- Jun 28, 2011
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I've been nursing a sick chick since yesterday and after today I can't help but wonder: what is WRONG with people?
I rescued a poor little 4-week-old chick that I found at a friend's house. He happily gave it to me after telling me the poor thing's been like that for a whole week. The chick had obvious difficulty breathing, but it didn't occur to the owner that it might be a good idea to ask someone for advice. His attitude is: "there are 12 more healthy chicks, so why should I care?"
I contacted a very nice vet I know and asked him to come have a look. He diagnosed a sinus infection that started spreading. So the struggle to find medicine started. I don't have anything suitable to give it. The vet started phoning some farmers in the area to see if any of them had a little bit of antibiotics to spare and they actually said to him "It's a chicken, let it die". Just like that.
We spent the whole morning making calls and nothing. I even contacted the old age home's sick bay to see if they can spare us a little bit of antibiotics, but NO. It's a chicken, who cares?
Then the previous owner came and said to me I'm spending too much energy on this chick and why do I make such a fuss over this little chicken?!!
My husband told him to shut up and watch what he says to me. He knows how much I love chickens, especially chicks.
I'm praying this little thing's going to hang in there 'till Monday when the vet's going to a bigger town where he can buy medicine.
I am completely stunned by those farmer's attitudes.
And I'm worried about the previous owner's other chickens. He came and dumped another newborn chick here today. Telling me it's not keeping up with the hen and the other chicks. So I pointed out to him that the poor thing's barely a day old and the other chicks were born 2 days ago, so OBVIOUSLY it's not going to as agile as it's siblings. It's still trying to find it's feet.
I've put it under a heat lamp with 4 other chicks and it's doing well.
Sorry about the rant, but I know you will understand.
I rescued a poor little 4-week-old chick that I found at a friend's house. He happily gave it to me after telling me the poor thing's been like that for a whole week. The chick had obvious difficulty breathing, but it didn't occur to the owner that it might be a good idea to ask someone for advice. His attitude is: "there are 12 more healthy chicks, so why should I care?"
I contacted a very nice vet I know and asked him to come have a look. He diagnosed a sinus infection that started spreading. So the struggle to find medicine started. I don't have anything suitable to give it. The vet started phoning some farmers in the area to see if any of them had a little bit of antibiotics to spare and they actually said to him "It's a chicken, let it die". Just like that.
We spent the whole morning making calls and nothing. I even contacted the old age home's sick bay to see if they can spare us a little bit of antibiotics, but NO. It's a chicken, who cares?
Then the previous owner came and said to me I'm spending too much energy on this chick and why do I make such a fuss over this little chicken?!!
My husband told him to shut up and watch what he says to me. He knows how much I love chickens, especially chicks.
I'm praying this little thing's going to hang in there 'till Monday when the vet's going to a bigger town where he can buy medicine.
I am completely stunned by those farmer's attitudes.
And I'm worried about the previous owner's other chickens. He came and dumped another newborn chick here today. Telling me it's not keeping up with the hen and the other chicks. So I pointed out to him that the poor thing's barely a day old and the other chicks were born 2 days ago, so OBVIOUSLY it's not going to as agile as it's siblings. It's still trying to find it's feet.
I've put it under a heat lamp with 4 other chicks and it's doing well.
Sorry about the rant, but I know you will understand.
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