California - Northern

[ronott1]

I hate having to put chicks down but Id rather it not suffer the agony of a slow death. One of my delaware chicks was not doing well and had become very listless and we could not get it to eat and drink. It couldnt stand without help. We have another Delaware that is having standing problems and falls over but can get upright on its own and stay upright for quite a while but ends up on its side when it sleeps. We also have a silkie chick with what looks like either severe splayed leg or a dislocated hip. We are trying several things to help her grow into her legs but she eats and drinks when stuff is presented to her. We are hand feeding her and the other Delaware in hopes that a little growth will improve their conditions. So out of 22 eggs in my, less than optimal, incubator we had 8 hatch but 6 had or have problems 2 Pita Pinta sticky chicks have overcome their issues and doing fine. Hatched 4 Delaware,3 Pita Pinta 1 Silkie.

Its so funny to watch chicks go from tearing around the box to asleep then pop back up again. Considering all the problems with my bator Im happy with the ones I have.

I hope your next hatch is better!

 

[Sylvester017]

I hate having to put chicks down but Id rather it not suffer the agony of a slow death. One of my delaware chicks was not doing well and had become very listless and we could not get it to eat and drink. It couldnt stand without help. We have another Delaware that is having standing problems and falls over but can get upright on its own and stay upright for quite a while but ends up on its side when it sleeps. We also have a silkie chick with what looks like either severe splayed leg or a dislocated hip. We are trying several things to help her grow into her legs but she eats and drinks when stuff is presented to her. We are hand feeding her and the other Delaware in hopes that a little growth will improve their conditions. So out of 22 eggs in my, less than optimal, incubator we had 8 hatch but 6 had or have problems 2 Pita Pinta sticky chicks have overcome their issues and doing fine. Hatched 4 Delaware,3 Pita Pinta 1 Silkie.

Its so funny to watch chicks go from tearing around the box to asleep then pop back up again. Considering all the problems with my bator Im happy with the ones I have.

Putting down any animal is heartbreaking. DH and I were discussing our past chickens of what was wrong with some and how we tried to save them - but in the end we found the ones that died naturally or had to be euthanized was the best for them in the long run. Many people try to give a disabled chicken a good start but some maladies just never correct and sometimes the best answer is culling to save pain or suffering that we might not be aware of. Nature sometimes takes care of the culling for us. Some disabilities/maladies are easy corrections but some are not worth putting a chicken through for the rest of it's life. Your Pita's sound like a pretty hardy breed.

 

[ronott1]

Putting down any animal is heartbreaking. DH and I were discussing our past chickens of what was wrong with some and how we tried to save them - but in the end we found the ones that died naturally or had to be euthanized was the best for them in the long run. Many people try to give a disabled chicken a good start but some maladies just never correct and sometimes the best answer is culling to save pain or suffering that we might not be aware of. Nature sometimes takes care of the culling for us. Some disabilities/maladies are easy corrections but some are not worth putting a chicken through for the rest of it's life. Your Pita's sound like a pretty hardy breed.

I give them hospice care--I do not go to great lengths to treat them.

It works for me and my flock.

 

[caychris]

Putting down any animal is heartbreaking. DH and I were discussing our past chickens of what was wrong with some and how we tried to save them - but in the end we found the ones that died naturally or had to be euthanized was the best for them in the long run. Many people try to give a disabled chicken a good start but some maladies just never correct and sometimes the best answer is culling to save pain or suffering that we might not be aware of. Nature sometimes takes care of the culling for us. Some disabilities/maladies are easy corrections but some are not worth putting a chicken through for the rest of it's life. Your Pita's sound like a pretty hardy breed.

The one I put down seemed to have a problem with its spine. The wings seemed misaligned and one was broken (or malformed) i think.

If the silkie was not eating vigorously when offered food I would have put her down too but when they show a will to live I think we should give them every opportunity even if that life isn't ideal. Their display of determination is a deciding factor for me. If there is a chance for them to overcome and live a life (even if semi disabled) I think they deserve that chance.

 

[sonoralinda]

I have my husband do it. I am a wimp.

I am also a wimp when it comes to butchering anything.

 

[h2oratt]

Thank you whomever said to use the flashlight on the iPhone. It worked and I saw veining. Ian very excited. Only on day 10 but I didn't think I had anything fertile in there.

 

[sonoralinda]

Using the cell phone flashlight is a great idea, if it's powerful enough, never thought of that!

 

[gander007]

Quote:
I have been butchering chickens and animals for over 40 years and you are no wimp don't even think that as there is nothing good about it other then you have food at the end and after hatching and raising the little creatures it is very hard and heart breaking so enjoy it if you can get someone else to do the job

Enjoy your Easter weekend

 

[Sylvester017]

I give them hospice care--I do not go to great lengths to treat them.

It works for me and my flock.

When we see progress we will indoor nurse a sick bird but I once had to go with the vet's recommendation to euthanize a very pretty bird we both were hoping would recover. We all do what we can - if there's good prognoses I will invest in vet bills, but a couple birds we just couldn't save.

 

[Sylvester017]

The one I put down seemed to have a problem with its spine. The wings seemed misaligned and one was broken (or malformed) i think.

If the silkie was not eating vigorously when offered food I would have put her down too but when they show a will to live I think we should give them every opportunity even if that life isn't ideal. Their display of determination is a deciding factor for me. If there is a chance for them to overcome and live a life (even if semi disabled) I think they deserve that chance.

Not having had a large flock of birds to gain medical expertise I've relied heavily on my vet. He's helped us save a little black Silkie a couple times when we thought she was going to expire (she's prone to respiratory issues) but another time he helped us treat/save a blue Ameraucana but after several days of treatments she only got worse and had to be put down. We do what we can to save our birds but sometimes Nature has a different plan.