steppin' in poop in the ICU coop?

[Dhkoenig]

Hi All - I have two of my girls in a makeshift ICU in my garage because they are still getting antibiotics for some infections that they got as secondary from Marek's. They are doing well and one is almost done with her anti-biotic and the other has 8 more days on it. I rigged up a small coop with a dog crate and filled the dog crate "run" with pine shavings as well as the hutch up top. They (and I) are used to a big run with dirt and mulch and the pine shavings just inside the coop area. Since they are in such a small space day in/ day out I find they are pooping and stepping in it. One of my girls pooped while I was giving her the antibiotic while wrapped in the towel and it got all over her fluffy little bottom, I felt so bad and have no idea how to clean that off. So my question is, 1) is it okay if they do step in their poop (not that I can figure out how to avoid that) and that the one girl has it on her bum, and 2) when my first hen is finished with her antibiotics, should I have her go join my other two healthy ones or keep her there to be company for the last one in confinement? Sorry for all my newbie questions. (ps they are pullets born in March)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi All - I have two of my girls in a makeshift ICU in my garage because they are still getting antibiotics for some infections that they got as secondary from Marek's. They are doing well and one is almost done with her anti-biotic and the other has 8 more days on it. I rigged up a small coop with a dog crate and filled the dog crate "run" with pine shavings as well as the hutch up top. They (and I) are used to a big run with dirt and mulch and the pine shavings just inside the coop area. Since they are in such a small space day in/ day out I find they are pooping and stepping in it. One of my girls pooped while I was giving her the antibiotic while wrapped in the towel and it got all over her fluffy little bottom, I felt so bad and have no idea how to clean that off. So my question is, 1) is it okay if they do step in their poop (not that I can figure out how to avoid that) and that the one girl has it on her bum, and 2) when my first hen is finished with her antibiotics, should I have her go join my other two healthy ones or keep her there to be company for the last one in confinement? Sorry for all my newbie questions. (ps they are pullets born in March)

Welcome To BYC!
Do you have photos of how you are keeping them?
It won't necessarily hurt them to walk in their poop though it's unappealing. Chickens walk in all sorts of things.
Stirring up the litter and adding some every few days may keep things fresher.

As for having poop on the fluffy bum, you can rinse it off with a bit of warm soapy water, depending on her health and your temperatures, it would be a good idea to dry her really well - you can use a hair dryer if you need to.

As for whether to put the 1st hen back with the others... that's one of those loaded questions LOL
Since they both have been separated for a while, it may be better to wait and integrate them both back into the flock at the same time.
While we like to think our fluffy ladies are sweet, they can be downright nasty to additions to the flock. A separated bird is very often viewed as an outsider, so if those two can go back in a buddies, the transition may be a bit smoother.

There may be drama when putting them back, maybe not, it's one of those things you have to try and see how it goes.

 

[Dhkoenig]

This is the nicest community of people. Here is a photo of the make-shift ICU in the garage LOL. Two different angles. Both my girls are almost impossible to wrangle so medicating them is hardest, so the idea of wiping her fluffy bottom down with soapy water scared the b'jeezus out of me! I might have to but hoping it will kind-of flake off eventually but the blow dryer sounds like it might help me make amends with her if I do end up having to give her bottom a washing up! I have been trying to scoop out the poop like i do in the big coop outside but that portion under the coop I can't get to without climbing all the way in there so I have not done that today. Maybe tomorrow :I. Thanks for all the advice and yeah, maybe stirring it up a little here and there will help. I put a big kitty litter box full of dirt and diathonouse earth in there and they love it so much. Take it out at night. These girls are a riot. Just gave both sets a tomato and fennel kebob hanging treat and I think they all forgive all the handling for now!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is the nicest community of people. Here is a photo of the make-shift ICU in the garage LOL. Two different angles. Both my girls are almost impossible to wrangle so medicating them is hardest, so the idea of wiping her fluffy bottom down with soapy water scared the b'jeezus out of me! I might have to but hoping it will kind-of flake off eventually but the blow dryer sounds like it might help me make amends with her if I do end up having to give her bottom a washing up! I have been trying to scoop out the poop like i do in the big coop outside but that portion under the coop I can't get to without climbing all the way in there so I have not done that today. Maybe tomorrow :I. Thanks for all the advice and yeah, maybe stirring it up a little here and there will help. I put a big kitty litter box full of dirt and diathonouse earth in there and they love it so much. Take it out at night. These girls are a riot. Just gave both sets a tomato and fennel kebob hanging treat and I think they all forgive all the handling for now!

Looks good!
I would try fluffing up the bedding every other day or so and see if that helps.

 

[Dhkoenig]

Looks good!
I would try fluffing up the bedding every other day or so and see if that helps.

Okay great - I try to scoop up all the poop but for some reason it is harder to get in this set up so maybe if I just turn over what is there and add more it will suffice for the remaining week. Thanks so much!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I agree with everything said so far.

I also have a prefab coop as my chicken hospital in my garage... just in case. When the girls join the flock, you may want to consider remodeling the run part of the coop to allow for easy access. Maybe an extra door or even an entire side that flips up.

 

[Dhkoenig]

I agree with everything said so far.

I also have a prefab coop as my chicken hospital in my garage... just in case. When the girls join the flock, you may want to consider remodeling the run part of the coop to allow for easy access. Maybe an extra door or even an entire side that flips up.

genius idea!!!!!! Hopefully once the girls are better we won't need it but ya never know......such a great idea! Thanks