3 days the bandaging began sticking to the scab (you can see under 3 days the hole where the scab came up a bit). At 5 days I tried putting Vaseline on the bandage to prevent it from sticking, but found out the next day that it didn't work (I don't think I put enough).
6 days after removal
View attachment 2276835
At 6 days, after realizing the Vaseline didn't work, I found some non-stick pads, and those have been working very well. I put that on the scab, then wrap it. At 7 days when I learned that the pads did indeed work and everything looked okay, I decided to let her be with the flock to see how she'd do. I was afraid she may be getting a bit depressed in her cage and that it would be good for her to move around, since the scab wouldn't be sticking or pulling too much. After 8 days her scab looked good so I continued to let her stay with the rest of chickens. After 9 days...
9 days after removal
Before rinsing After rinsing
View attachment 2276839View attachment 2276840
I unbandaged her and found that she had been bleeding. Not a whole lot, but enough to show through the non-stick pad. So, no more being with the rest of the chickens. I may have jumped the gun a bit on that. Her foot wasn't healed enough to be moving around on it.
Today (10 days)
I didn't get a picture today, but it looked better than yesterday. There was some blood but not as much as yesterday. She's probably going to take longer to heal than I was hoping, with the little set backs of the bleeding and the sticking. But hopefully from here she'll start making better improvements.
I was thinking the same thing, it seemed the scab was getting bigger. Ugh...
I haven't soaked it since the scab came off, just rinsing with regular water. But I will start back up with the Epsom salt soaks. I've been wondering if I should be doing that with how things are going, so since you mention it I will start.
I like that lol, we like to give her nicknames too, though her real name is Quackers. When she was young, she had a coo that reminded me a little of a duck's quack- there wasn't anything wrong with her, she sounded normal, just a voice that sounded a little duckish
I didn't really notice her being more or less active than usual. She usually likes to sit under trees and shrubs and stuff, which is what she did, and she laid her eggs like normal. I will say I don't recall her going to the front yard to dust bathe, which she usually does, but maybe I missed it. She seemed to be walking as normal as she has been with it being bandaged.
You may need to limit her activity for part of the day and see if that helps with the healing process.
