Chick with no eyes :(

[tori8780]

Is it kindest to cull her? I got her from a breeder and she is 5 days old and I dont think she's eaten since she was hatched. She's very weak, but drinks when I dip her beak in water. I cant get her to eat. So sad for this little chick and I dont know what to do to help her. She also had a horrible case of pasty butt but I've cleaned that up.

 

[Belletower]

If it was me, I'd figure out what kind of time I have to devote to helping it out ... Poor thing! If you really can't manage it, them the only thing to do is send her off to a better place. But if you are situated for such a project, you could try dipping its little beak into a mash which might give her the idea to eat? Most creatures eventually adjust to handicaps with a little help ... That situation would be so hard for me ... I wish you the best.

 

[tori8780]

If it was me, I'd figure out what kind of time I have to devote to helping it out ... Poor thing! If you really can't manage it, them the only thing to do is send her off to a better place. But if you are situated for such a project, you could try dipping its little beak into a mash which might give her the idea to eat? Most creatures eventually adjust to handicaps with a little help ... That situation would be so hard for me ... I wish you the best.

The thing is I dont have a lot of time unfortunately. Between working full time, grad school part time and our little backyard farm I just dont think I have lots of time Plus, she has other problems. I growth on her belly, terrible pasty butt that I cleared up and splayed legs. Poor little thing.

 

[Belletower]

Oh man it's probably only a one answer kind of thing then. . Maybe a crazy chicken person would adopt her via Craigslist or something? I know I sound like a rube but I have a soft heart!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Sometimes the kindest thing is to put them down. Birds are very visual creatures as compared to say a dog or cat that will learn to feel it's way around it's environment and has a superb sense of smell to locate food etc. I always base my decisions on what quality of life I think the animal is going to have. If a reasonable quality of life can be had then I will do all I can, but if an animal will just be existing, not living as it should or having any enjoyment in life then I let them go.

 

[Belletower]

Sometimes the kindest thing is to put them down.  Birds are very visual creatures as compared to say a dog or cat that will learn to feel it's way around it's environment and has a superb sense of smell to locate food etc.  I always base my decisions on what quality of life I think the animal is going to have.  If a reasonable quality of life can be had then I will do all I can, but if an animal will just be existing, not living as it should or having any enjoyment in life then I let them go.

Oh I didn't think of that ... Of course! A sightless bird can't forage or peck around!

 

[Northie]

Agree with cafarmgirl. It would probably be kindest to cull the chick. It sucks that the breeder sold you a sick chick. They shouldn't have passed that animal on to you. That wasn't fair and now it's your trouble and heart ache when they should have culled it in the first place.

 

[tori8780]

Sometimes the kindest thing is to put them down. Birds are very visual creatures as compared to say a dog or cat that will learn to feel it's way around it's environment and has a superb sense of smell to locate food etc. I always base my decisions on what quality of life I think the animal is going to have. If a reasonable quality of life can be had then I will do all I can, but if an animal will just be existing, not living as it should or having any enjoyment in life then I let them go.

This is good advice. As I watch the chick all she does is stand and look up. No moving around, laying down or anything. All the others just run her over. I do not think she would have a good life.