- Thread starter
- #11
Wot The Flock
Chirping
I thought I would give an update.
More than a sprain (perhaps broken toe, or she had bruised the joint, whatever). I did take off the support bandage the other day, to see if she improved - she walked a little better for a while, over-used it, has made it worse.
Because she did insist on jumping up and down when in the coop, she became a "caged hen", firstly at night (to stop her from the jumping routine). Yesterday was a bit warm, so I brought her indoors, in the cage in the cool (being older bird, she does not handle the heat).
Even though caged (medium sized dog crate), I decided to re-bandage the foot and leg. This time I gave her soft conforming bandage, with the vet wrap over that to hold it in place. I have gone in between toes to hold her toes out in a standing position and prevent any further damage, as she was not always putting her toes out properly.
The (minor) swelling does seem to have come down at the joint where the toes join together. She is bright, eating and drinking, and thankfully resting a lot more now that she is confined to chicken jail. I will leave her inside for a few days at least (today and tomorrow going to be over 30°C), so in the cool, and in a quiet corner without much stimulation.
I am not too worried about flock integration at this point. Her two flock mates had been quite protective of her, not hassling her or aggressive in any way. A couple of cooler days coming up, so I may bring her out in the cage to be with the other two. The three young pullets, after a week of being fenced off in the pen, have had some mingling with the two older flock mates, which is going fairly well and without too much drama. Final pecking order will have to be sorted out when the 9yo alpha (Bessie) has done at least one to two weeks of caged confinement. It was the worst possible time to have injured herself!
More than a sprain (perhaps broken toe, or she had bruised the joint, whatever). I did take off the support bandage the other day, to see if she improved - she walked a little better for a while, over-used it, has made it worse.
Because she did insist on jumping up and down when in the coop, she became a "caged hen", firstly at night (to stop her from the jumping routine). Yesterday was a bit warm, so I brought her indoors, in the cage in the cool (being older bird, she does not handle the heat).
Even though caged (medium sized dog crate), I decided to re-bandage the foot and leg. This time I gave her soft conforming bandage, with the vet wrap over that to hold it in place. I have gone in between toes to hold her toes out in a standing position and prevent any further damage, as she was not always putting her toes out properly.
The (minor) swelling does seem to have come down at the joint where the toes join together. She is bright, eating and drinking, and thankfully resting a lot more now that she is confined to chicken jail. I will leave her inside for a few days at least (today and tomorrow going to be over 30°C), so in the cool, and in a quiet corner without much stimulation.
I am not too worried about flock integration at this point. Her two flock mates had been quite protective of her, not hassling her or aggressive in any way. A couple of cooler days coming up, so I may bring her out in the cage to be with the other two. The three young pullets, after a week of being fenced off in the pen, have had some mingling with the two older flock mates, which is going fairly well and without too much drama. Final pecking order will have to be sorted out when the 9yo alpha (Bessie) has done at least one to two weeks of caged confinement. It was the worst possible time to have injured herself!