How to or If I should re intergrate a previously injured pullet?

[kingfrodo]

I have 10 12-13 week old pullets and a couple of cockerels that I integrated into the main flock of 5 last week. During the moving day last week during the ruckus one of the Black Orp pullets had a little blood on the corner of her eye.

I scooped her up, which the first sign that she was hurt was the fact she just let me pick her up.

I wiped her eye off and it was swollen and closed. I put her in the chicken hospital and she just sat there for a day and then the next day she ate and drank and seemed a little better....now a good solid five days later she will occasionally open the eye but for the most part she keeps it closed. she has learned to walk with her head turned so she can see where she is going.


My question is: should I try to re integrate her with the rest of the flock OR is she going to need to be kept in her own pen with maybe a friend for companionship?

OR

Do you think she just needs more time in chicken hospital??

 

[3chickchicks]

I had one that was injured badly enough that she couldn't be with the flock. What I did is, when I had time, I let her be with the flock while I supervised. When she seemed to get overwhelmed or if anyone started to look too closely at her wounds, I'd bring her back in so she could rest. I tried to give her at least thirty minutes twice a day. When she went to being with them full time, one pecked her on the head once and all was well.

 

[kingfrodo]

I'm starting to think she's blind in that eye. She'll open it but will still turn her head to see where she's going. She's hanging out with some three week old chicks and getting along with them. I'm may hold one back when they get old enough to inter grate withe the big flock so she can have a companion. My DH is so sweet, he's going to make her own pen next to the others.

 

[3chickchicks]

They are easier to integrate when it's done with multiple newbies so I think you've got a good idea there.

I wonder what happened to her eye. It may be inflamed and hurt to use so she keeps it closed. She may regain vision or at least some vision. But I hear of chickens living happy lives with much worse.