Isolating Hen

[Kathy Golla]

Hi Everyone,
I took my BO hen to the vet today to look at her bumblefoot. He did a minor surgery on it and its wrapped. The hole is not too deep. He suggested I isolate the hen out of the pen with the rest of the hens to keep her foot clean. She is on antibiotics.
I have six hens, two are broody and have been in the broody breaker and all hell breaks loose for a while after I return the hen from the broody breaker after three days to the pen with the other hens. I would really like to avoid this with the bumblefoot hen, but on the other hand it would probably be good for her to rest/heal her foot and easier for me to treat her if she was isolated.
What's everyone's feeling...would it be better for the hen to keep her isolated, or put her back in the pen and work to keep the wound clean by changing the bandage every day? If you would recommend isolating her, for how long?
Thanks so much...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Your first concern is healing the bumblefoot. You can deal with integration after it is well.

 

[micstrachan]

I agree. However, you could keep her some sort of crate, like a dog carrier, elevated a bit above the pen floor so she stays clean but can still socialize with everyone.

 

[Kathy Golla]

Thanks @micstrachan
I had her in the garage in an enclosed big plastic dog crate and she's been trying to find a way to escape all day. Then I put her in the wire crate broody breaker (still in the garage) and it's only incrementally better.
Wondering if I'm stressing her out more by isolating her.
But The way she is acting I wonder if it will be better or worse to put her in the crate in the pen to see her buds.
She is a laying hen, what happens if she needs to lay an egg, will she do it in the crate?

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, first disclaimer. I am only in my second year of keeping chickens. But my hunch is, as long as you can keep her foot clean, she’s better off with or near her friends. And yes, she will lay her egg when she needs to. I hope this helps. Hopefully more people chime in, as we have two different opinions for you to weigh here.

 

[micstrachan]

Also, if she has a bestie and the crate is big enough, so could bring her friend to her and see how that goes. Just a thought.

 

[Kathy Golla]

You have good intuition for only being in it two years!

As we were dealing with the hen today trying to escape I told my daughter, this stuff we are dealing with isn't even the tough stuff!
I feel like it will take me forever to get to the point where I can get a handle on most everything!
I am very thankful for this site!

I live close to you..I'm near Walnut Creek in the East Bay.

 

[Kathy Golla]

@Wyorp Rock
@lazy gardener @Eggcessive @oldhenlikesdogs @theoldchick
@azygous @casportpony


Any guidance?

 

[micstrachan]

You have good intuition for only being in it two years!

As we were dealing with the hen today trying to escape I told my daughter, this stuff we are dealing with isn't even the tough stuff!
I feel like it will take me forever to get to the point where I can get a handle on most everything!
I am very thankful for this site!

I live close to you..I'm near Walnut Creek in the East Bay.

That is very kind of you to say! I was a molecular biologist for ten yesrs, so I obsess a bit about the science. LOL. In fact, I went to UC Berkekey many years ago, over on your side of the Bay! Also, when I was a young adult, I gave up a dog because she was too much for me to handle at the time. I promised myself I would never again have a pet I wasn’t prepared to fully care for. I had a young hen turn very ill last spring and had to learn faster than I realized I would have to. Still learning so much and very grateful for this site, too!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can you put the crate in the coop? She should be kept cleaner, but I don't think she needs to be isolated.