curage to cull ...

[sunket77]

I just don't know what to do...well I sort of know but don't want to do it!!! I have an 8 wk old chick I hatched myself with 12 others. This one has a respiratory problem that it has had for at least 4 weeks of it's life it has been on 2 different antibiotics and still has not improved. But yet has not gotten worse... still has bronchial sounds and sneezing, eat and drinks but not really growing.

I just don't have the heart to kill it myself and my husband won't either, it just goes against my nature to help! Someone suggested to me to take it to the back of my property and just leave it there and let nature take it's course. I just need some support from my chicken friends to do this!!!!

 

[Deanner03]

I can't imagine just taking it out and letting "nature take it's course" that seems prolonged and cruel. I'm sorry, but if you have to cull it (and I think you do) please find a more humane way to do it. I know it's hard. Luckily for me, my dh is good at these kind of things because I don't think I could do it.

 

[CheepSunglasses]

I agree- I'd never just leave something out there to suffer. However I can offer this: I had a severe respiratory infection sweep through my chicks and the worst one, the one I spent all the time nursing back to life, the runt of the bunch, is now the biggest, most glorious rooster we have. He is not only the top of the flock, he is a sweet boy, too- has never forgotten the extra time we spent with him as a chick. You just never know how they are going to turn out.

 

[BigSkyChickens]

Hi There,
I'm chiming in for moral support. What a difficult decision......one I hope I never have to face. I think nature taking it's course would be more cruel than necessary.

I've read that severing the spinal cord is the quickest, most humane way for them to go. Kitchen shears, or just simply giving the head a good yank will do the trick.....(you could probably even cover them with a towel while you do this). I apologize if that's too graphic, but I'm trying to offer practical suggestions. Do you have any friends who might be able to help you out? It might be easier for them since they are more emotionally removed from the situation. Good luck.

 

[Wynette]

Respiratory illnesses are horrible...and chickens seem to be very susceptible to them. My advice would be to find someone who can put this one down for you. NOT a good idea to just take it somewhere & let it die. That's horribly insensitive, IMO. If you ask around, you should be able to find someone that can/will humanely euthanize it for your.

I'm very sorry you're going through this. It's just heartbreaking!

 

[The Chicken People]

I used an ice cream bucket with a paper cup in it put chick in bucket...fill the cup 1/2 full with baking soda add vinegar and close lid chick will be gone in just a few minutes and not messy! My DH would use the axe! It is a sad part of chicken keeping.

 

[bishopschickens]

I agree with Wynette! Where are you located at and maybe someone could help you with this problem. Sorry you are having to go through this!

Brandon

 

[SilkieTime]

Can you get some oxine and spray in its face? That can work wonders.

 

[Karrie13]

The need to cull a chick is a very hard thing to accomplish but it is something you may need to do now and in the future. You never know what may happen to one of your birds that will necessitate the need for culling and not have time to locate someone to perform the act for you while your bird is suffering. I had to go through the very same thing with my very first chick that hatched. It was not fun but there was nobody else there to do it, the chick was 3 weeks old and I spent a lot of time nursing him along. I made it quick and painless for the chick, can't say the same for me but it had to be done. I covered him with a towel and severed the spinal cord then buried him in the towel. I would never leave an animal in the back of my property to let nature take it's course. That would be a scary, confusing, and probably painful way for the chick to go.

I am sorry you have to go through this and I hope it never happens to you again.

 

[sunket77]

We have a couple of 4h friends that said they would do it but they don't want to possibly contaminate their flock. Thanks for the support.