Rooster to lose both legs: Quality of Life?

[Tankueray]

Third idea:

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I know I'm terrible...

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Assuming he doesn't have a name already and you decide to keep him...

 

[BrahmaMama9]

Assuming he doesn't have a name already and you decide to keep him...

His name is Chip.

 

[BrahmaMama9]

Only picture I got of Chip, snuggling after a bath.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

He looks loved. I have had chickens I loved that I wished I had culled before their quality of life deteriorated so I see both sides. Anxious to see pics of his nubbins tomorrow!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

@BrahmaMama9 , it may turn out that Chip has too low a quality life to justify letting him continue on. For sure, sometimes death can bring a merciful ending. One thing you said in your post is that he is a "little" brahma rooster. I only caught the word "little" and not "Brahma" the first time I read it. If Chip is is fact a large fowl brahma, his size may indeed make it near impossible for him to get around. But I also focused on your words here:

Despite the entire leg coming off, he is getting around better on his belly, eating and drinking and in better spirits now than prior to the days leading up to it falling off.

He is such a sweet, loving and cuddly little rooster. But I am concerned about his quality of life. Due to the extent and location of his frostbite injuries, I don't know if it is in his best interest to live his life out with no legs. I'd love to keep him and care for a special needs boy like him, but I question if that's truly the right thing to do.

From your description, he sounds pretty content right now. And he looks extremely content all snuggled in that towel.

He looks loved. I have had chickens I loved that I wished I had culled before their quality of life deteriorated so I see both sides. Anxious to see pics of his nubbins tomorrow!

I've lived long enough and loved and watched enough animals of various species grow old and/or terminally ill to know that they clearly tell us when they are ready to go. When the life-light leaves their eyes, I know it is time, and I have always helped them leave. But by brahmamama9's descriptions, I don't currently sense that in her Chip. It may be that others here are right and I am wrong with my advice. (Wouldn't be the first time That happened.) My final advice for now is, if you are willing to continue his care day-to-day, let Chip tell you if he wants to remain, or if he wants you to help him leave. Birds, other animals and humans too can surprise us with their resiliency, that's for sure.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Chip is a chicken. Chickens, unlike other animals, need their legs not just to ambulate from Point A to Point B. They need their legs and feet to scratch in the dirt as they hunt for food. It's hard-wired in them, hence the name of one of their food products, "peck and scratch." The loss of legs is the loss of one of a chicken's primary activities in life. Sure, you may be able to rig him a sling to keep him off the ground and keep him from dragging his butt in filth, but how are you going to give him back the ability to scratch in the dirt and hunt for bugs or turn up grains to eat?

A chicken that can't scratch is not living as chickens are meant to live, as nature designed them to be. Consider this when you think about "quality of life."

 

[raingarden]

Put the poor thing out of it's misery.

 

[Razzlefrazzle]

What makes a chicken's life worth living? We have no clue! Legs or no he'll probably have a better life than all the caged birds in commercial operations whose suffering we regularly overlook so we can enjoy some cheap food.

The OP faces a hard decision but will know better than anyone else whether Chip is suffering. #Give Chip a chance!