Injured Hen - Should I Isolate or Not

[berkeleyaurora]

One of our hens (one year old) was attacked by a raccoon Monday night. She has a gash on the back of her neck which we treated with neosporin and an injured leg (no obvious gash, but she is having trouble walking). We have had her inside for two days, in a box, with food and water. She drinks the water (with sugar and salt in it) but not eating. She sort of nibbled on a few snails this AM, when we took her outside for a bit before work. I have two questions.

1. Force feeding or no - there seems to be some debate about this on the forum. If so, I've seen gruel, yogurt, and things she likes.
2. Isolate or no - again, there's debate on the forum about this - Is she too stressed away from her hens, or does she need more comfort and protection inside?

Thanks

 

[speckledhen]

If she has visible wounds, the others will literally eat her alive. Chickens have the nasty habit of eating each other if there is a wound to pick at. I'd give her extra protein and keep her in a quiet place till her wounds aren't noticeable.

She doesn't need the sugar and salt in the water, just fresh, clean water. Force feeding is not necessary. Offer her whatever she'll eat.

 

[berkeleyaurora]

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking isolation until I started reading the other posts. I will go back to plain water, and hope the snails get more tasty to her. She has her regular feed in the box. The wound isn't that obvious, but the lack of feathers (lots of bald spots) is. Do I need to wait until the feathers grow back (and I'm assuming they will).