Chick hatched with no eyes!!!!!

[oesdog]

Don;t kill it just yet !!!!!!!!!!!!!! See how it copes first!!!!!!!!!!! I mean I have a blind kid andwe didn;t kill him!!!!!!!
If the chick never had eyes it wont miss them it will think it normal like blind people do. - the one who says Kill Kill KIll it a bit daft. I mean if it isn;t in pain and isn;t suffering then there is no reason for killing. I had a chick born 2nd June and it had is guts on the outside - now theres a problem !!!!! We had to kill it very sad! Sometimes its kind to do that but not for Blind or even loss of a wing as they are flightless birds and can learn ballance.

 

[speckledhen]

Folks, watch the name calling and guilt-tripping! That will get this thread closed in a heartbeat. The OP is trying to make a tough decision and that is completely unhelpful. I've asked other moderators to check on this thread so calm down, please.

This is one chick. What happens when the next handicapped one comes along, and the next and the next? One handicapped animal is a heavy responsibility, several may be way too much. Making these decisions is part of chicken-keeping and the choice is not always so clear cut.

 

[schellie69]

what a hard choice to make I know you will do what is right for you and the chick. as care taker of animals it is our job to make sure they don't suffer and make sure that we take their needs before ours, I had to make some hard desions about having our animals to sleep my DS just made the desion a few months ago on his ferret, the vet did not give him much chance of getting better but offered some meds ect my son said no that he was suffering and made the desion to put him to sleep he stayed with him the whole time and brought him home and buried him my son is 18 and I am very proud of him for putting the animals well being above his own feelings about not wanting to lose his pet that is what are duty as animal care takers is to put the needs 0f the animals before our own.

 

[dipence71]

I am so sorry about the chick.

It is a difficult decision and one you have to make that YOU can live with.
A chicken as much as I love mine, IS an animal, Why would it be any different to have meaties. You raise them, then eat them. So no guilt trips here. Poor thing This is hard enough.

Sending you thoughts and hugs...

 

[gumpsgirl]

Checking in here!

I suppose it is time for me to give my opinion too and I have to agree with those who say cull it. First off, let me say that I have 5 children with very tender hearts here and culling is never taken lightly at my house and that advice is not being given lightly. You really have to take a step back and look at the whole picture here. Comparing a chicks life to a humans is just absurd. No, don't start throwing stones at me just yet because I do have good reasoning behind that statement.

I just hatched a group of 40 chicks about 2 1/2 weeks ago. One chick came out to where it couldn't stand, something just wasn't right with it's joints or legs. We did everything we could and gave it several days to see if it would, or even could, have a chance. Well, being the underdog that it was, the rest of the chicks attacked it, I mean literally ATTACKED it, when I put it in the brooder. They kept pecking at it and would grab it's toes and start dragging it. What kind of life was that little chick going to have and what would have been my purpose in leaving it to be killed by the other chicks? Could I have put it in a separate brooder and let it hang on as long as it could? Sure I could of and we actually tried it, however, it just cried and cried. I finally convinced myself amongst 3 sobbing children that I had to cull it. I was not going to let it suffer, out of loneliness or being beat to death by it's brooder mates. Now step back for a moment and ask yourself how "humane" those last two options would have been? Mind you, I had three sobbing children at this point to and mommy's are suppose to fix things. It hurt my heart to have my kids hurt too, but I had to do what was in the best interest for that little chick and not what us humans wanted.

Now back to the blind chick. Have you ever sat and watched a group of chicks in a brooder? They run around watching the others and always, always, always peck at each other, right? Well, if this little chick cannot see to get out of the way or know which way to go in to get out of the way, how do you think it's going to survive with the others trampling it and pecking at it? Anyone who's raised chicks knows this will happen. Now ask yourselves exactly how humane it would be for that little chick to end up with that type of treatment? Next try and consider it finding its water and food supply. Could the OP hand feed it? Sure she could, but chicks eat and drink ALL of the time and I don't know about any of you, but there would be absolutely NO WAY my busy schedule (I'm even a full time at home mom) would permit me to sit all day long and hand feed this chick. NO WAY!

Now all feelings aside and with the proper picture painted, ask yourselves what would be the most humane thing to do here. I think most everyone will agree that it would be best to cull. That is part of raising chicks and part of farm life. It's the part that stinks but it is what it is.

To the OP - Culling doesn't have to be disgusting and if you would like a humane, non-disgusting way to help this chick, feel free to PM me.

 

[MuranoFarms]

C'mon people STOP IT! These are not kids or grandmothers or any other humans, they are FARM ANIMALS. Part of raising farm animals involves culling if the animals quality of life is diminished. If you cannot handle the realities of keeping livestock then you need to find something else to do. Perhaps raise kittens? Or start a puppy mill? The fact is a chick without eyes will not even be able to see shadows to know where the shade or sun is. He could easily die of heat exhaustion because he can't find his way out of the sun. Or starvation....dehydration. It's actually not a matter of If he will die but when and how. Can you imagine what would happen if a predator came? Might as well serve him up on a platter! This will have to be a house pet in a cage, fed by hand several times a day. Yeah.....sounds like a great life to me.

Let the OP make her decision without trying to control her with guilt! We are supposed to support each other here!

Now that I think about it.....I've yet to hear any of the "don't cull, don't cull" people offer to get in their cars and drive to pick that chick up and take care of it themselves. Kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Wow,

to the OP, this is not easy on you I am sure. If it was ME, and I was YOU, I would probably have to cull it or have someone else do that for me. I cant imagine how sad the life will be for that chick, when its being chased by other chickens, cant find food or a warm place to sleep etc.. I am sorry you are having to face this decision but I guess it is a decision we all must face sooner or later when we allow any of our animals (dogs, birds, cows etc..) to breed.

again on what I know isnt a easy decision!

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you, Stacey, for your input. I'm sure it's appreciated by the OP. Years and years of chicken keeping will bring all sorts of these issues. My own crippled Zane has been unable to walk for two years--he's only two and a half. How long will he live? Possibly for many years to come. He's very healthy, but I have to keep him that way. I have to dust him, clip his toenails and spurs, make sure he doesn't get sores on his bad hock from being on the ground, make sure he can reach food and water daily, make sure his straw is never wet because he has to lay down in it all the time, bring his girlfriend Gypsy to visit with him on occasion, etc. He's hawk bait when he's out on the lawn in the sunshine, so we have to keep an eye on him when he's getting some sun. If he ever loses interest in life or becomes ill, we will euthanize him. If we just can't, we'll get a friend to do it. Quality of life is what its all about and whether or not I can give that to him.

 

[gumpsgirl]

You are welcome Cyn and yes! Quality of life is what it's all about here! This poor little chick wouldn't have any kind of quality. Although Zane cannot walk, he can still see and be alert to the things around him. That in itself makes a huge difference.

 

[El Naked Neck]

Quote:
so what you are saying is save the blind chick becouse you have a blind kid and you did'n kill him. There is a big difference from a chick and a human life.

i'll put the chick out