seriously, steve, you misread my comment....what I said was that I was upset at first, but then decided you were comming from a place in your heart that was more concerned about the well-being of the animal than anything else, and for that reason I was specifically NOT upset with your comments. I also explained that the delay was much more about giving the chick enough time that 1.) I could be certain it would not improve, as well as 2.) waiting to hear from experts-like yourself- about whether I should cull it AND the most humane way to do that. Instead you seem to be focused on my "tender feelings" I think you called them. Imagine if I had just lopped this chicks head off the first day something didn't look right, then I'd received information such as the one about splayed-leg syndrome that could have instructed me how to heal the chick. In that case I suspect you might have condemned me for killing a helpless animal too quickly and before I took the time to learn about its condition and possible treatments available. Keep in mind that this problem only became apparent on Tuesday night- barely- and really it was wednesday before I was sure SOMETHING was wrong. That was 2 days ago. I don't think thats the same as your example of the chick that was forced to live a sad life for TWO MONTHS before dying. I also don't think your characterization of this thread as "drama" is accurate or fair. I appreciate and respect every single entry in here and they gave me not only comfort (which I know is irrelavent to you) but also EDUCATION, and reassurance. It may have taken me 2 to 2.5 days, buts thats how long it took ME to be sure that euthanizia is appropriate in this case and the best way to do it. I understand that it wouldn't have taken you that long, but I implore you to remember back to when you were new to hatching and raising chicks. I've seen enough of your posts and your web site that I have no doubt of you expertise....I VERY MUCH do trust in your knowledge and believe you to be highly informed, experienced, and well versed in this field. But I am not. I'm quite new, in fact, so it took me a little longer than it would you before I was certain that this chick has an incurable problem, that it should be culled, and how that should be done. As the prior comment said, it just takes experts less time to know what to do than it does beginniners, but 2 to 2.5 days still doesn't seem all that long to me....especially when the chick is showing no signs of pain or suffering other than having to sit/lay all the time....not a good life but also not a condition that seems to demand instant action.
As for your threat to turn me into the police if you knew where I was....... I'll leave it to others to form their own opinion about that. Just because we disagree on whether or not I should have killed this chick the first day or waited 2 more days to educate myself, I would have hoped that we would still be able to have mature discussions and even express differing opinions without resorting to threats. And if your desire to "turn me in" is based on proptecting the other chicks or protecting area wildlife or other altruistic reasons, I fail to see how your words helped any of those....seemed to come from a place of anger and a desire to "get me" but as I said, I'll let others decide what that was all about. But I hope you remember, or look back at my posts, that I aquired these eggs only after the hen and nest were destroyed and they 0% chance at survival on their own. Also, this is not a pattern of behavior that needs to be stopped- it the first and only time in my life that I have saved wild animals, and I certainly have not benefited in any way- to the contrary, I've opened myself to critisism, spent my money, and exposed myself to some liability- which clearly you would like to capitalize on. I have also acknowledged from my very first post that I know opinions may differ on whther I should have saved the eggs or let them decompose, but I asked that since the "damage" (or the "saving"-depends on view point) has already been done, I'd appreciate people helping me to do the best thing for the chicks from this point forward,whatever the opinion of what I should or shouldn't have done. I'm sorry you want to turn me in, but you can see that there are also people who think saving the eggs was the right thing. Opinions differ, I just wish you didn't feel compelled to threaten me because of it. Now, I felt I had to address your comments and make some clarifications. Now that I've done that, I sincerely would like to see if we can please just agree to disagree and focus on the positive things. As I've said, I have great respect for your knowledge of and experience with hatching and raising birds. I'm sorry for anything I've done and said before this post that upset you and I very sincerely would like to find a way that we could put our differences aside and concentrate on the well being of my chicks. I may well need your help/advice again in the future, and I would like to think that- at least in the interest of the chicks- youd be willing to give it.
to the rest of you, I deeply apologize for this exhange and I, for one, sincerely regret that such an incredibly helpful, supportive,and educational thread has been temporarily hijacked by a personal disagreement... I also accept my own role in it since it takes 2 people to have an exchange of this nature. I do promise to direct any future posts of this nature to the appropriate personal mailbox. But since the post to which I am referring and addressing was publicly posted and felt compelled to respond in kind. It won't happen again, and Iam sorry. I hope this doesn't detract from all of your desire to answer my call for help, and I certainlyam gateful to you all for your kindness, your support, and your general information...it has all been incredibly helpful. Thanks.
