One of my hatchery EEs developed a cross-beak when she was about a week old. Since then, it has gotten progressively worse (and I don't have ANY luck trying to fix this condition). Now, at 10-ish weeks, she is half the size of the other chicks, and when I picked her up yesterday, she was a lightweight and was staying permanently fluffed. She seemed to be doing okay when they were penned exclusively, but now that they are free-ranging, I don't think she can get enough calories to meet her needs. Even if I feed her by herself, so that she has sole access to plentiful food for a bit, she doesn't seem to be able to get enough.
I'm guessing she's reached a point where she simply cannot get enough food to grow and thrive. Is it time for me to put her out of her misery? Or is there something else that I can do? To make matters worse, she is the only chicken that I have that actually comes up to me to greet me...so this is a particularly difficult decision.
Inputs appreciated!
I'm guessing she's reached a point where she simply cannot get enough food to grow and thrive. Is it time for me to put her out of her misery? Or is there something else that I can do? To make matters worse, she is the only chicken that I have that actually comes up to me to greet me...so this is a particularly difficult decision.
Inputs appreciated!