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

[gritsar]

I've accepted the fact that we need to put my older roo Thor down. He has (what I believe to be) gout really bad in one leg and it's getting worse all the time. He's in pain and I don't want him to suffer. He doesn't forage much anymore. He just finds a place to sit and watch his girls.

The thing is, I was hoping that we could wait to cull him until after his son "TJ" was old enough to be intergrated into that flock, as a new leader for the girls. My plan is to cull Thor one day and add TJ the next - in a crate within the coop so that he's protected from abuse while the girls get used to him being with them full-time. The hens, my brahma girls, already know TJ from free-ranging together, but he currently lives in my other coop. Call it anthropomorphising if you want, but I can tell Thor is sad about not being able to forage with his girls much anymore. I won't further insult his pride by introducing a new roo to his girls while he's still alive.

I know we need to cull Thor now, rather than later, but I dislike the idea of leaving his girls without a roo for protection until such time as TJ is ready to take on that role. Plus, we're going to be leaving on vacation for two week fairly soon. My stepdaughter will be here watching the animals and I know she won't keep an eye on the chickens to the extent that I do.

If we were going to be here I would cull Thor now and just make sure I keep the girls safe until such time as TJ can do that job. What it comes down to is this - Do I cull Thor now, for his own good; but possibly at the expense of the hens OR do I wait, and hope Thor can hang in there just a bit longer?

It's a hard decision and made even harder by our plans.

 

[theoldchick]

As with any animal whose pain I cannot relieve I will humanely euthanize. For me waiting makes the deed harder.

 

[Baymule]

That's a tough one. I know Thor has a special place in your heart. That said, it is double hard to watch an animal you care deeply for go through pain and not being able to perform their own animal behavior. I think I would wait until I got back from vacation to do the deed. That way, you will be there to help the flock make the transition.

 

[Imp]

Oh Gritty,

So sorry you are having to make this decision.

Imp

 

[schellie69]

First

I understand this is a tough choice to make. I can't tell you what to do since I am not there but I can tell you what I think. I know that Thor is in pain, and you are leaving on your trip. My question is if you cull Thor before you leave will you be able to have fun or will you be really worried about Thor's girls. I think you should wait until you get back and cull Thor that way until TJ can take over for Thor you are there to protect the girls. If it was me and having someone else taking care of the flock it would worry because you know that his girls will be stressed with him gone. I am praying that you can make the best choice for you and Thor.

 

[Sparky2726]

I have always based that decision on the animals quality of life. From what I read, is sounds like he can still get around some. I would think the time is coming, but not quite there yet, but only you can really say what his quality of life is.

As far as him protecting his flock, is he able to do that now?

Lee

 

[bobbi-j]

If he's in pain, it would be kinder to the animal to do it sooner. Do you have a run your hens can be in while you're gone?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
He protects them still to the point that he watches out for predators and calls alarms. He moves around a bit more in the evenings (I guess like the rest of us, his old age aches and pains are worse in the morning). Yesterday evening I watched him call his girls to some yummy food he had found. He still makes sure that all the girls are in the coop in the evenings before he goes in. I've been helping him in and out of the coop so he doesn't have to jump down the steps. My SD is a bit afraid of Thor; he's not aggressive at all, but he is very large.

We don't have a run. Both flocks free range all day. I have noticed that some of Thor's girls are now hanging around with my younger roo Impy; another insult to Thor's pride. They of course have Impy's protection when they share the same area.

 

[Judy]

Sorry you are going through this. Hard decision for sure. In the end I think you need to figure out what you will be most comfortable with, down the road.

Is he really that miserable now, if he can sit with his girls and watch them? Maybe that is enough for him for now. Never had gout, but I can promise you that arthritis only really hurts when you move....

 

[ranchhand]

You know I can't answer that, it's up to you.

, because I know it's tearing you up.