chick with severe spraddle leg - UPDATE: my first cull :-(((

[chickenzoo]

so sorry, but it was for the best. You kept it from suffering. It is up there now with all the other babies that we had to part with. I wish I could say it get's easier, it is still hard for me but easier to make the decision to keep one from suffering.

 

[technodoll]

I am thoroughly traumatized and don't know if I can sleep tonight - still super nauseous and having flashbacks, oh god why do you test me like this???

 

[MissDeb]

This sounds like something I am going through right now, can you tell me if your chick looked like the photo in this thread?


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=326976

I havent had much for replies, not sure why? But it looks like we'll be culling it sometime tonight or in the AM....

Take care! I'm so sorry you had your first cull, it doesnt get any easier!

 

[technodoll]

Quote:
My chick had the exact same thing... only it was born with legs split sideways, after a few hours with a splint the legs went straight in front. it couldn't move, just dragged its bottom on the ground, little wings desperately flailing. Hips not pulling legs into place, bum heavy and unbalancing body movement. I spoke with a longtime breeder and he said that it was sadly a malformation due to bad positioning in the shell during development and there was no cure for it... I'm still sick to my stomach and (( hugs )) to you if you decide to cull... I don't think I'll ever be able to do it again, it took everything out of me. Good luck with your decision...

 

[Katy]

I know it's a hard thing to do, but it comes along with hatching chicks. This more than likely won't be the last time you need to do it unfortunately.

 

[LarryPQ]

 

[Tangerine farmer]

It's a heart wrenching thing to do! Especially when they are little innocent, "good" creatures!

I kill gophers that I trap (they eat my tree roots and kill the tree). Sometimes when I check the trap which is supposed to jerk up on their body and kill instantly... they are not dead. I slam them on the head with the back of a shovel so they stop suffering... no blood. Now, one wouldn't call them "good" creatures, but it's still very tough for me to do.

It will never be easy to kill a little chick who you had dreams for. I am not looking forward to it, good for you for doing what was right for the little girl!

 

[KKatknap]

I so feel for you techno. I had to do that with one of my beautiful sweet babies, too, this last time around. I admire your courage. I couldn't do the shears thing. I used the CO2 method. Bawled the whole time. Cried every time I thought about it for several days.

You did the right thing. Concentrate on the good, healthy babies you have. That's what I did and it helped.

 

[emvickrey]

I'm sorry. I had to cull my first one ever a couple weeks ago. It's horrible to have to do but necessary. The one I had was doing fine and at 1 week old it stopped eating and was getting weak. I ended it instead of letting it starve.

 

[suebee]

Techno, is this another chick? I remember your post about the chick being fixed using the pipe cleaner method.

I had a chick with spraddle leg. We used an elastic hair band twisted and taped in the middle to form a "hobble" and the chick was walking normally within 24 hours. We certainly held our breath wondering if it would work and it did. I hate culling any chicken, especially little chicks. So sorry.