Hard decision - cull Thor now or later? PICS added!

[gritsar]

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Thor is three years old. We have been actively treating his leg problem (it's just the right leg) for a good solid year now. It's not mites, it's not intestinal parasites. Just to be sure, even though he was treated for mites and he is the only one showing this problem (not the hens he shares a coop with), I took a scraping off his leg with me to the vet at our last visit for the dogs. It was negative for any sort of mite. We've tried soaks, we've tried baby aspirin, nettle teas. Gout wasn't a conclusion I just jumped to. I did research the issue heavily and discuss it with the vet.

 

[chicknmania]

OH, and also...penning him up doesn't necessarily mean he'll be miserable. Our Checker roo lived out the last years of his life in a pen, b/c he lost partial sight in one eye and was low on the pecking order, we just didn't feel comfortable letting him free range anymore. But the hens came to visit him all the time; if we had a hen who just needed to be penned up temporarily for whatever reason and she had nothing contagious, we could put her with him and he would be gentle; he was foster father to ALL of our youngsters as they were transitioning from the safety of mom to the big world of adults; he was always eager to try and protect our hens and their chicks in the tractor when we put them out on nice days and lots of days he would get out for a walk, under supervision, with one of us not too far off, in case he got in trouble he couldn't handle himself.

We were heartbroken when last month a possum got into his pen in the barn; he was sleeping in there with some pullets. And of course you know the end result. That was the only time I felt terrible about him being in a pen; we felt it was our fault that he did not get the chance he needed to defend himself because he was trapped in there. So there is that to consider, too, I guess. But otherwise, we know he had a happy life, even though he spent most of his last years penned up.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thank you. She was so special to me and a fantastic broody.

I've had a trap set since Friday afternoon. Haven't caught the bugger yet. I will also be wrapping the top of the lodge poles with hardware cloth, so it can't climb over and get more of my chickens.

 

[chicknmania]

Quote:
Thor is three years old. We have been actively treating his leg problem (it's just the right leg) for a good solid year now. It's not mites, it's not intestinal parasites. Just to be sure, even though he was treated for mites and he is the only one showing this problem (not the hens he shares a coop with), I took a scraping off his leg with me to the vet at our last visit for the dogs. It was negative for any sort of mite. We've tried soaks, we've tried baby aspirin, nettle teas. Gout wasn't a conclusion I just jumped to. I did research the issue heavily and discuss it with the vet.

Well, I understand then. That's too bad that he has that problem.

 

[chicknmania]

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Oh Happy, I hadn't heard/read. So sorry

Yep, from the beginning I told myself that Lil'Bit would be the first to be taken. I just knew it in my heart. It happens and life goes on. It helps knowing that they lived the good life right up until that point. My chickens are the most spoiled of all our critters...and that's saying something, considering how bad Jax and Kane are spoiled.

Just makes you sick when that happens, doesn't it? Seems like it's always the favorites. I know how you feel, we lost a few special ones lately. So sorry for your loss.

 

[GhostRider65]

So how are things going for you and Thor? Please give us an update. Kim

 

[wingsofglory]

Yes, I'd like to know how it turned out also.

I think of Thor every once in awhile still.