Should I CULL??

[Kennyhasquails]

I have a day old chick and she was an assisted hatch. I helped too early. She cant cheep or eat or stand, but she has been kicking her curled up feet a lot, and was pretty active. Breathing very hard too. I gave her sugar water throughout the day. She does seem like she may be suffering, but I don’t know if it’s too early to make the discussion to cull her. Should I give her more time?

the pictures are a time line of her since she hatched.

 

[TwentyOneChickens]

I have a day old chick and she was an assisted hatch. I helped too early. She cant cheep or eat or stand, but she has been kicking her curled up feet a lot, and was pretty active. Breathing very hard too. I gave her sugar water throughout the day. She does seem like she may be suffering, but I don’t know if it’s too early to make the discussion to cull her. Should I give her more time?

the pictures are a time line of her since she hatched.

I'm sorry.
I don't think there's much you can do at this point. I would go ahead and cull, but you should wait for other's opinions first. Good luck.

 

[BGcoop]

Poor chick doesn’t look too good, I’m sorry.

 

[ShannonR]

Culling is a personal decision. I have a feeling this chick will cull itself if you don't have the heart to do it, though... sorry.

 

[ShannonR]

In a couple of the pictures one foot looks deformed. Is it? Could be the reason you had to assist hatching, and one of the many reasons I choose not to assist during hatches.

 

[ScottyGill]

In a couple of the pictures one foot looks deformed. Is it? Could be the reason you had to assist hatching, and one of the many reasons I choose not to assist during hatches.

I would cull, we did. A quick and easy way was to wrap it up and a wee towel and put it in the freezer. It was gone in minutes. It looks like it won’t last. I don’t agree with the don’t intervene as have had two beautiful birds from assisting. Like the guy I watched said it might not live but it definitely won’t if you leave it. I felt with my bungling attempts at incubation I owed it to them. Two of my chicks that came out themselves didn’t make it. Two I assisted are fantastically healthy. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad! You did what felt right at the time!

 

[goldysgirl]

I have a beautiful healthy bird that was from an assisted hatch, so I agree that you shouldn't feel bad for helping. It's definitely a personal decision. My chick's egg had been cracked prematurely by some hens and it was shrink wrapped. It does look like your bird has a foot abnormality in the picture, so it may have not even made it out if you hadn't intervened.

 

[Ebony Rose]

In a couple of the pictures one foot looks deformed. Is it? Could be the reason you had to assist hatching, and one of the many reasons I choose not to assist during hatches.

I noticed that too, and if it is deformed, agree that it very well may be the reason it had trouble escaping the shell.

I would cull, we did. A quick and easy way was...

If that foot is deformed as the images seem to indicate, I would cull her. My preferred method is to take sharp scissors and cut her head off, it's precise and instantaneous. I flush the remains (I have septic).

 

[Ebony Rose]

I have a beautiful healthy bird that was from an assisted hatch, so I agree that you shouldn't feel bad for helping.

I've had several healthy birds come from assisted hatches (and a few that had to be culled).

...so it may have not even made it out if you hadn't intervened.

You gave this little one a chance at life, and one day of living is better than NO days of living.

 

[RoosterML]

I would cull, we did. A quick and easy way was to wrap it up and a wee towel and put it in the freezer. It was gone in minutes. It looks like it won’t last. I don’t agree with the don’t intervene as have had two beautiful birds from assisting. Like the guy I watched said it might not live but it definitely won’t if you leave it. I felt with my bungling attempts at incubation I owed it to them. Two of my chicks that came out themselves didn’t make it. Two I assisted are fantastically healthy. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad! You did what felt right at the time!

No way! Sorry doesn’t sound quick to me. Easy for you maybe but surely not the chick. Grab a sharp pair of shears/sturdy scissors and remove the head. Now that is what is quick, easy and the responsible thing to do.