Working on a chicken by yourself

[Country4ever]

I need to change my hen's bumblefoot dressing, and there's no one to help me. I'm thinking I could wrap her real tight in a towel and lay her on a table, and I'd probably be okay to deal with her foot by myself.
We used to have these things called papooses in the ER, to immobilize small children, in order to suture them. I would love to have one of those for chickens!
Any other suggestions, other than wrapping in the towel? Do you think she'll stay still for me? I know it helps to cover their heads too.
Thanks!

 

[ranchhand]

Sorry you didn't get an answer sooner, I wandered off to make lunch, lol.

Sounds like a possible good plan- I usually sit, trap the head under my elbow and work on them with my free hand, just using the other when I can. It often helps if I have on a jacket or sweater that I can tuck their head into, under my elbow.

 

[suzeqf]

i work on all my animals myself 99% of the time and a towel works or baby blanket works great i usually swadle them like you would a baby but make sure you have plenty of towel between you and their head and i usually tuck them under my arm so i can have both hands free to work and but it just depends on what you have to do on how and what position you have to hold them but make sure you do have all your supplies at your finger tips and if you have to cut something make sure your scissors are sharp

 

[7L Farm]

I'm agreeing with a towel. It calms them down when you wrap a towel around them. Atleast it calmed my girl down.

 

[ranchhand]

What we lone chicken tenders need are little chicken straitjackets!

 

[Country4ever]

Thanks everyone,
I tried the tightly-wound towel trick and it worked really well! I laid her on her side and could work on her foot really easily. She was such a good patient! She didn't even poop all over me, like she usually does!