my lame lady

[Dhkoenig]

Hi All - my girl Nellie - I am pretty sure - is permanently lame. Not sure what happened. She injured herself and the vet ruled out any diseases, they said it is a soft tissue injury - but to be safe they had her on antibiotics for 10 days and still on antinflammatory. As long as she is on the antiinflamatory she has a very minor limp but as soon as it wears off she cant really bear weight. I am continuing with her in my garage til the course of antiinflammatory is done. She eats well but at SOME point, I am going to have to put her back with the flock - she can't live forever in my garage! Here is my question - if she has a permanent injury (I am not one to put a chicken down - especially her) how will she deal with nighttime. Right now if I build a really low perch for her or if she just lays in the hay, then that would be okay but when winter comes and it gets in to the single digits, how would she keep warm? Has anyone had experience with a hen that cant jump up and down from perch?

 

[rosemarythyme]

She would keep warm just fine nestled down in some bedding on the floor. What type of litter do you use?

 

[Dhkoenig]

She would keep warm just fine nestled down in some bedding on the floor. What type of litter do you use?

I use a mixture of chopped hay and small shavings

 

[Dhkoenig]

I use a mixture of chopped hay and small shavings

you think even when it gets to be zero etc that she would be okay in the bedding without body heat next to her?

 

[rosemarythyme]

you think even when it gets to be zero etc that she would be okay in the bedding without body heat next to her?

Yes, because she can still puff up her feathers to trap heat against her body.