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

[Britney]

I didn't read what ghostryder said before posting. That sounds like a better solution.

 

[wistlindixie]

Thor looks and sounds like he is an awesome roo. So sorry you have to make this tough decision.

 

[wistlindixie]

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Sounds like it's worth a try to me!

 

[ourlittleflock]

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Sounds like it's worth a try to me!

x2 - anything is worth a try -

 

[Carols Clucks]

Our 10+ rooster is slowing down, way down. And we know his feet are a big part of the problem

As much as he hates having his ladies see, if we take him up by the house and soak his feet in some warm epsom salt water, he sure seems to enjoy it.

I just built him two new handicap roo ramps too (longer so he can walk up easier)

 

[gritsar]

We have been treating Thor, for more than a year now. Nothing seems to help for very long. My vet, an excellent vet IMO, cannot see him in her office due to the nature of her practice; but she has been very helpful answering questions and offering advice.

The type of gout we believe Thor has is called articular gout. It's a chronic condition. Perhaps I could treat it more effectively if I caged him up, to better control his enviroment and what he's exposed to; but how fair would that be to a bird that's known nothing but free ranging his whole life? He's sad now that he can't be with his girls as much, I can only imagine how miserable he'd be if he was taken from them and put in a cage.

 

[gritsar]

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Thor is the same way. He doesn't like being taken away from his girls, but when I bring him in to treat his foot he's as gentle as a lamb and immediately looks to the cabinet when he knows I keep the special treats.

 

[schellie69]

I understand how hard this choice is I had a hen last year that had a problem with her foot we thought it was bumble foot but it wasn't we tried everything, she got red streaks up her leg we decided to cull. It was a hard choice but it was best for her. I am praying for you and Thor. I would wait until after your vacation. TJ looks so much like his daddy and he has a long road ahead to live up to his daddy's legacy. I did have to smile thinking of Impy helping with Thor's girls you might hatch out a few more of your eggs and start a new breed.

 

[GhostRider65]

A good vet is a great thing, but a vet that doesn't do chickens in their office to me knows little about chickens, or any animal they do not routinely treat.
If you really want to save your Thor please try the natural route, I believe nothing is untreatable but death itself.
Mother nature is a much better doctor than most who have fancy degree's, god made all of us healthy, and our bodies capable of healing themselves, but with today's chemicals in our food/water/air supply and our pets food supply our immune systems are so low trying to rid ourselves of the crap we have little choice but to ingest, because its in everything! That we can do little to fight some of the diseases these man made chemicals/ hormones cause. Give him a chance the natural way. It's also much cheaper in the long run than a vet.
Why I know this is true is my 12 year old dog tigger, had a massive nasty cancerous tumor on her left front leg in the joint the vet removed it but couldn't get it all, said it would come back soon and kill her and it did, even before the stitches were out it was starting to grow again he gave her 5 months maybe, so I went to my herbalist Jen at Jens natural remedies, she gave me immune boosters, and several homopathics cost me not even 1/2 of the surgery charges, which were 350.00, took about a month and it is gone shrunk disappeared, and she is fine and that was over a year ago.......... so do as you wish, but if you love your rooster, get him some help so his body can help himself. Kim

 

[noodleroo]

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I, too, know from personal experience with one of our dogs, that there are alternatives to what your allopathic vet has to offer. I love my vet, too (and he makes fun of me because of my 'holistic' questions) but even he was amazed with a supplement program that saved a dog he only gave a 3% chance of surviving the week.

What I want you to know is that whatever you decide to do is fine. If you feel he is in too much pain to try anything else, then that is your decision. He's your bird and you know him best. If you do want to try something else, some of us can direct you to sources that can help you try to get his body back in balance.

I have a huge amount of respect for your opinions; I'm so sorry you have to decide...

Pam