Separating a chicken for treatment

[Danielmc]

I know many separate a chicken if they're a bit unwell and put them inside etc - but I read somewhere that it is good to separate it with one other one, so that she is not lonely. What is the best thing to do with this?

Thanks!

 

[Ntsees]

I can see the good idea of separating it for treatment so that it'll be healthy before it's returned to its flock. For me, it's a debate. In my past experiences with my birds (quail), when I've separated a bird from the flock/covey for a few days due to aggression (the bird was in a cage and all of its group members could see it), the bird is not welcomed very well and is treated somewhat roughly when it was returned back. The covey would gang up on it for a bit but not to any extreme though. They sure do have poor memory remembering their own member. So for me, the good = the bird is showing less/no aggression compared to when it was with the group, the bad = it's rejected from the group. I usually have to weigh the options. If it was a case where the bird would end up dead if I didn't treat it, then yes I would separate it. But my cases were somewhat miner and so I've resorted to treating the whole covey instead of separation. Though my case was for aggressive reasons, I wouldn't expect anything different than if I were actually treating it. I haven't raised chickens for some time so it may be different for them. Just something for you to take into consideration.

 

[Yessur Ebob]

It is easier on the bird when it has company, however it the issue with the first bird is contagious it could kill both birds.

 

[Darklingstorm]

I always separate my sick from the healthy. If it is only for 1 or 2 days then I keep just the one but if it is longer than that then I will take the tames (usually lowest on pecking order) and put her with the other one, that way if there is a outing from the group at least the sick one will have a friend to hang with.
From my experience this has worked great and very little pecking goes on. Also i reintroduce the quarantined ones at the same time that I give a big treat that way everyone is distracted.