TxAg11
Chirping
Last week one of our hens was hobbling really badly on her left leg. She wasn't putting any weight on her left leg and would lay down with it out in front of her. Now she just drags it behind her and hops everywhere on her good leg. It's not out to the side or anything, it's just dragging behind with the claws gently curled in. It doesn't have the rigimortis paralysis look similar to my understanding of Marek's. She doesn't stay with her flock that much anymore and generally avoids moving unless she has to. The hens have a 3' ladder they have top climb to get into their coop, and she has been making the trip every night for the past two weeks. I figured if it was Mareks she wouldn't be able to make the ascent, much less hop around all day.
My question is what to do at this point. Her comb has started going pale, her feathers look terrible, and I can tell she's not very happy. She's an Ameraucana mix that's right at the point of laying, but hasn't yet started. going to a "chicken vet" is out of the question. I'm not paying $100 for a vet visit for a $15 bird.
I know there are lots of chicken lovers who lets their hens come inside, hold their hens, and know their "personalities". I am not this person, so please don't expect me to be. In my home, they are a form of livestock that I treat humanely, but not as a pet. If this hen has no chance of recovering, which I think may be the case, when do you think the axe is necessary as a mercy killing or to keep the rest of the flock safe from possible disease? I don't want to jump the gun in putting her down, but I also don't want to prolong her suffering and have her die by a slower and more painful means.
If there are any bleedingheart chicken lovers in the Houston area, I'd also be more than happy to let you adopt her for free if you think you can fix her or give her individualized care. She's quite beautiful, and in light of her leg situation we affectionaly refer to her as "Peggy".
My question is what to do at this point. Her comb has started going pale, her feathers look terrible, and I can tell she's not very happy. She's an Ameraucana mix that's right at the point of laying, but hasn't yet started. going to a "chicken vet" is out of the question. I'm not paying $100 for a vet visit for a $15 bird.
I know there are lots of chicken lovers who lets their hens come inside, hold their hens, and know their "personalities". I am not this person, so please don't expect me to be. In my home, they are a form of livestock that I treat humanely, but not as a pet. If this hen has no chance of recovering, which I think may be the case, when do you think the axe is necessary as a mercy killing or to keep the rest of the flock safe from possible disease? I don't want to jump the gun in putting her down, but I also don't want to prolong her suffering and have her die by a slower and more painful means.
If there are any bleedingheart chicken lovers in the Houston area, I'd also be more than happy to let you adopt her for free if you think you can fix her or give her individualized care. She's quite beautiful, and in light of her leg situation we affectionaly refer to her as "Peggy".
