Disabled Chickens Forum

[triciayoung]

Yes those of us that have disabled birds know the difference, we are experienced enough to recognize an injury, or illness vs a disability. But many people don't know what they have going on with their birds and its these members that need a clear cut understanding of where to post their questions.

Between @Shadrach and I, we can define.

 

[Kiki]

Great discussion everyone!

I've brought this idea up with the rest of the moderators, and found this to be similar to the request and response here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/suggestion-for-possible-new-thread-categories-topics-headings-.1594146/post-27092524

We recognize the potential benefits of having a specialized section. However, after careful consideration and in light of our previous response in that thread regarding forum organization, we are concerned about potential confusion for our members.

While we won't be creating a separate forum, we're exploring alternative ways to accommodate these discussions, such as utilizing tags or keywords to label relevant threads. This will help members find information while maintaining the simplicity of our current structure.

In the interim, we suggest that all those that have special-needs birds join together in a single thread titled something like "Disabled And Special-Needs Chicken Thread". From there people could link to their own threads in the appropriate related sections about their specific chicken.

Again, we appreciate your understanding and your commitment to enriching our community!

@triciayoung Have you started a thread mentioned here yet?

 

[Hentastrophe]

I believe there are many members with disabled and geriatric limited mobility chickens that need a place to go to ask questions and share ideas with others experiencing the same challenges.

While I understand there may be a reluctance to add another forum, I would ask you to consider this request analogous to the "raising baby chicks" forum. Raising baby chicks could be in "managing your flock" or specific to feeding and water issues; in "feeding and watering your flock". My guess is that it a separate category because almost everything about raising chicks is different than when the chicks become adults. The same is true for the disabled chicken, how and where they sleep, what they eat, housing, security, wheelchairs and other aids to get around; all of it is different than the healthy non-disabled chicken.

I just adopted my second disabled hen. She is unable to walk. Sometimes she can hop but not far. I spent a considerable amount of time using the search function on BYC to find others who were raising disabled chickens to get ideas about how to improve her quality of life. I found some after an hour of searching, but this is not a sustainable method for getting help for these special chickens. I was more successful finding resources on Google.

I love the fact that this could possibly become one, I've been trying to find answers for my hen but the search results always came up with diseases and I know she doesn't have a disease. She is just disabled since birth, I love her and would like to find tips for caring for her like my other hens.

 

[aart]

Removing disabilities from the emergencies will allow those with good medical experience to be focused on the real emergencies.

I would think a thread about disabled birds would fit into the 'management' forum.
Title the thread well with the word 'disabled' in ti and it should show up on searches.
@triciayoung why not start that thread instead of beating the topic here?

 

[triciayoung]

I would think a thread about disabled birds would fit into the 'management' forum.
Title the thread well with the word 'disabled' in ti and it should show up on searches.
@triciayoung why not start that thread instead of beating the topic here?

@casportpony started a survey. The survey is only a day and a half old. It is premature to start the thread anywhere while dialogue and survey results are still commencing.

BTW, I am not "beating" the topic. @Nifty-Chicken asked me to post here. All posts subsequent just happened.

 

[aart]

BTW, I am not "beating" the topic. @Nifty-Chicken asked me to post here. All posts subsequent just happened.

I meant about after the decision was made not to have an additional forum.

 

[MugsyM]

I believe there are many members with disabled and geriatric limited mobility chickens that need a place to go to ask questions and share ideas with others experiencing the same challenges.

While I understand there may be a reluctance to add another forum, I would ask you to consider this request analogous to the "raising baby chicks" forum. Raising baby chicks could be in "managing your flock" or specific to feeding and water issues; in "feeding and watering your flock". My guess is that it a separate category because almost everything about raising chicks is different than when the chicks become adults. The same is true for the disabled chicken, how and where they sleep, what they eat, housing, security, wheelchairs and other aids to get around; all of it is different than the healthy non-disabled chicken.

I just adopted my second disabled hen. She is unable to walk. Sometimes she can hop but not far. I spent a considerable amount of time using the search function on BYC to find others who were raising disabled chickens to get ideas about how to improve her quality of life. I found some after an hour of searching, but this is not a sustainable method for getting help for these special chickens. I was more successful finding resources on Google.

Mine is a duck who probably was the victim of an overly aggressive drake. Breaks my heart and makes me want to hit him with a stick.

 

[countryladyNH]

One of our original 4 hens, Hannah, a Buff Orpington was 7 years old this past spring. She was the sweetest of hens. She could no longer walk, and we moved her into a box in our bedroom for her last months. We felt she needed to be outside at least watching her pals and enjoying the nice days as much as possible when we were out doing things in the yard. The 'chicken wheelchairs' we saw were much too pricey, so we decided to design our own similar chair but just what we wanted and make her one. We had no experience, measurements, etc., but just made our own design using common sense. Hannah ended up loving her chair and could scoot around on smooth wood floors for a little bit. She did love sitting in it on summer days in the yard, alongside a little dog kennel with 3 several week old chicks in it, keeping them company. We feel the "wheelie" as we called it made her final days happy. She passed away quietly in her sleep in June. Here are some photos. If you would like to see more of us making it, you can visit this page of our website and scroll down: http://www.thecountryladyantiques.com/contact.php

 

[MugsyM]

One of our original 4 hens, Hannah, a Buff Orpington was 7 years old this past spring. She was the sweetest of hens. She could no longer walk, and we moved her into a box in our bedroom for her last months. We felt she needed to be outside at least watching her pals and enjoying the nice days as much as possible when we were out doing things in the yard. The 'chicken wheelchairs' we saw were much too pricey, so we decided to design our own similar chair but just what we wanted and make her one. We had no experience, measurements, etc., but just made our own design using common sense. Hannah ended up loving her chair and could scoot around on smooth wood floors for a little bit. She did love sitting in it on summer days in the yard, alongside a little dog kennel with 3 several week old chicks in it, keeping them company. We feel the "wheelie" as we called it made her final days happy. She passed away quietly in her sleep in June. Here are some photos. If you would like to see more of us making it, you can visit this page of our website and scroll down: http://www.thecountryladyantiques.com/contact.php

View attachment 3611891View attachment 3611892View attachment 3611893View attachment 3611894

Was she able to move around in the grass with it? Looks like a nice way for her to have some mobility. I was on the hunt for one of the wheelchairs when I saw them. I can get one for a dog for $175 but the one for the duck was $350. I just told them I had no idea it would be that expensive especially considering the cost of the ones for the dogs.

 

[Mags chicks]

I believe there are many members with disabled and geriatric limited mobility chickens that need a place to go to ask questions and share ideas with others experiencing the same challenges.

While I understand there may be a reluctance to add another forum, I would ask you to consider this request analogous to the "raising baby chicks" forum. Raising baby chicks could be in "managing your flock" or specific to feeding and water issues; in "feeding and watering your flock". My guess is that it a separate category because almost everything about raising chicks is different than when the chicks become adults. The same is true for the disabled chicken, how and where they sleep, what they eat, housing, security, wheelchairs and other aids to get around; all of it is different than the healthy non-disabled chicken.

I just adopted my second disabled hen. She is unable to walk. Sometimes she can hop but not far. I spent a considerable amount of time using the search function on BYC to find others who were raising disabled chickens to get ideas about how to improve her quality of life. I found some after an hour of searching, but this is not a sustainable method for getting help for these special chickens. I was more successful finding resources on Google.

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