Should I isolate my limping chicken or is she fine to free range as usual?

[corlalily]

Hi, I have a 5 month old buff Brahma pullet who suffered a leg injury a few days ago. I'm not sure when it was, my dad told me that he saw her "days ago", and then I went to watch her and she was still limping. She can put small amounts of pressure on her foot, but generally walks without it and stands with it up. I have inspected her foot and there's no scabs or injuries, so I'm pretty sure she twisted it jumping down from something.

I usually let the chickens (5 hens) outside to free range around noon or later, but I've been cautious about allowing them to go outside ever since I realized she's limping. She can't keep up with the others due to her limping and tends to stick around the coop making noises like she's lonely. I have been considering isolating her in the run (fairly small, I can bring the food and water into it with her and shut off access to the coop) and letting the other chickens free range, but I'm nervous she'll be even more lonely if I do so. At the same time, I worry that her free ranging and attempting to play with the other chickens will delay her leg healing.

Is it better to isolate her or just allow her to free range? The other chickens are getting annoyed that I haven't let them outside yet and my dad thinks I'm overreacting.

 

[RoyalChick]

Are you worried about separating her from the flock (I would let her be with them unless someone is picking on her)?
Or are you worried about free range and her being picked off by a fox or something because she can't run?
I had a hen who injured her leg and I kept her with the flock - she was a bit slow but nobody bullied her. It took about 6 weeks for her to heal completely. I let them all free range but only when I was watching because I have a lot of foxes and they are very bold (escaping a fox was how she injured her leg in the first place).

 

[corlalily]

Are you worried about separating her from the flock (I would let her be with them unless someone is picking on her)?
Or are you worried about free range and her being picked off by a fox or something because she can't run?
I had a hen who injured her leg and I kept her with the flock - she was a bit slow but nobody bullied her. It took about 6 weeks for her to heal completely. I let them all free range but only when I was watching because I have a lot of foxes and they are very bold (escaping a fox was how she injured her leg in the first place).

I'm worried about separating her from the flock. There's not really any bullying but a few times I've noticed two of the chickens pecking at her.

I'll probably let her go outside with everyone else and see how it goes though

 

[Kaceyram11]

I'm worried about separating her from the flock. There's not really any bullying but a few times I've noticed two of the chickens pecking at her.

I'll probably let her go outside with everyone else and see how it goes though

I’m having this issue now. I’ve never had an injured hen but I have an older hen that sometimes jumps on the other chickens and I’m assuming this is why mine is hurt. She’s eating drinking but walking slowly…and the other hens notice. She is already at the bottom of the pecking order and this won’t help. I hate to separate her completely bc she had a companion but the way my coop is I don’t know how to put her in a kennel with the others. Hoping to give her pain meds to cope in the meantime.