Not Sure What's Goin on with My Hen

[cowcreekgeek]

I am not in any way implying that you should cull her. Just wanted to share an unwanted experience I had to deal with that may help you IF it comes to ending her suffering. I had a hen that was really suffering and I felt I needed to end her suffering. I had nursed her for 3 days....spent $50.00 on supplies to nurse her. Only to do what I knew needed to be done. I had never killed a chicken before (I did have to end 2 chicks to stop their suffering but it is different when the chicken is full size and you have had her for a while) Anyway, I made the decision and got out my big tree branch loppers made sure they were good and sharp. In the dark took her out behind the shed. I had the house light on so some light was getting out there so I could see, but not alot. In the dark chickens are pretty relaxed and unaware.....It helped her and I that it was dark. I said a prayer to take my pet quickly , put my foot gently over her on the ground to hold her in the same place. Opened the loppers and placed them around her neck....said another prayer and clamped them as quickly and hard as I could. She flapped a bit and then fell silent. She went pretty quick. It was not easy but it was in her best intrest and mine. In the end, the way I cared for her most was to end her suffering. Again I am not saying this should be your decision. Listen to your gut feeling. If it is saying she is improving and you are hopeful, continue within reason. If your gut is saying you are getting no where and she is suffering make the decision and do it.

Never pleasant, having to end life, even in their own best interest -- there's almost always somebody nearby that has done this before, and would do this on your behalf, so as to spare you from having to perform this kindness (most especially to any creature that's close to you )-;~

In no way do I wish to reduce such an emotional experience to a scientific explanation, but wish to offer one that may help folks understand that the only pain suffered is their own ...

Nervous systems have two main parts, one which controls voluntary actions (based upon intentional actions), and one which carries out the involuntary functions (the autonomic responses). Although wing-flapping and leg movement is generally controlled by the brain, the continuation of movement is clearly autonomic, as there is obviously no further communication between the brain and the muscles.

The nervous system is divided into two main parts which are the central nervous system (CNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The CNS is responsible for the voluntary actions of the body such as movement of flight, and the ANS is responsible for the coordination of involuntary actions of the organs, intestines, blood vessels and glands. The primary function of the nervous system is to integrate the functions of the body.

Electrical stunning, using a water bath stunner, is the most common method employed to slaughter poultry under commercial conditions. The purpose of electrical stunning is to induce insensibility in order to perform humane neck cutting and to avoid recovery of consciousness and wing flapping during bleeding. The basic principle involved in electrical stunning is that an electrical current is passed through the brain to induce epilepsy. The occurrence of grand mal epilepsy is considered to be an indicator of the state of unconsciousness (based on the human analogy).

Controlled Atmosphere Killing (CAK) is an alternative method for slaughtering poultry. It involves placing the chickens in a container in which the atmosphere lacks oxygen and is made up of argon and/or nitrogen and/or CO2. The result is that the chickens loose consciousness. Argon and nitrogen are important components of a painless gassing process as using CO2 seems to cause distress. The respiratory system has CO2 detectors and high levels of CO2 will rest in a fighting response in chickens – typically wing flapping – which can result in increased wing damage. There are no such receptors for argon or nitrogen.

 

[gg706]

Asking a trusted friend/neighbor to do "the deed" is a great idea. I would have chosen that route if there was someone I knew who would do it in my place. Unfortunantly for me I do not know anyone who would have stepped up and done it. I would do it for someone if they asked or If I knew it had to done I would volunteer to do it in their place. I think is a viable option for some and should be considered if possible.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Asking a trusted friend/neighbor to do "the deed" is a great idea. I would have chosen that route if there was someone I knew who would do it in my place. Unfortunantly for me I do not know anyone who would have stepped up and done it. I would do it for someone if they asked or If I knew it had to done I would volunteer to do it in their place. I think is a viable option for some and should be considered if possible.

Further testament to how sad our world has become, when any woman can't produce a long list of men willin' to step up 'n do whatever she needs done ... as unfortunate as this is, you've now become that "... somebody nearby that has done this before, [that will] do this on [another's] behalf, so as to spare [them] from having to perform this kindness," which shows there's still hope, no matter how sad our world becomes ~'-)

 

[gg706]

Yes I agree it is sad indeed. There was a time...if you had asked me if I could kill a chicken to put it out of its misery, I would have said "no way"! But as I chicken keeper I feel a responsibility to do whatever must be done for their well being, so for me it is a matter of take care of necessary tasks...whatever that may be, OR get rid of and do not have chickens. I have chosen to keep chickens and would not want it any other way. The happiness and benefits FAR outweigh the couple of "bad days".

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Yes I agree it is sad indeed. There was a time...if you had asked me if I could kill a chicken to put it out of its misery, I would have said "no way"! But as I chicken keeper I feel a responsibility to do whatever must be done for their well being, so for me it is a matter of take care of necessary tasks...whatever that may be, OR get rid of and do not have chickens. I have chosen to keep chickens and would not want it any other way. The happiness and benefits FAR outweigh the couple of "bad days".

Beyond 'returning to my roots' the primary purpose of restoring this land to productivity was to protect it from taxation, and becoming a target for development. Now? I'm runnin' fences in every direction, and plannin' for multiple locations of various flocks ... yeah ... addicted, despite any 'bad days' that find our fifty acres of the world (that surrounds this little one I'm livin' in ~'-)

But even the 'bad days' are good, in that sick chickens provide me w/ a reasonable explanation as to why I've been known to have 'em tucked between my shirts ... they do respond better to treatment when they're all happy 'n warm, don't they?

 

[Chickmate]

Thanks to everyone for the advice on culling. At this point she is far from that although I realize that many of you would have done it long ago based on the fact that she is not laying and not in excellent health, a sickly freeloader, so to speak. She does have lots of fluff or down coming in all over and the feather breaking seems to have subsided some. She continues to sleep in the laundry room and go out with the flock during the day, thanks to our mild winter so far. I'm hoping by the time the snow flies she will have enough feathers to keep her warm. I can tell from picking her up every day that she has put on weight and she is still eating very well. I really believe the best thing for her is that she goes out during the day, gets sunshine and fresh air, green grass and grit in her crop and keeps her place in the flock. No one has picked on her at all, infact she has four hens who are below her in the pecking order. I have not seen Worf try to mount her, either because he's a gentleman and knows she's weaker, or because he senses her illness and is only interested in healthy hens. Whatever, I'm glad she doesn't have to put up with that as well as I'm sure he could hurt her at this stage. At 4:45 p.m. she is at the back door and if I am a little slow in letting her in she goes to the patio door and looks in to see where I am.

 

[delisha]

I am glad you both are doing well.

 

[gg706]

I am glad she is doing well! Keep up the great work! If the time comes, you will know. I would not have culled UNLESS it was absolutly necessary...In my situation it was. Sounds like you are on the right track!