First, let me say it: you're doing a cluck-tastic job under some seriously fowl circumstances. When a hen's eye goes squint and her face looks like a tiny, feathered crime scene, panic is the natural response. But you've already done the smart stuff, separating her, setting up a dark, quiet crate, and flushing those peepers with saline. That's not chickening out; that's taking charge. Our take is simple: you are right to prioritize her eyes and her safety from the flock, and the good news is you don't need a veterinary degree to keep her stable while she recovers. This kind of scramble is exactly why we wrote about When a hard molt strikes, even your favorite hen's crop can cause fowl play, because sometimes our feathered friends throw us curveballs that feel way bigger than we are.
Now, about those specific questions. You asked how many times to flush her eyes, and the answer is: keep going until that closed lid starts cooperating. You've already seen progress, the squinted one opened a bit after the third flush, which is egg-citing. Stick with the saline three or four times a day, but don't force the lid open if it's sealed shut. If the eye underneath looks clean and free of goop, you're likely dealing with swelling or pain, not an infection. As for the crusted blood, do not give her a full bath. A wet, stressed, concussed hen is a recipe for shock. Instead, use a warm, damp cloth to gently dab at the scabs, don't pick or rub, and focus on the areas the flock would target first: the comb, wattles, and around the eye. The blood will soften and come off gradually. The ears are a no-touch zone; just let them be. If the scabs around them fall off naturally during the dabbing, great. If not, they'll heal and flake on their own.
This situation also echoes something we touched on in Breeding green eggs: mixing Marans, Araucanas, and a Rhode Island dream, the flock dynamic is a delicate dance. A hen who looks different or smells like blood will get bullied, full stop. Your plan to keep her isolated until she's clean and steady is the right one. Reintroduce her slowly, maybe after dark when everyone is roosting, so she can slip back in without a morning pecking party. One last thing to watch: if she isn't opening that closed eye in 48 hours, or if the squinted one starts weeping, you'll need to find a way to a vet, even if that means calling a neighbor or a local farm supply store for a ride. Her life is worth the awkward ask.