Deformed Silkie just hatched - should we cull?

[sumi]

That's a difficult one. You said in your first post she's walking fine, so maybe... I don't know

It's a very hard decision to make. We culled a deformed chick years ago and I still think maybe we gave up too soon. But she couldn't walk at all. She couldn't hold herself upright even. We had to help her eat and drink. She had a spine deformity, I think. I didn't have the heart to examine her properly afterwards.
I think you should decide by yourself what to do. You are going to be the one looking after this little one. I'm thinking "No, don't cull it! It's walking around fine, it'll be O.K." But you be the judge. If you think it'll be able to survive and live a fairly normal life like that, let it live, give it a chance. A wing is not terribly important, legs and feet, yes. Being able to eat and drink, yes. If the other chickens will accept her like that, yes. If she's going to have difficulty getting around and being a chicken and you don't have time to take care of a special needs bird then maybe it is better to let nature take it's course and let her go to "chick heaven". But if you think you can let her live and be happy and help her where necessary, then let her live.
Whatever you decide, good luck

 

[CluckyCharms]

Yep, she was walking around in the incubator seemingly okay...but the bator has these little "holes" in it (hard to describe). It's a hova-bator and it has a square mesh "sheet" thing over the water collection tray. Her leg wasn't obviously in distress or anything, and I only noticed it shortly before I posted my most recent reply....she's in the brooder with her sibling now. The leg appears normal until you reach the knee joint (whatever that is called in a chicken), and then it bends upward instead of down, causing her foot to be near her head. =/ GAH - I think I may just borrow my friend's camera tomorrow for this purpose, so you can see what I mean. It's definitely hard to explain what her wing looks like, and her knee down to her foot.

[Edited to add] She's still "walking around" okay but I wouldn't exactly call it walking. She's balancing herself on her left foot and her chest area. Her right foot moves around like she's walking on it but it's not where it should be. In all honesty it looks like her egg was never turned because that entire side of her body is just weird looking, but...I turned them all at least 4 times per day until lockdown.

Keep in mind she hatched out on day 24 like her sibling, and there was a temperature spike of 103.5-104 for approximately 6 hours on day 17?? I think not sure of the exact day.

 

[sumi]

I heard that temperature spikes early on during the incubation can cause damage to the embryos' eyes, but yours may have something to do with her deformity. It sounds pretty bad

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I wish I could post a picture but I broke our camera a while back (chick accident actually, lol) and I won't be getting another one until Christmas as a gift.

The wing isn't deformed in such a way that would allow for me to train it...it's actually misjointed and is literally set backwards. Also, I discovered about an hour ago that her leg on the same side (on the right) is also deformed and she is carrying the foot portion inward and up near her head while the joints are placed kitty-whompus.

I really think culling is necessary, but I'm willing to let her be for a while and see how she does.

I remember reading about the camera incident. Sounds like she may be worse off than at first. Maybe cull is the best/humane option?

 

[Sally8]

I feel that it is a decision that only you can make. But since you asked. I would probably cull. I never kill anything but after raising chickens for a while, they won't be at all nice to her. I guess that's how they weed out the weak. I thought at first maybe it was an injury but it doesn't sound like it now. I wouldn't breed with her either. I have a hen that was gorgeous at birth. I had to help her out of the shell. She's been fine but has a toe deformity. I won't use her eggs to hatch, but she is beautiful. Different coloring than all my others. No judgement here, you have to do what you think is best. Remember, she could always need special care. God bless.

 

[AlivianAcres]

If it was my chick, as long as she/he seems OK otherwise I would give it some time...see what happens...as long as the chick doesn't seem to be in any obvious pain. best of luck <3