chicken gone bad

[Chickassan]

I will only cull if somebody is sick and there is nothing that can be done and even then I have the vet do it. I had enough chicken plucking to do me a lifetime when I was a kid. These girls and guys are pets they have nothing but a nice life ahead of them. I've got a soft spot for old chickens anyway.

 

[chickenonice]

Great, thanks! You've taught me not only about my chickens, but also the two bunnies we keep in the same enclosure. We do have a couple of wild husky-mutts that would be just happy to cull the flock for us...

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I also have a husky who was once a chicken-killer. I wouldn't let your dogs "cull" your chickens. Even if it's quick, that's a stressful situation for the chickens, and could lead your dogs to feeling encouraged to try to get to your younger, healthy chickens as well. Having the dogs trying to eat the chickens could stress out the rest of your flock at just the sight of one of your dogs, leading to health issues or with-holding egg laying.... It's just messy all around. I strongly suggest you do it yourself in a humane way.

 

[chickenonice]

They've already culled three on accident.

 

[cacknballs]

They've already culled three on accident.

that's killed, not culled.

just sayin'

: )

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Yeah... You can train them out of that. It does take time and a lot of effort. However, having gone from "I have a husky who tries to slaughter my chickens enmasse. Oh help. What am I going to do. I don't want to get rid of her but she will NEVER change, she just stares at them desperately all day long with her mouth watering, crying, trying to bite them through the fences, not even a shock collar stops her..."
To "Oh. A chicken is out right next to the husky. Come here husky! Good dog not attacking the chicken. Stay. I'm going to put the chicken away now."
I know from experience that it can be done.
(She still kills other things, her newest love is hunting rats, but not the chickens. She ignores them.)

And if you have the option to cull them yourself, you should step up, take responsibility, and do so. It's the best thing for all the animals. Being responsible for the lives in your care is the most important thing about owning them. If you can't do it or find someone to do it in a humane way, you may want to rethink taking on that responsibility.
Accidents between chickens and predators happen. So do accidents between people and cars. That doesn't mean we should encourage them.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I have both , I have some serama pets that are getting up there that will stay pets and I have eaten many a rooster because I hatched too many. I dont eat sick hens I will cull them but I give them back to nature. I will also treat them if I can expect a good outcome. Once I had no food and I culled to feed my family. It was them or us. And it was good. My 11 yr. old grandson asked to cull I didnt make him. I told him what to expect and I stood by to make sure it was fast. He is learning to take care of himself and has turned into a great chicken keeper ? I dont know what else to call it. LOL Anyway, I think it just depends on circumstances .

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I think it's too much effort to eat most egg hens to be honest, though kudos on those who would put forth that effort. Too many feathers, not enough meat for me. We usually compost them. This is especially true if it was a bird that we liked a lot.

And yes, very circumstantial in a small flock. I had two hens, sisters. One slowed down last year and I didn't cull. She soon (over a month or so) became ostracized by the flock (she used to be bossy) and they pecked her head so hard she started walking funny. I thought maybe she'd get better if I gave her a little time. Next thing I know she's being carried off by a hawk just a few days later. She couldn't get under cover fast enough.

Her sister still lays me a few eggs a week and is very non confrontational. She's reaching that age, though, so I am keeping a close eye on her. She now lays mis-shapen eggs every time. They have a funny bump on them, same spot, every time. She will probably be leaving us this fall. But that's still a full year longer than her sister!

 

[Top Rooster]

Overall there are very valid reasons to cull or to not cull a chicken, I only cull them if their sick or if their in lots of pain, or if their evil roosters. I understand both sides and I lay in the middle of the spectrum I won't cull if they just stop laying eggs I would only cull if their in pain, although I would most likely give them away when they stop laying.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I haven't killed or given away any of my chickens, they are pets to me (the eggs are just a bonus in my opinion). I couldn't even give away the roosters, so now I have a rooster flock.