How do I know when it’s time to put down my little boy?

[Firsttimehens1234]

I have a scissor beak chick who is 14 weeks old, until now the only thing I noticed was different about him was that he was a lot smaller than his siblings and ofc his beak.
I am beginning to notice him struggling more as the beak becomes more and more crooked. He doesn’t like wet food so he will only eat his food dry with is a challenge for him.I do trim his beak every now and then

When do I take the decision to put him down,I know that is how his life unfortunately is gonna end as we can’t keep him bc we already have a rooster and he can’t get sold
I don’t want him to be in pain but I also want him to live the best life he can live

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you feed crumbles or pellets? Crumbles from a deep sided bowl are easier for a scissors beak chicken to eat. Wet feed is also good, mixed fresh, so maybe he will change his mind about that.

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

Update: hello everyone on this thread, the sky gained a little star today.
He had been struggling to eat for some time refusing to eat mush and only pellets so he got sick and wasn’t growing so I knew it was time.

I made his last day count while he got to say goodbye to his siblings and he just snuggled with me, and then I sent him off to chicken heaven, where he hopefully is gonna live a happy healthy life now that his life on earth was cut short

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions it really helped him for as long as it could

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I am afraid once he started to lose weight, I would feel compelled to put him down. Obviously, he will get the best life he could have until then. So sorry you will have to make such a hard decision, but you seem to have his best interest at heart.


Will he eat a soft scrambled egg?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Feel his breast daily. Eventually it will get to a point where you know that it's time from how it feels. When It gets there, do it as soon as you can.

@JacinLarkwell has given you the best way to tell if he is not getting enough to eat.

 

[BDutch]

Sorry you had to do this. Great you came back here to inform us.

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

So sweet of you to give the little one a chance... This is a hart call to make. However, When he suffers and can't eat properly... His days are limited I'm afraid...

Yeah, I’m afraid that they are, in the weekend I’m going to trim his beak again to hopefully make it easier to eat, I have also put in a water bowl in the coop because I’m afraid he can’t drink out of it anymore. But I will try and make the best out of his last time and spoil him rotten

 

[RadEggs]

I have a scissor beak chick who is 14 weeks old, until now the only thing I noticed was different about him was that he was a lot smaller than his siblings and ofc his beak.
I am beginning to notice him struggling more as the beak becomes more and more crooked. He doesn’t like wet food so he will only eat his food dry with is a challenge for him.I do trim his beak every now and then

When do I take the decision to put him down,I know that is how his life unfortunately is gonna end as we can’t keep him bc we already have a rooster and he can’t get sold
I don’t want him to be in pain but I also want him to live the best life he can live

So sorry about your predicament. I know whatever decision you make, it will be a good one. It is clear you are a super kind and empathetic person.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Feel his breast daily. Eventually it will get to a point where you know that it's time from how it feels. When It gets there, do it as soon as you can.

 

[Eggcessive]

Crumbles are much easier to get in their beaks when the beak does not come together.

They are eating pellets, because that’s the only grower feed you can get in the nearest stores around me, I sometimes do ground their feed into crumble but he isn’t interested in that. I will try and put a bowl of fresh mixed pellets/crumble in tomorrow to see if that can spark an interest in him thank you for the suggestion