How long should I let her rest?

[tbitt]

My friend is having family health issues so she asked me to take her very small flock of ducks for her because they were being naughty in her absence.

I have 10 of my own (one being a drake) and I took on her 4 (one also being a drake)

These ducks were raised together (born last June), so they are OK to put together.

So after a day of looking at each other through fences we put them together. They did surprisingly well!!!

I knew the drakes would fight for dominance and they did...but at a very small physical level ....but one way they fought was for dominance of the hens. One hen in particular was their target... this poor hen was over bred. I did not "see" (aka understand the extent of) what was really going on, after 2 days of this she came up lame.

I have her cooped up at night in the duck house with the rest of the flock, but in a crate.
She goes out in the pen ALL day by herself (or if I can outsmart a hen she will get a pen mate for the day) so she can heal.

So, it has been almost a week of her being separated from the drakes and yesterday she was no longer limping AT ALL.



My question is:

How long would you keep her separated to make sure she is strong enough (healed enough) to not be re-injured?

 

[Mum]

If she's healing well already, I would still give her another week.

 

[tbitt]

She is doing very well. She is no longer limping around, she is eating and roaming around the pen. I am glad; I was kind of worried it might be a torn muscle. Looks more like a strain..but still not good....


Today she has 3 girlfriends with her in the pen. She is much happier....now my one Golden 300 and my Blue Swedish is upset....

(They can suck it up for a day and keep er company)

Thanks, I think I might just do that.... She has the routine of going into the crate down so it is not hard to put her away at night.

 

[Mum]

You've done the wisest thing by seperating her physically, but still giving her contact with the flock (which is important). Let her get her strength back and I think it will all go well.