Colorado

[uzisuzuki]

Yesterday my babies were mauled by a hawk. The dog was not in the yard, go figure. Luckily, I got out there before he killed anyone, but one of my EE chick, bandit, has a broken wing with protruding bones. Obviously I have two options, vet amputation or cull. I tried to set the bones, but it's just not possible and she will eventually die from infection of its not amputated at the break. My husband rushed home from work when he got my text. He was ready to cull and is mad at me for letting her suffer. He agreed now that she has recovered from shock that she worth saving. I just don't know where to find and avian vet and I know it's going to be hella costly. I can afford a vet bill, I'm just not sure if I can justify it. So, the search begins. I wrapped her wing with gauze and cleaned it with providone iodine and bactracin. I also have her a smal shot of antibiotics. She is in good spirits and happy to be close to me or her sisters.

The vet I see (that Margie quoted) is really great. Her name is Dr. Miller. Here's the Google search for avian vets in CO: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=avian vet colorado - I hope there's one on there that can help you out, if you go that route.

For me, it was worth finding a vet that would take birds because the bird that got sick was close to $300. More than that, they're not livestock for me - I'm not raising them to eventually eat, so killing one that I have the ability to save doesn't sit right with me. I'm positive this also has a LOT to do with the fact that my first dog died terribly because I couldn't and didn't have the ability to go to a vet to catch the problem early.

Everyone is different, though. A few weeks ago, I had someone shaming me for wanting to take my shrink wrapped chick in for a checkup if it made it into fully feathered age and was told I should just "use a hatch" on it now. Not wanting to pay the money to take a chicken to the vet doesn't make someone coldhearted, it's the way they tell someone else their opinion about it that does.

 

[coop410silkies]

The vet I see (that Margie quoted) is really great. Her name is Dr. Miller. Here's the Google search for avian vets in CO: https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=avian vet colorado - I hope there's one on there that can help you out, if you go that route.

For me, it was worth finding a vet that would take birds because the bird that got sick was close to $300. More than that, they're not livestock for me - I'm not raising them to eventually eat, so killing one that I have the ability to save doesn't sit right with me. I'm positive this also has a LOT to do with the fact that my first dog died terribly because I couldn't and didn't have the ability to go to a vet to catch the problem early.

Everyone is different, though. A few weeks ago, I had someone shaming me for wanting to take my shrink wrapped chick in for a checkup if it made it into fully feathered age and was told I should just "use a hatch" on it now. Not wanting to pay the money to take a chicken to the vet doesn't make someone coldhearted, it's the way they tell someone else their opinion about it that does.

It seems this is a rather touchy subject, huh? Caring for - and taking one's pets to the vet - is surely for the benefit of the caregiver and NOT for the patient. It depends on what a person can sleep well with. For example, I don't eat my pets, but I can certainly understand eating livestock, especially since I'm not ready to be a vegetarian. And sometimes it's hard to put a $value on a pet that is dear to me. LS stated the issue well. OK, so here is my question: is it OK to have a pet when you don't have the ability to go to a vet, or provide a good home or proper feed?

I just finished spending a few vet bucks on a bumble footed Roo; he nearly recovered then got into a fight and had a relapse. A few more vet$. Got better and then into another fight, and I declined the invitation from the vet to come in for another follow up. I can sleep with this because I believe I have done my best, and everything has worked out well, and I'm still a little short of being bankrupt. Were I a little less secure, however, I might be having second thoughts, doubts and worries, and less sleep. It's all so situational and relative, I can hardly think there is one answer for everyone. I hope I remember this before I start being judgmental about anyone.

 

[Latestarter]

I understand where pets are concerned, honest, I do... I spent almost a grand to purchase my Golden Retriever... Spent about 1/2 that to buy my Toli/Pyr cross (and twice that if you include the trip to go get him and return). They will each be with me (God willing) for the better part of 12-15 years. Can I justify spending as much or more to have vet service done to them if something happens to them? Of course I can! Each were rather large investments. But could I/would I justify spending 50 times the purchase price (or more) if something happened to them? I'm sorry, I just can't... livestock or pet makes no difference really... it's just too much.

I'm sure this is gonna raise even more hackles, but it's like folks who have terminal cancer that spend tens of thousands... hundreds of thousands of dollars to live another month... I mean, if you're wealthy and have nothing better to do with your money, more power to you... But how about donating those funds to help save a saveable life? A child who needs an operable surgery? a person who could potentially live another 20, 30 even 50 years? I mean, if it were me, I KNOW I'm going to die... It's just a matter of when. Is that one more month (spent mostly in pain or drugged up so I don't even know what's going on around me to avoid that pain) really worth wiping out what could be passed on to my kids and their kids? Make me comfortable and let me go.

It's not just a touchy subject regarding pets, now is it? I'll leave the subject here... Not really what the thread or forum is for after all. Anyone have some pretty pictures to share? Weather sure is getting nice. Think I'll roll the Harley out for a spin tomorrow.

 

[madileana]

My husband was a vet tech while he was going to law school. So, we talked it over and gathered some materials and removed the wing ourselves. We gave her local anesthesia and using a cauterizing blade, removed the wing at the broken joint. There was almost no bleeding and everything went very smoothly. We soaked everything with iodine and stiched her up nicely. She is perky, drinking water and resting in the brooder. I just couldn't justify $1200 for something we could do at home. We were very lucky that my husband had animal medical knowledge. We also maped out the wing anatomy. She is on antibiotics and I'll keep you posted on her recovery.

The wing postop

Removed wing
And what you DO want to see. Recovery!!!

 

[Latestarter]

Well, you'll now have a Nascar chicken...it will always fly in circles... right or left? Any guesses? Suppose it would depend on what wing got clipped... Glad you saved $1200!

 

[coop410silkies]

My husband was a vet tech while he was going to law school. So, we talked it over and gathered some materials and removed the wing ourselves. We gave her local anesthesia and using a cauterizing blade, removed the wing at the broken joint. There was almost no bleeding and everything went very smoothly. We soaked everything with iodine and stiched her up nicely. She is perky, drinking water and resting in the brooder. I just couldn't justify $1200 for something we could do at home. We were very lucky that my husband had animal medical knowledge. We also maped out the wing anatomy. She is on antibiotics and I'll keep you posted on her recovery.

The wing postop

Removed wing
And what you DO want to see. Recovery!!!

sw
Oh! Great job! Your hen looks good. I know from, from experience, that chickens who want to live will find a way to survive. It seems almost miraculous, and we humans could learn a lot from them about this. Best wishes for your patient, I say she does fine.

 

[Robilyn81]

Hello fellow Coloradoans! Sorry to hear the sad news madileana but happy to see she has a chance at recovery!

Just wanted to say hi as I just got started with my own mountain state chickens. They are fun! Actually I am located up in prairie no-wheres-ville North of Fort Collins but the view of the mountains is very nice

I have 7 chickies of a variety of laid-back, cold hardy egg layers: 2 Australorps, 2 EEs,1 Welsummer, 1 GL Wyandotte, and 1 Buff Orp. These are my first chickens and they are a blast! About 4-7 weeks old.

Pretty sure one Australorp is a rooster which I didn't plan to get, but no one out here for him to bother but me and the dog, so I think I will try keeping him around.

 

[oshun55555]

Quote: Uzi 2 years ago I processed 6 eight year old hens, in that time I have processed hundreds of hens without any feeling but appreciation for the sacrifice I never keep laying or breeding hens that long. But I loved them and let them live until they just started having a poor quality of life and I loved them and did not want them to suffer so chicken and dumplings it was. I have a chanticleer hen who is about 5 and she meets me at the gate and walks with me the half acre to the hens house, she watches me gather the eggs and inspects every one in the basket, I don't pet her or anything like that but I love her love and she gets to stay awhile longer. See everyone has different ways of dealing with their beasts and a good part of this is based on emotion "their are enough ways in this world for everyone to have one of their very own" So don't listen to those people who "shame you" your just fine like you are, and becoming what you will be.

 

[coop410silkies]

Hello fellow Coloradoans! Sorry to hear the sad news madileana but happy to see she has a chance at recovery!

Just wanted to say hi as I just got started with my own mountain state chickens. They are fun! Actually I am located up in prairie no-wheres-ville North of Fort Collins but the view of the mountains is very nice

I have 7 chickies of a variety of laid-back, cold hardy egg layers: 2 Australorps, 2 EEs,1 Welsummer, 1 GL Wyandotte, and 1 Buff Orp. These are my first chickens and they are a blast! About 4-7 weeks old.

Pretty sure one Australorp is a rooster which I didn't plan to get, but no one out here for him to bother but me and the dog, so I think I will try keeping him around.

Hello Robilyn! Happy to hear from you and that you've joined the Colorado thread. Glad you are being entertained and kept happy by your new chickies. I had a few Australorps not too long ago, and they rank amongst my favorites. If I didn't already have so many birds, I would get some more. I have a dozen Light Sussex hens, and maybe 7 or 8 LS Roos. Am trying to get a good line of Speckled Sussex going, and I have 9 hens with maybe 6 nasty Roos of that breed. Maybe a couple dozen other mixed Large Fowl, and about 18 Silkies. I am not good at culling, ergo not a good Breeder. I got into breeding a heritage line, btw, with an unplanned (and unordered) oops Roo. I live in the Berthoud area and,like you, have a spectacular view of the Rockies. Don't ever buy an incubator. Good luck and happy days with your brood.

 

[Robilyn81]

Lol! We'll see how long I avoid trying to hatch babies Speckled Sussex were one breed I was interested in but ran out of room for this go around, maybe in the future! Here's the silly rooster with his harem: