Hey everyone, I was hoping I could get some ideas for how to keep a chicken being quarantined indoors from getting too bored or lonely. A few weeks ago I noticed that one of my 2 year old hens was acting slightly sluggish and had a droopy comb. On further inspection, I noticed she had a swollen abdomen. Suspecting water belly, I took her to the vet. It would take $3,000 worth of tests to figure out what might be wrong, something I couldn't afford after having a slew of recent vet bills, so I'm not sure what exactly the reason for her ailment is. But the doctor did confirm that she was pretty badly swollen and had an irregular heart rhythm, which he indicated weren't good signs. She wasn't acting especially pained and still had an appetite (the vet said she probably wasn't suffering so long as she was eating), so I decided to just take her home and try to make whatever life she has left extra comfortable.
Anyway, the vet couldn't give a lot of advice on that front, but he did suggest trying to keep her cool. Since I live in a very hot climate and we're in the middle of an especially bad heat wave, I decided to bring her in once it gets over 90-95 degrees or so. I then return her to the coop at night so she can be with her flock and free range with them in the morning. But these days it gets that hot around 9/10 am, so she's spending a lot of time indoors.
Normally when I bring a chicken in, they obviously don't feel well and don't make much of a fuss being in a crate most of the day since they'd prefer to rest anyway. But bringing this hen in during the heat of the day has seemed to help her, and she's actually more perky and normal than she was when I brought her to the vet. I'm grateful for this, of course, but it also means that she gets bored and lonely during the day.
I'd like to do something to help ease her boredom, but I'm not sure what I can do other than shower her in treats (which I'm already sort of doing). Does anyone have any tips or tricks for keeping a caged chicken happy while they have to be removed from their flock and kept indoors? I was thinking maybe a flock block.... As silly as it sounds, do you think she'd like a chicken equivalent of one of those pet videos people put on to keep dogs and cats entertained? What would that even be?
Anyway, the vet couldn't give a lot of advice on that front, but he did suggest trying to keep her cool. Since I live in a very hot climate and we're in the middle of an especially bad heat wave, I decided to bring her in once it gets over 90-95 degrees or so. I then return her to the coop at night so she can be with her flock and free range with them in the morning. But these days it gets that hot around 9/10 am, so she's spending a lot of time indoors.
Normally when I bring a chicken in, they obviously don't feel well and don't make much of a fuss being in a crate most of the day since they'd prefer to rest anyway. But bringing this hen in during the heat of the day has seemed to help her, and she's actually more perky and normal than she was when I brought her to the vet. I'm grateful for this, of course, but it also means that she gets bored and lonely during the day.
I'd like to do something to help ease her boredom, but I'm not sure what I can do other than shower her in treats (which I'm already sort of doing). Does anyone have any tips or tricks for keeping a caged chicken happy while they have to be removed from their flock and kept indoors? I was thinking maybe a flock block.... As silly as it sounds, do you think she'd like a chicken equivalent of one of those pet videos people put on to keep dogs and cats entertained? What would that even be?
