Disabled Chickens Forum

[triciayoung]

Other than the fact that I have a couple loved disabled babies, why was I mentioned?

That's it.

 

[RoosterWhisperer]

That's it.

Alrighty! Good with me!

 

[triciayoung]

Yes please!!! I’ve had a disabled duck I’ve had for 2 years now who only recently lost his ability to walk after a raccoon attack that took the life of his brother. I found that vets and people around me all urged me to put him down but I thought of it as a miracle that I alone was able to save him from his very severe raccoon bites and broken legs, which as well all know has a very high rate of infection. I worked hard to save him and now I see he still finds happiness in swimming with his girlfriend and eating his favorite foods and scratches on his ears. I am incredibly happy I did not go through in everyone else’s suggestions. It would be lovely to have a forum where we can discuss ways to help elevate the quality of living for disabled poultry! As I’m sure many of us with disabled animals sometimes worry about their quality of living and what we could do to help them. So it would be nice for an easy place to reach out to those with similar poultry with disabilities and see what they have done. It’s also just a sense of community since there’s not as much information as I’d like there to be in carrying for disabled poultry as for the most part, everyone’s solution just seems to be to put them down. Whatever your opinion may be on disabled poultry, those who do have them should have a sense of comfort in community with others too so we can not only help ourselves but our animals

You so eloquently said what many of us who provide compassionate care for our birds - think.

 

[triciayoung]

I am disappointed we cannot have a forum for Retired and Disabled Chickens simply because some people don't understand the word "Emergency".
I decided to stop culling my hens a while ago and now have retirees and those with wobbles, disabilities after getting illnesses, etc. Searching through an endlessly long thread for info or ideas often takes hours with zero relevant results.
I find I spend more time searching the internet for other sources, not BYC, to guide me.

I have 24 chickens and more than half are retirees with some physical issue. For as long as they want to eat and try to move around, I do what I can to help them enjoy their lives. They've given me eggs and fertilized our property as they roamed freely, and given my family a lot of pleasure.

You are wonderful. I will figure out how to get us together.

 

[doxietimes3]

I would love this as well! I have my first mobility challenged chick. She’s twelve weeks old. She will probably be an indoor chicken and I have just started the research journey on how best to help her live her best life.

 

[3SiameseCats]

I want this too! I have a 6 month old hen who is completely healthy, but she is unable to walk. I need to build her a chicken wheel sling, but I am still very lost. She seems lonely too and I’m not sure what to do. We do supervised visits with the other members of the flock every day or so but she still seems lonely. But a forum for this would be super helpful!

 

[janiedoe]

I want this too! I have a 6 month old hen who is completely healthy, but she is unable to walk. I need to build her a chicken wheel sling, but I am still very lost. She seems lonely too and I’m not sure what to do. We do supervised visits with the other members of the flock every day or so but she still seems lonely. But a forum for this would be super helpful!

My little pullets has a pet gazebo outdoors. She stays out when the weather is nice, so that she can visit with the other chickens.
When she is indoors, she loves her tablet. She watches Peppa Pig, Curious George, and lately she been watching a dinosaur series. She is also friendly with my indoor cat. They spend time visiting each other through the cage.

 

[triciayoung]

I want this too! I have a 6 month old hen who is completely healthy, but she is unable to walk. I need to build her a chicken wheel sling, but I am still very lost. She seems lonely too and I’m not sure what to do. We do supervised visits with the other members of the flock every day or so but she still seems lonely. But a forum for this would be super helpful!

I do the same - supervised visits outside. I have a few hens in my flock that are very compassionate. I bring them into the house to be with Penny during the day so that she hears and sees them.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Since this thread has moved into a discussion about managing birds vs. feedback for BYC, I'm moving it to a section that is a better fit.

Thanks to all those for the great feedback!

 

[mumma g]

WOW! Thats all I can say after finding this thread via my search engine! Nice one! I've been looking at chicken & duck wheelchairs for a gander who has a good left leg and can only move around independently on his hock on the right leg. After x-rays, test's etc, Specialist Avian vet thinks it could be a nerve mass as everything else is ok, he can stand on the leg but the hock gives way if he tries to move. Vet says if it is the nerves it may take 6 - 7 weeks to heal so I was wondering if anyone has any 'Poultry' that uses these wheelchairs and if so, are they likely to get a speeding ticket and can they do handbrake turns in them?