Help me convince my bf to let me dispatch a sick chicken

[Pukkits]

A thought. Some people, including myself, struggle with the personal act of euthanizing. Don't misunderstand, I don't think there's anything wrong with it euthanizing animals that cannot recover and I absolutely do so with my animals at the end of their life, I just can't perform the act myself.

Could part of the problem be he feels he should be there when she's dispatched and as in chickens it's kind of a violent feeling act?

We had a chicken sicken suddenly last year and she lost her mobility (she passed a double egg, pinched a nerve that stopped her leg use, but because of a previously unknown cancer, it wasn't going to heal). The other birds didn't pick on her, but she was dragging herself around. Medication and a few days didn't help, but she wasn't going to get better. It was expensive, but I took her to the vet for euthanization. While someday I will need to perform the act myself, I had just suffered a human loss and now was not the time to learn dispatching.

As your boyfriend is struggling, could a compromise be you're willing to do what a vet suggests - if he pays for the vet visit. Some people don't listen to their partners on difficult topics like this. Sometimes they will listen to a professional. A good vet can explain things you've probably already said about masking pain, and maybe draw comparisons he may understand. And if his issue is being involved in the euthanization act, he can pay the vet to do it.

I know relationships need to be cared for, but if you think Juicy is suffering, I think it's worth the discussion conflict of trying to figure out why he's so averse to euthanizing her.

 

[SnackMeat]

True. Could be an aversion to even having someone break her neck.

There are multiple forms of euthanizing that use chemicals or chemical reactions to displace oxygen so essentially they pass out and then stop breathing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chick-vinegar-and-baking-soda-method.147192/

I think this is faster and kinder than using the freezer method (which my parents use for our family hamsters growing up but now, looking back, I wish we hadn't used that method.)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

her mobility is reduced and she can no longer jump or run.

Here is the issue Im facing: my boyfriend refuses to believe she is ready to go.

She eats, drinks, and slowly walks around the yard

What can I say or show him to make him see its the right choice? Or am I in the wrong here? Since she still does normal chicken activities (in slow motion) should we let her continue on?

I have put my foot down and its causing relationship stress and it may cause much more if I just do it without him being on board.

She is justing hanging out with the flock. No one is picking on her.

Help me convince my bf to let me dispatch a sick chicken​

What's your goal here.

Convince your BF You are right?

Are You? Is he?

Is this about the hen or a battle to prove something?

I do agree, your hen seems to have something going on that is causing a decline in health. Happens to the best and worst of us.

She's eating/drinking. She's moving about, although more slowly than she used to. She's not getting picked on by her flock, instead it sounds like she's interacting with her flock.

She can no longer run or jump. O.k. Provide her with a soft place to sleep at night and keep the bedding clean.

How about instead of trying to convince each other that she needs to be put down, enjoy her for the remaining days she has and let her do what she's doing..."Chickening" the best she can.

Chickens often don't sweat the small stuff; they get on with the business of living each day to the best of their ability. There's a lesson in there for all of us.

If she's still willing to move about, get to food/water, visit with her friends, then she's not given up on life.

How many days, weeks, months does she have left? I don't know. You don't either.

When it's her time. She will plop down and sit (or lay), won't move, keep her eyes closed, perhaps have some labored breathing. She'll stop eating/drinking. She'll not move about nor interact with her friends. Her friends may take the time to come sit with her throughout the day and just be near.

I've seen it.

THEN, you will both know you are right and can then decide to hasten the dying or you can just let her go out on her own.

Have I put down hens before? Yes, most definitely. When there were very clear signs that they were not going to get up and move about again. Yes, I've put them down. Have I left them with the flock until they just expired on their own? Yes, I've done that too. They died surrounded by their flock sitting with them like one would do sitting in a Hospice room waiting for that last breath.

Do the best you can. Love your BF. Go have a cry, a hug and a kiss. Work on this together. Go outside, give your hens a little treat, sit back and watch them Chicken. Life is short, take a moment to enjoy it.

Just my musings and 2¢

 

[BawkbawkB]

What's your goal here.

Convince your BF You are right?

Are You? Is he?

Is this about the hen or a battle to prove something?

The point was to see what others think. I've, personally, never heard from another person with livestock/pet chickens who don't cull incurable animals. So, it is helpful to hear your (and others) perspective(s).
There is no power struggle here. Just different perspectives regarding mercy (cull vs living out remaining days potentially uncomfortable/in pain). I'm just trying to make sure we are doing the best thing we can for our chickens.
Im not going to cull her without him being on board and ready. So seeing the way you view letting them expire on their own makes me feel somewhat better, even though I'd still prefer not to prolong any type of pain/suffering.
Thank you for your opinion.

 

[BawkbawkB]

A thought. Some people, including myself, struggle with the personal act of euthanizing. Don't misunderstand, I don't think there's anything wrong with it euthanizing animals that cannot recover and I absolutely do so with my animals at the end of their life, I just can't perform the act myself.

Could part of the problem be he feels he should be there when she's dispatched and as in chickens it's kind of a violent feeling act?

We had a chicken sicken suddenly last year and she lost her mobility (she passed a double egg, pinched a nerve that stopped her leg use, but because of a previously unknown cancer, it wasn't going to heal). The other birds didn't pick on her, but she was dragging herself around. Medication and a few days didn't help, but she wasn't going to get better. It was expensive, but I took her to the vet for euthanization. While someday I will need to perform the act myself, I had just suffered a human loss and now was not the time to learn dispatching.

As your boyfriend is struggling, could a compromise be you're willing to do what a vet suggests - if he pays for the vet visit. Some people don't listen to their partners on difficult topics like this. Sometimes they will listen to a professional. A good vet can explain things you've probably already said about masking pain, and maybe draw comparisons he may understand. And if his issue is being involved in the euthanization act, he can pay the vet to do it.

I know relationships need to be cared for, but if you think Juicy is suffering, I think it's worth the discussion conflict of trying to figure out why he's so averse to euthanizing her.

We have discussed the vet option too. Its a bit of a hike from us and pricey, but I was willing to go and pay. He isn't big into vets or doctors and was disinterested.
He doesn't want me to do it, even though I'm comfortable with it. He wants to be the one to do it, so he wants to make the call as to when she is ready.
He believes that as long as she is doing basic living things, eat drinking, etc then she is fine. And maybe that is the case, maybe not. Our perspectives just seem to be in different places. I can see where is he coming from but its also hard for me to see her just be a shadow of her former spunky self.

 

[BawkbawkB]

True. Could be an aversion to even having someone break her neck.

There are multiple forms of euthanizing that use chemicals or chemical reactions to displace oxygen so essentially they pass out and then stop breathing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chick-vinegar-and-baking-soda-method.147192/

I think this is faster and kinder than using the freezer method (which my parents use for our family hamsters growing up but now, looking back, I wish we hadn't used that method.)

I dont think that's his hold up. But that is interesting information and good to know (especially for chicks). Thank you.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If he is willing to do the culling himself I say let it ride. She may die peacefully with her flock. If not maybe he will be more inclined to cull sooner next time.

 

[Pigeony]

He believes that as long as she is doing basic living things, eat drinking, etc then she is fine. And maybe that is the case, maybe not. Our perspectives just seem to be in different places. I can see where is he coming from but its also hard for me to see her just be a shadow of her former spunky self.

I usually set my limit as "not eating" as well. An animal that wants to live will eat. An animal that does not, will not.

I find it to be a pretty good indicator of when an animal doesn't want to fight anymore. If they're not horrendously injured or paralyzed and it's a slow decline of health situation, that's where I throw in the towel.

I don't think you would be wrong to euthanize her at this point because she is your bird, you know the situation best, and everybody has their own stopping point when it comes to supportive care for an animal that is not going to get better. I also don't think you're doing your hen a disservice by letting her continue until she decides to stop eating like your boyfriend wants, the admirable part of chickens is that they tend to brush off the harsh parts of reality and focus on the good. She is probably making the most of her situation and enjoying her time with her friends in her chickeny way. I doubt she is dwelling much on her declining health, she just is doing what chickens tend to do and accepting her reality while still trying to do chicken things.

 

[Eggcessive]

I totally agree with Wyorp Rock. I let my hens hang with their flock as they feel like it. There is no need to kill her if she likes to eat and be with the other chickens. I have lost my whole orginal flock. Some died suddenly, while a few became weak and emaciated over weeks or months. Most just did what they wanted and I let them out every day to free range. A few made it to 11 years, and 3 were taken by a bobcat one afternoon. ISA browns are great layers, but they do often suffer from reproductive disorders after they are a few years old. I will put a chicken down if they are separating themselves from the flock, not eating, or being picked on by the flock members. That can happen suddenly. If one is truly suffering, you will know it is time. So, I would just let her be for now. Eventually when you do lose her or need to put her down, I would perform a necropsy and have a look at her abdominal organs to see if you can identify her illness. That may help you and your BF to recognize if you should have done it earlier. Post pictures her of any home necropsy for opinions. Water belly/ascites, fatty liver disease, egg yolk peritonitis/salpingitis, cancer, and several other things may be obvious with a necropsy.