On the 1st of october i hatched 7 cochin bantams, they are now 12 weeks old and beautiful.
One was born the same size as all the rest but i was concerned about her from day 1 as she sat in the corner by herself and only moved to drink and eat.
Also she has never walked properly, it's more of a slow waddle when she does move.
I did post on here several times asking for advice and help, but no one really knew what could be wrong.
When i hatched my next lot of chicks (2 marans) i moved her in with the new chicks as i thought she would be better with the little ones as her hatch mates were getting big and trampoling all over her, she did a great job mothering the 2 chicks.
Now i am back to square 1, the marans chicks are massive compared to her and some times when they get excited, if she is in the way, the will trampole over her also.
Part of me feels i should of culled her when she hatched, the other part of me feels it is not my decission to take a life, after all she has lived fine with what ever is wrong with her for 12 weeks, she has managed and got by.
I just don't know how to proceed with this chick, she is the size of a 2-3 week old, still sits in a corner most of the day on her own. When i let the marans out to freerange for a few hours, she waits by the mesh door, looking out for them and it's like she cries out and calls them. I have tried letting her out with them but she sits huddled in a corner getting cold, so i no longer take her outside.
i worry that one day i will find they have squashed her to death and if i put her on her own she will be so lonely and probably cold.
Having her as a house chicken is not an option as my husband would never allow it.
What can i do? has anyone had a chick that has failed to thive for this long? and what can i expect the out come for her to be?
Any help, advice, ideas, anything will be so gratefully recieved.
One was born the same size as all the rest but i was concerned about her from day 1 as she sat in the corner by herself and only moved to drink and eat.
Also she has never walked properly, it's more of a slow waddle when she does move.
I did post on here several times asking for advice and help, but no one really knew what could be wrong.
When i hatched my next lot of chicks (2 marans) i moved her in with the new chicks as i thought she would be better with the little ones as her hatch mates were getting big and trampoling all over her, she did a great job mothering the 2 chicks.
Now i am back to square 1, the marans chicks are massive compared to her and some times when they get excited, if she is in the way, the will trampole over her also.
Part of me feels i should of culled her when she hatched, the other part of me feels it is not my decission to take a life, after all she has lived fine with what ever is wrong with her for 12 weeks, she has managed and got by.
I just don't know how to proceed with this chick, she is the size of a 2-3 week old, still sits in a corner most of the day on her own. When i let the marans out to freerange for a few hours, she waits by the mesh door, looking out for them and it's like she cries out and calls them. I have tried letting her out with them but she sits huddled in a corner getting cold, so i no longer take her outside.
i worry that one day i will find they have squashed her to death and if i put her on her own she will be so lonely and probably cold.
Having her as a house chicken is not an option as my husband would never allow it.
What can i do? has anyone had a chick that has failed to thive for this long? and what can i expect the out come for her to be?
Any help, advice, ideas, anything will be so gratefully recieved.
