WickedChicksNH
Crowing
Norman my 3 month old barred Rock cockerel was put to sleep earlier today.
2 weeks ago I brought him to the vet to see if there was anything about his knees that were starting to bend. The vet tried to hobble him with tape. He seemed OK but it wasn't working, over the past two weeks his legs got worse and worse, I tried massaging his knees and feet, (he has arthritis from his crooked toes in one foot) he loved when I sat there just rubbing his feet, he would always fall asleep on me, or put his beak on my nose.
I tried cut up pool noodles with tape to give him support, but his legs were just getting so bad, one would turn all the way around, and the other would go out forward then to the other side, and neither leg would stand up, so he would just look like a poor blob of feathers and a head and could only go around in a circle unless he put a lot of effort into moving and that would just be a quick few jumps.
he was very lopsided. his joints were so warm and painful.
He couldn't make it to his food and water unless I brought him to it. I brought him and his two ladies who we all together since born, outside on one of the first really nice days. I sat with them, and he was loving the sun,
I watched my other chickens jump and play and peck and scratch the ground and poor norman couldn't do those things.
I tried to convince myself he will be OK, he is happy. but I couldn't get myself to believe that.
He was truly a happy guy. but I knew he couldn't go on like this.
I brought him to the vet for one more opinion, but I knew what they were going to say.
As I was holding him waiting, I noticed a new problem his poor body would pop and crack when he moved and I could tell he was uncomfortable.
He sat in my arms and got lots of love, he always like to look at me with one eye and put it right up to my face.
The vet and staff was so kind and caring.
They light a candle in the waiting for when someone loses a pet and make a pretty chime sound.
Here is the last time held my Norman right before I said goodbye for the last time.
you can tell I was starting to lose it.
I cried all the way home. As you know, he was not just a chicken/roo.
2 weeks ago I brought him to the vet to see if there was anything about his knees that were starting to bend. The vet tried to hobble him with tape. He seemed OK but it wasn't working, over the past two weeks his legs got worse and worse, I tried massaging his knees and feet, (he has arthritis from his crooked toes in one foot) he loved when I sat there just rubbing his feet, he would always fall asleep on me, or put his beak on my nose.
I tried cut up pool noodles with tape to give him support, but his legs were just getting so bad, one would turn all the way around, and the other would go out forward then to the other side, and neither leg would stand up, so he would just look like a poor blob of feathers and a head and could only go around in a circle unless he put a lot of effort into moving and that would just be a quick few jumps.
he was very lopsided. his joints were so warm and painful.
He couldn't make it to his food and water unless I brought him to it. I brought him and his two ladies who we all together since born, outside on one of the first really nice days. I sat with them, and he was loving the sun,
I watched my other chickens jump and play and peck and scratch the ground and poor norman couldn't do those things.
I tried to convince myself he will be OK, he is happy. but I couldn't get myself to believe that.
He was truly a happy guy. but I knew he couldn't go on like this.
I brought him to the vet for one more opinion, but I knew what they were going to say.
As I was holding him waiting, I noticed a new problem his poor body would pop and crack when he moved and I could tell he was uncomfortable.
He sat in my arms and got lots of love, he always like to look at me with one eye and put it right up to my face.
The vet and staff was so kind and caring.
They light a candle in the waiting for when someone loses a pet and make a pretty chime sound.
Here is the last time held my Norman right before I said goodbye for the last time.
you can tell I was starting to lose it.
I cried all the way home. As you know, he was not just a chicken/roo.
Sorry. You did the right thing.
Blessings to you for being so caring.
