Sad night

[Queen of the chickens]

Had to cull one of the Belgian d'Uccle chicks we hatched about 6 weeks ago. It was fine starting out, but sometime over the past couple of weeks, it stopped being able to stand up. It would try and legs would shake, but it mostly moved on the lower leg. Sometimes it would pitch forward and sometimes it would rock back and it's toes would come off the ground. It was getting around in it's way and didn't seem to be in pain, but since it was a cockerel, and probably would have had a rough life, I had my husband "take care of it." I am really trying to be tough. When you have 100 chickens, they can't all be pets, but it goes against my nature.

I know sometimes things just go wrong in development, but if anyone has any ideas as to what might have caused this, please share. Would like to prevent problems when I can.

 

[hazeleyes]

These things happen even in nature, just think you gave it a chance which is more then it would have had otherwise.

 

[CorinneP]

So sad .. I am sorry .. I am Fast on my way to having 100 chickens and Birds I was thinking that would make it easier on me for any future loss's and when the meat Birds were ready .. Now I see it probably won't matter. We tender hearts are just that no matter what .

 

[robynz]

((hugs))

 

[highpointfarm]

I have heard that this can happen when they slip over and over ( if you start out with newspaper as bedding etc) and once they are weakend it is much easier for them to fall, which just makes it worse and worse... Or this could just be a defect... SORRY

Caleb

 

[Vickilynn45]

So sad .. I am sorry .. I am Fast on my way to having 100 chickens and Birds I was thinking that would make it easier on me for any future loss's and when the meat Birds were ready .. Now I see it probably won't matter. We tender hearts are just that no matter what .

We are seriously considering meat birds in the future, but like you, I have a tender heart. So does my hubby- not sure we would ever adjust to having to take their lives- it will be hard. And to the OP, so sorry!

 

[theoldchick]

Goes against my nature, too. I want to keep everyone healthy and thriving. Took me a while to learn I can't fix everything. Still hate losing them.

 

[Queen of the chickens]

Thanks everyone. We had someone give us two meat chickens that they bought for Easter Pics and didn't want them. My husband took them not knowing what they were. I am trying to keep my distance, but the rooster is so excited to see me when I come in the pen with food. He waddles up to me and then sits and stares adoringly at me. (Not good.) I am telling myself that they are outside in a pen, not overcrowded and being taken spoiled, so they are having a better life than most of the chickens I eat. My husband has promised that I don't have to help with the processing as long as I will cook and eat them later. I think I can live with that. I love chicken. I kind of feel that if I'm going to eat chicken, I want them to have been humanely raised and cared for.

 

[Vickilynn45]

Thanks everyone. We had someone give us two meat chickens that they bought for Easter Pics and didn't want them. My husband took them not knowing what they were. I am trying to keep my distance, but the rooster is so excited to see me when I come in the pen with food. He waddles up to me and then sits and stares adoringly at me. (Not good.) I am telling myself that they are outside in a pen, not overcrowded and being taken spoiled, so they are having a better life than most of the chickens I eat. My husband has promised that I don't have to help with the processing as long as I will cook and eat them later. I think I can live with that. I love chicken. I kind of feel that if I'm going to eat chicken, I want them to have been humanely raised and cared for.

That's exactly the way to look at it! It's so much more humane that they live their lives with space and fresh air like they should- it won't make it any easier to process them but at least you can feel good that they lived the way they should have.