Seemingly recovered chick now fading

[adamthomas]

Yep, the nipple was an attempt to provide options for her and it worked initially but her cross bill has gotten much worse. She seems to be able to get some water from the trough but I don’t see how it’s going to be enough. Keeping our fingers crossed and guiding her back as often as possible.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That is the worst cross beak I've ever seen. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is a hereditary defect and will never have a quality of life and likely won't survive. If it does, it won't grow well due to being unable to eat well.
I would put it down. You definitely don't want it to reproduce.

 

[adamthomas]

We'll give her the best life we can as long as she is not suffering. We have no intention of breeding her. At this point she has the most endearing personality and more energy than the rest of the flock and wants nothing more than food and to interact with me. If I have the top of the brooder open she flies out and then to me wherever I am in the room.

It will be a difficult task to put her down if it comes to that but my wife already said she can take care of that if it becomes necessary. I'm not sure I can. I cry when animals are in fictitious danger on TV and Movies..... eyeroll.......

 

[Shezadandy]

We'll give her the best life we can as long as she is not suffering. We have no intention of breeding her. At this point she has the most endearing personality and more energy than the rest of the flock and wants nothing more than food and to interact with me. If I have the top of the brooder open she flies out and then to me wherever I am in the room.

It will be a difficult task to put her down if it comes to that but my wife already said she can take care of that if it becomes necessary. I'm not sure I can. I cry when animals are in fictitious danger on TV and Movies..... eyeroll.......

I hope she can find a way to thrive. Here's more info on managing crossbeaks.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/scissor-beak-aka-crossed-beak-what-it/

Yours is definitely a more extreme case than average. I'm glad you've got the compassion to consider her overall quality of life if it comes to that.

This is Edward Scissorbeak before a beak trim. We lost him about a month ago but he had a pretty good life. He was a kind and gentle soul and we miss him.

 

[adamthomas]

Great name! He’s very handsome. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Shezadandy]

Great name! He’s very handsome. Sorry for your loss.

Thank you! It was a sad day.

 

[adamthomas]

Well I have some great news and some not so great news today. With a little help and a lot of extra attention Penny seems to have recovered, is gaining weight, has stopped picking at herself and is energetic and more outgoing. She still seems to get tired after playing for a while and later in the evening like me but so far so good. Her balance has gotten better. It's not perfect but we're so glad she's coming around. We're keeping our fingers crossed that she makes a full recovery and lives a full life.


Sadly I can't say the same for Lavender the cross bill and today is a very sad day for me because I had to put her down at around 1 month old. We had been able to feed her with wet food but it took everything she and we had just to get minimal food and water into her and she remained bright, energetic and very affectionate the whole time. However a few days ago she started showing sign of sliding backwards and I watched her try to eat for 30 mins this morning with little to no success. She had always been a voracious eater, giving it her all, but I cold see that her spirit was waning. It was hard to watch knowing how frustrating and stressful that must be. I decided it wasn't fair to her to keep this up.

I researched all the methods of culling and considered a few if needed, but finally decided that I had to face this head on and do what was best for Lavender. I did not want her to continue to struggle and end up suffering. After watching her this morning I realized that we had crossed point of who was benefiting the most from her life and when it was obvious it wasn't her I had to take action.

I brought her friends out for one last play session on the top of the brooder and she sat and watched, and hopped in to play a couple times, charging across the lid coming face to face with the other birds with her chest pumped out. This is a game or ritual they do apparently, presumably to find their pecking order.

When they all settled down I took Lavender outside for her first and last look at the great big world outside the brooder and the laundry room. She made chirping sounds I had never heard before. Not scared but maybe a little trepidation in her timbre. She looked around stretching her neck out to see what's out there. She cocked her head sideways to look at me several times and ran up my arm to sit on my shoulder. She sang in my ear for a moment and pecked gently at my ear lobe as if to say thank you or I love you and crushed my heart. I cold not help but cry at this point knowing why we were out here. She had worked her way into my heart and I now had to take her life, perhaps the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I know she was just a chicken, but it feels like I've lost so much more.

Rest well under the big oak my sweet little friend.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well I have some great news and some not so great news today. With a little help and a lot of extra attention Penny seems to have recovered, is gaining weight, has stopped picking at herself and is energetic and more outgoing. She still seems to get tired after playing for a while and later in the evening like me but so far so good. Her balance has gotten better. It's not perfect but we're so glad she's coming around. We're keeping our fingers crossed that she makes a full recovery and lives a full life.


Sadly I can't say the same for Lavender the cross bill and today is a very sad day for me because I had to put her down at around 1 month old. We had been able to feed her with wet food but it took everything she and we had just to get minimal food and water into her and she remained bright, energetic and very affectionate the whole time. However a few days ago she started showing sign of sliding backwards and I watched her try to eat for 30 mins this morning with little to no success. She had always been a voracious eater, giving it her all, but I cold see that her spirit was waning. It was hard to watch knowing how frustrating and stressful that must be. I decided it wasn't fair to her to keep this up.

I researched all the methods of culling and considered a few if needed, but finally decided that I had to face this head on and do what was best for Lavender. I did not want her to continue to struggle and end up suffering. After watching her this morning I realized that we had crossed point of who was benefiting the most from her life and when it was obvious it wasn't her I had to take action.

I brought her friends out for one last play session on the top of the brooder and she sat and watched, and hopped in to play a couple times, charging across the lid coming face to face with the other birds with her chest pumped out. This is a game or ritual they do apparently, presumably to find their pecking order.

When they all settled down I took Lavender outside for her first and last look at the great big world outside the brooder and the laundry room. She made chirping sounds I had never heard before. Not scared but maybe a little trepidation in her timbre. She looked around stretching her neck out to see what's out there. She cocked her head sideways to look at me several times and ran up my arm to sit on my shoulder. She sang in my ear for a moment and pecked gently at my ear lobe as if to say thank you or I love you and crushed my heart. I cold not help but cry at this point knowing why we were out here. She had worked her way into my heart and I now had to take her life, perhaps the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I know she was just a chicken, but it feels like I've lost so much more.

Rest well under the big oak my sweet little friend.

I'm glad to hear that Penny is doing well.

I'm also saddened to hear about Lavender.
Thank you for the update. Your words of compassion, love and mercy for her are felt in my heart

 

[adamthomas]

Thanks @Wyorp Rock, I appreciate the support and assistance you and others have provided. This is definitely the worst part of having pets, and having to perform the deed myself takes the whole thing to another level.

Here's one last pic of her a couple weeks ago in her favorite place. She was an amazing bird, especially for how short of a time she was with us.

 

[adamthomas]

Some more positive news on this thread. Penny who was the subject of this thread at the start has made a full recovery and at 17 weeks she is now at the top of the pecking order. She is confident, inquisitive, smart and sadly a little bit of a bully but she is alive, healthy and very beautiful. We now think she is a Swedish Flower Hen rather than a Partridge Penedesenca which is what we thought up until about 8 weeks.

Here are pics of Penny at 9 days old after getting her hobble removed.

Last week @ 16 weeks old. Gorgeous and a total diva!