Little hen doesn't fit in

[getreal]

I don't see this bird being successful in a flock. She may very well have parasites, often times weakened birds do which just compounds the problem.

I would not expect her to live a long time, if you did separate her from others. I too, vote for the coup de grace. She looks miserable and

 

[getreal]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[Sondraa]

She may do quite well as an inside pet. I have followed many threads where a chicken or duck was brought inside for various reasons and then either had a lovely end to a challenging life or...bounced back in a loving environment and became a much beloved member of the household.

 

[getreal]

Thank you for your encouragement. I don’t have the heart to put her down. I put a mirror in pen and keep the radio on during the day. She talks to herself all day long. After it warms up again I may try a different setup for her outside. If she starts going downhill then I’ll make a decision.

 

[Sondraa]

I would house her separately, at least until her feathers grow back. maybe she would do better with similarly sized flock mates?

I agree. She needs a chance to improve outside of a hostile environment. Chickens are beautiful sweet creatures but among themselves... Let's face it...they are brutal. Pecking order is brutal. No way around it.

I feel like you have been through this before and that as you say you get attached if they are inside. I feel like you want assurances that if you bring her inside she will thrive. She might. However, there is no guarantee. If you have the emotional energy and time....you can try. If you don't.. then you have your answer.

 

[Sondraa]

Sorry! I must have still been typing my previous when you were sending your most recent. Having just read your latest...I think you are doing the right thing for your temperament for your girl. You have to do you. We all..each of us..have to live with results. For some it is going the extra mile to give best chance...for some it is ending it sooner than later to limit pain. Some operate in the middle.

 

[getreal]

Sorry! I must have still been typing my previous when you were sending your most recent. Having just read your latest...I think you are doing the right thing for your temperament for your girl. You have to do you. We all..each of us..have to live with results. For some it is going the extra mile to give best chance...for some it is ending it sooner than later to limit pain. Some operate in the middle.

I have been around the block a few times. I grew up on farm and in fact live on the same farm now. I am just a little perplexed because I’ve never had a chicken before that has been treated like this. I can’t cull her just because she doesn’t fit in. But if I felt she was sick or in pain I would never let her suffer. We just had to euthanize our beloved dog because of kidney failure/ cancer. I surely didn’t want him to leave us but I couldn’t allow him to suffer either. When you an animal owner your wants go out the window. It’s all about them. Like my husband sitting with a new born calf , drying her off and warming her with a hair dryer, because it was momma’s first calf and didn’t quite know what she should be doing. To say the least our animals are part of the family. Momma and baby girl are doing fine now. The joys of farming in Upper Michigan.