Has anyone kept a small flock of sickly chickens?

[thecatumbrella]

Not looking for health advice. BYC already has me covered in that regard.

I'm about to be down to 5 bantam pullets. 3 are what I'd describe as sickly. Wren and Willow have a neurological issue that looks to be permanent. Clover has just been dealt a bad hand (swollen eye, limp, scaly leg mites, poopy bum). Willow, in particular, had become a target for a couple of her previous flock mates. I'm going to assume that it's largely due to her condition, which is front and center as she navigates the pen (backwards) during the day.

Has anyone successfully kept a flock of weaker chickens? Any tips? I don't have it in my heart to cull or re-home them, especially since they're capable of eating/drinking/roosting/etc. We've already decided to prioritize them for peace in the flock, but I acknowledge this is inherently risky. Flocks don't like sick birds.

If you're curious about my setup, I have an active thread going called How intense is your pecking order? with photos and details.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I have kept a partially blind chicken and a crooked toe chicken. I called them my special needs chickens. I didn’t have them at the same time to put them together (I think they were alive at the same time but Mama Toe wasn’t having issues so I left her in with the flock). If I remember right I ended up keeping them separately with one or two other friendly hens and would let them out into the yard with the bigger flock every few days. Mama Toe couldn’t roost toward the end and neither could Weezy so they had an 8’x4’ covered run with an attached prefab and they would usually just sleep on the floor in the prefab. They seemed happy to hear and be near the big flock but not for long periods of time because they would get stressed. I know that doesn’t really answer your question but it’s to say I think it can definitely be done. The fact that you have more than one will actually be good for them.

 

[Folly's place]

Having them in their own space, next to the flock if possible, sounds like the best plan, similar to what @BlindLemonChicken has done.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

I don't like sick birds either. Ruins my enjoyment of the flock. I would keep them far away from the healthy birds, as the sick birds are apt to suscrumb to any passing disease, and then are like a disease sink hole exposing healthier birds.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Welp... two flockmates - that had previously been very gentle with Willow - decided (30 minutes after posting this) that they were going to run her out of the flock. These are the 3rd and 4th birds to go after her. I guess this thread won't be very relevant after all, but thank you to those that weighed in.