Should I continue to separate?

[ericaperry]

I have five, three-week old chicks. Three of them (Easter Egger, Australorp, and Golden Laced Wyandotte) are separated from my Orpington, named Sunny, and Welsummer, named Eureka right now because Sunny was limping and holding her leg up last Friday. Sunny and Eureka are in the smaller brooder and the three crazies are in a kiddie pool.

Eureka is the only bird that is ok being separated from the rest of the flock (the three crazies all shrieked loudly when being stuck with Sunny!) I watched Sunny a bit on Friday, and she was panting in the morning. I went out and got vita-sol for their water. She has since improved, no more panting, and is now walking on her left leg, but still has a slight limp. She is eating, hobbling, drinking, pooping fine. She even flew on top of the brooder and plastic food and water jars!
Sunny is the smallest one out of the flock. I let them all out yesterday for some outdoors time and they all seemed to get along fine...but of course all the other big chicks walk over Sunny

I have read various posts on here about splayed leg and related injuries...I'm still not quite sure what it is. But I do think it has something to do with the three crazies jumping, running around all over, generally just picking on Sunny.

Not sure if separating Sunny and Eureka will help Sunny out in the long run (as far as her leg goes). Pretty sure she will be forever be at the bottom of the pecking order because of her calm demeanor.

 

[mtngirl35]

If Sunny and Eureka get along peacefully together it might be a good idea to separate them to give Sunny's leg a chance to heal. Of course then you will have to go through the whole pecking order establishment again. But if the others are rough with her and her limp is a result of an injury they may re-injure her or slow her recovery if they are left together.