Is there a thread for moral support for necessary culling?

[tlagnhoj]

Boy, I totally understand your dilemma. Only it's my dog in that position and not a chicken. He has tumors growing in his mouth (vet says there's nothing to do) and eventually they'll affect his eating and possibly breathing. Right now, he seems to be comfortable, not showing any signs of pain or discomfort. Yesterday he even caught a rabbit and a mouse - he's a better mouser than my cat! Given that, it's hard to make that decision to put him down. DH and I have agreed, though, that if he looks to be in pain or start having difficulty with eating, drinking or breathing, that's it. Now for your chicken - have you tried putting in with the flock to see how it goes? Are you able to give her a separate place of her own? Does she appear to be in pain? If she's in obvious pain and it doesn't appear that it will heal, I'd put her down immediately. If you can put her in with the flock without too much trouble, why not let her hang out with them? If you do decide to put her down, please do so in the quickest most humane way possible. Here, it's the hatchet and stump method. One quick chop and it's over. Yes, it's messier than some other ways, and you actually have to watch it happen (or take a chance on losing a limb), but it's done in a matter of seconds.  Putting them in the freezer, wrapping them in a towel so you can't see them, or building a "gas chamber" for them is, in my opinion, more for the comfort of the person than the chicken. Good luck with your girl. Maybe you can find a way to keep her. If not, I for one support your decision to do what's best for your bird. 

Yes, she has been with the full flock since yesterday afternoon. She is definitely not going to be anywhere near the top of the pecking order. She slept in a nest box last night. (But that isn't saying much because the other two RIR that I purchased with her used the front 2x4 board that divides the nest box from the main coop floor as a roost board. At least they keep their butts in the right area so there's no poop in the nest box. She has spent all of today in the coop (and it is a small enclosure that is intended almost solely for a secure roosting place at night). I have to get her out frequently to keep her fed and watered, which she does with gusto--so appetite is fine--but can't do without getting beat up for it. Also not sure how easy it is for her to navigate the ramp up and down.

I cannot separate her within the existing coop/run. But dear hubby noticed my tear-stained face last night and said we should try to convert the dog house that the dog doesn't use to a coop for her (it's totally do-able) and then enclose that in her own separate run. He's such a good hubby. I'm going to work on this tonight, so fingers crossed. Because I certainly can't keep up the hourly trips to the waterer and feeder.

Hard to tell if she's in pain. I can touch and palpate the leg with no observable reaction--jerking the leg back, flinching, sounds--from her, but there is a serious hobble. And as I said before, she doesn't bear weight on it much. But that could be as much from the lack of balance it creates as from pain. I really don't know. Regrettably.

Drowning???? Are you for real?  Do whats best for the chicken and not for yourself for christs sake.  If you cant bring yourself to properly kill a chicken by cutting its head off or pricking its artery you shouldn't own them plain and simple.

I'm as opinionated as the next guy/gal, but it really sticks in my craw when people like you think that there's only one way of doing something and if someone doesn't choose to do it that way (your way), you don't think they should be allowed to do it. I'll raise my chickens as I see fit, thank you. I'll leave you free to do the same. Fair enough?

 

[KYTinpusher]

I have a Barred Rock hen that has had a gimpy leg for well over a year and she does fine in with the main flock. She had nerve damage when she was young from the roos riding her too much and we didn't catch it until the damage was done as the sore was under her wing. She is still able to fly up to the roost and eat and drink fine and lay eggs. It did take a little bit to get her integrated back into the flock after she was initially separated for treatment, but has been fine since then.

Unless they are really beating her up and drawing serious blood, I would just let her stay with the main flock, making sure she gets food and water and giving her vitamins and electrolytes to support her while she heals and gets acclimated. She will be much happier in a flock environment if you can bear it until she fits in.

Please keep us informed with how it goes.