Disabled Chickens Forum

[triciayoung]

I wanted to take a moment to address the requests for a dedicated forum specifically for disabled chicken threads. After careful consideration, the staff has decided not to create a separate forum for this topic. We understand that there are many members who have special needs birds and value the conversations surrounding their care.

Instead, we encourage you to continue sharing your experiences, stories, and questions in the appropriate existing forums, such as "Managing Your Flock" or "Emergencies/Diseases/Injuries and Cures." These forums already serve as valuable places for discussions about the care, support, and management of chickens with special needs.

Please remember that our community is here to support and help one another. Many members have shared valuable insights and advice in the past, and we encourage you to engage in those conversations to find the information you need or to offer your own experiences.

Thank you for understanding our decision. We appreciate your ongoing contributions to the community.

Of the staff, do any have disabled chickens?

 

[dawg53]

Do you have a disabled chicken or bird @dawg53? If you did, you would know that it is not an emergency or a disease or a symptom; it is a way of life.

I cull.

 

[triciayoung]

I cull.

That is your choice. However, some of us decide to give the chicken the best life possible. BYC has many members, in fact, probably the majority; that have chickens as pets. Those of us with disabled chickens know that this is a way of life - not a disease or an emergency. We need our own place to share ideas - because frankly it is very hard and everything is different than raising a normally developed chicken.

 

[dawg53]

Go for it. No one is stopping you from taking care of disabled chickens. I applaud you and others for having the time and expertise caring for them. That is your choice.
Simply put, a separate forum isnt needed.

 

[SilverBirds]

It's a nice idea, but a separate forum for disabled birds would be kind of confusing, especially for new members. Lots of grey areas for what should be posted in the disabled forum and what should be posted in the ER section I believe a thread could suffice.

 

[triciayoung]

It's a nice idea, but a separate forum for disabled birds would be kind of confusing, especially for new members. Lots of grey areas for what should be posted in the disabled forum and what should be posted in the ER section I believe a thread could suffice.

Do you have a disabled bird?

 

[SilverBirds]

Do you have a disabled bird?

I used to have a disabled bantam Cochin named Blondie. She had curled feet that were never corrected as a chick, and when I had got her at 5 months old it was way to late to do anything for her. I didn't even notice she had curled feet until I brought her home and saw her hobbling around the yard on the backs of her feet. She couldn't file her nails down so they had to be clipped and she couldn't roost, but boy was she fast, and boy could she jump. She sadly passed away one winter at the age of 3.

If I can find a picture of her somewhere I'll post it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have a disabled bird?

I think having yet another forum would be confusing. The ones we have now, often folks can't decide if their question/concern should placed in raising chicks/managing/feed or in the er. Members are very good at reporting threads that are in the wrong section and getting them into the right "category" or they just answer/help and move on.

How about Starting a dedicated thread of your own in the Pictures and Stories section of the forums.
Tag in those you tagged earlier in this thread to come join in.
If your thread is active, then people will find it. Of course, those that regularly participate in your thread would surely invite newbies/other members to join in when they run across someone that may benefit from it.

You can add to your first page (Original Post) with links to specific pages/members/topics/treatments/tips that you deem useful, this will help you keep your thread organized and easy to search. Something similar to THIS.
If the thread goes off topic, then gently remind participants that the thread is veering off.

@Katlus, @Valery_Etienne, @clint_and_laura, @Chickenwithnobrim,@Tonyroo, @Chikenshiken, @Shadrach, @That_australian_lad, @RoosterWhisperer, @Hentastrophe, @Pumphrey, @Karlkoe, @The Chick Addict, @TwoCrows, @SilverBirds, @Tookie, @Lovely Lettie, @Yorkshire Coop, @sourland, @chrissynemetz

 

[21hens-incharge]

Of the staff, do any have disabled chickens?

Currently no. Have I had disabled/challenged birds? Yes.

It is very important to remember to be respectful to others. Not everyone is willing to deal with or has the means to handle special needs birds. It is a matter of personal choice when handling them.

Staff discussed the options and potential/likely issues with adding an additional forum. It was decided that it is best not to add any at this time.

Using the existing managing your flock and emergency forums is still the best way to get assistance in dealing with the issues that keeping a handicapped bird entails.
Adding tags can certainly make finding information easier. It's up to the thread starter what tags if any to add when they create the thread.

 

[triciayoung]

Currently no. Have I had disabled/challenged birds? Yes.

It is very important to remember to be respectful to others. Not everyone is willing to deal with or has the means to handle special needs birds. It is a matter of personal choice when handling them.

Staff discussed the options and potential/likely issues with adding an additional forum. It was decided that it is best not to add any at this time.

Using the existing managing your flock and emergency forums is still the best way to get assistance in dealing with the issues that keeping a handicapped bird entails.
Adding tags can certainly make finding information easier. It's up to the thread starter what tags if any to add when they create the thread.

It is not, nor has it been my intent to be disrespectful to others; I respect everyone here whether we agree or not. I find BYC to be one of the most helpful and respectful sites I have ever been privileged to be a member of...and I find the moderators, including you, to be engaged, kind and helpful.

I think one improvement that can be made when decisions are being made is that those that do not have experience in the area that is being decided, should recuse themselves from "voting", and people who are "weighing in" on the posts should do the same. I am sorry if I was provoked because another member that said another forum was not needed, when the only experience they had was to cull disabled birds.

I understand a decision has been made, and it is your teams decision to make.