Boy, the cost of a "chicken vet" is outragious...

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Actually, if concern for one's flock and concern for the high cost of vet care can both be nullified by culling the bird, it accomplishes quite a bit. It solves two problems. If this is not a solution the OP cares to consider it is certainly her business and she has that option.

I think people are just trying to present this option. In these uncertain times and shaky economic future, it may become more necessary to prioritize for expenses. No, the OP didn't ask if we thought she should kill her chicken. But these kind of questions usually garner some problem solving ideas that the OP may have not arrived at, in her concern for finding a cheaper solution/procedure to her problem. Whether you care to consider it or not, it is still a viable solution to an expensive problem.

 

[NancyDz]

Quote:
Actually it doesnt solve both problems, if her chicken has something that the rest of the flock is exposed to , and possibly is incubating but it hasnt shown yet, culling only gets rid of one chicken, the rest of the flock could all be sick too and she's going to be faced with this problem over and over and eventually the culling results in zero flock left. I know people that have had a necropsy done, and found out a vitamin deficiency or a poison seeping into their coop from their neighbors and remedied it after that for the rest of their flock. So culling that bird would have done nothing for the rest. Sure culling is a viable solution if you have a good idea what it is but not if you don't and in the end could cost your whole flock.

 

[Beekissed]

The "rest of the flock" consists of two birds. I don't think a great financial loss will be suffered here. Let's see......$70 per bird for testing, plus $47 for the office call....versus the cost of three birds....hmmmmmmm.....

Unless, of course, these are expensive show birds, in which case, I would assume money is no object and we wouldn't be having this discussion!

 

[NancyDz]

Quote:
Apparently you didnt read my whole post. culling and saving money doesnt necessarily mean you won't have future problems with future birds in that location ...

Her birds werent even sick, she noticed blood in some poo and wanted to check it out. May be nothing or may be something, she chose to find out what it was for the health of her flock.

 

[bluey]

If the OP considers her chicken a valuable pet, why would she be shocked at the $70 price tag for lab tests (as denoted by her

). "Pets" are expensive to keep. Lab tests are going to be expensive whether you bring in a chicken, dog or elephant. Lab assays are expensive regardless of where the source comes from.

Beekissed is just trying to merely point out that culling a sick bird should be an option considered if price of testing is an issue.

Maybe it's time that BYC opens a "Chickens As Pets" forum, so that a lot of good folks don't waste their time providing logical answers for "Flock Management" questions.

 

[NancyDz]

Pet's are expensive to keep , does that mean you shouldnt try to find a vet that specializes in poultry and the best price? Labs arent always expensive and vary a lot as denoted throughout this thread. Some vets do labs at $5 some over $100. All she was doing was taking in a poo sample.. not getting an exam. I would be shocked at $70 for that too. If my pet was in bad health I might not question the price so much but to have a symptom that may or may not mean anything.. I'd shop around a little. I've had my parrots poo tested for less than $20 , never had a chicken tested but would think it would be in line with that. But what do I know.. none of my answers are "logical"

So one can't have a flock consisting of pets? Interesting.. I didnt realize "flock" denotes only those birds raised for food. Thanks for clarifying that.. if that is the case there should be a pet chicken only section and when those people have multiple chickens they'll have to come up with another word for the Pet "flocks" Would naming your chickens denote them as pets or could they still be flocks? None of my chickens are named... just curious since your's are.


It will be interesting to see what was charged by Dr. Famini through the Humane Society.
I wish the OP would check back in. She had an appt the other day.




Nancy

 

[speckledhen]

Let's try to stay civil, folks. No one is out of line yet, really, but it happens in this type thread.
Every person must decide priorities and make the decision to vet or not vet their birds. Some just cannot afford it, if they can even find a vet with avian experience (and they dont exist here where I live) and they will cull all sick birds. It's a personal decisioin based on priorties and financial consideration, as I see it, just like what to do with older laying hens as their production goes down.
ALL vets are expensive, as far as I'm concerned. It's why after my own dog is gone, after owning dogs my entire life, I will not have another dog unless my financial situation changes. Though my birds are pets, certainly, I can cull a chicken easier than I can euthanize my dog. Everyone is different.

 

[Beekissed]

I do know that this forum consists of thousands of people who have a very different idea about the actual purpose of their chickens. Its very difficult to relate to someone's problems with their chickens if they don't specify if the chickens are merely pets or actual livestock-type operations. Just as what pertains to a small flock would not necessarily pertain to a commercial operation.

Without more specifics, its difficult to arrive at good advice for someone who feels vet prices are high. Most vet prices are high.

So, my advice was given from the standpoint of costs, as this was the only real specific given~that the cost of a chicken vet is thought to be too much. The clarifying adjective "chicken" before the word vet is significant. Most vets are not willing to treat a chicken as a "pet" and won't even offer treatments beyond medicine. Some won't even examine them.

That being said, the difficulty here seems to be that the vets who actually offer treatment for a chicken have too high of prices. I agree. Without knowing if the OP treats her chickens as pets(and even actual pets can have too high a treatment price, as Specklehen points out), my advice was offered in the interest of price.

I think we get it that some will pay any price for the animals they consider as pets. I think we also have absorbed the fact some people consider all their chickens as friends, family, pets, etc. and that finding a good price for their care is important to these folks.

We aren't trying to dispute these facts at all. We just offered a logical solution for a way to make these decisions a little cheaper. I guess I should have added a clarifying statement of my own: If you don't think of your flock as beloved pets and don't want to spend a lot of money, you could try the very sensible option of culling for illnesses. A lot of people do it and it saves them money, worry, and time.....all of which are desirable things.

You are not alone if you choose this option and a goodly portion of people here will not think less of you if you should choose this option.

By the same token, if you don't wish to kill your pet chicken(s), you are also not alone and noone will think less of you. Some will, however, tell you to buckle down for more high priced vet visits in the future. Pets are costly and you never get that money back. Chickens for food and eggs are costly, but you may make a profit or at least break even if you manage your flock as cheaply and efficiently as possible.

How's that? Does that make everyone happy?

 

[NancyDz]

Nice post Beekissed, yes your wording is better I think it was some of the wording here that raised my hackles a bit.

Thanks for reclarifying!

Now I wish she'd check in with the outcome of this.

Nancy

 

[dturren]

Hello everyone: I've been holding my breath each time I read the new posts. I'm sorry that I have caused so much upset in this thread. I assure you that it was not my intention. I would like to clarify all the confusion: My three girls are pets. I give the eggs away as I really don't use many eggs except for baking or recipies that call for eggs. I did, indeed, go to Dr. Dan at the Humane Society of Sonoma County and found him wonderful and very knowledgable about chickens. I was charged $30 for the office call, $16 for the fecal test (he mixed all three together so it was only one test), and I did have the inhouse occult blood test for $24 because I wanted to find out which chicken had blood in her stool. I had only two done as I figured the process of elimination would work. The blood test showed that Rosemary had the blood, but Dr Dan said it was such a small amount that he could suggest no treatment, that I should keep an eye on her. That I will do. I do treat these chickens as I do my dogs and cats, and feel an obligation to try to be as responsible for their care as I can. I plan to attend the meeting that the Humane Society plans in April. I understand that a class will be held to teach us how to check for worms in our birds. Hopefully the blood problem will just go away.

I want to thank both NancyDZ and Beekissed. I think you both were genuinely trying to offer valid recommendations for my situation and both of you not knowing me, were just trying to offer your opinions as to what each would do in my case. Others have given great recommendations also, I want to include them in my thanks. This forum is absolutely wonderful for the many diverse people who offer their thoughts and suggestions. I hope we can accept each others opinions and continue to participate. That's what makes this forum so great!

Thanks, again, to everyone for your input. Donna