Sould I cull this chick???

[ladybug99]

I hatched out two baby chicks two weeks ago. One of the chicks came out of the egg with a severly deformed neck.... curled over to one side of the body. I gave the baby vitamins every day and electrolytes in the water, massaged his wee little neck daily and two weeks later he is still twisted as ever. He is 1/4 the size of his sister. All he does is sleep. He does eat and drink but he is just not thriving. I have a broody hen who is due to hatch out tomorrow and I was thinking of putting the healthy chick under her... my question is... do I try to let this little guy live or do I put him out of his misery or do I put him under the broody too. He is almost the same size as he was when he was born.

he is a roo... if he does survive how will the other roosters treat him??? I am pretty new at raising chickens and want to do what is best for him..

 

[Silkie Sue]

I think you know the answer to this one

the sooner, the better

 

[Higins00]

It's what you feel is right for him. If your asking should you cull him the answer is probably yes. Some people here might beg you to keep him alive but in my opinion I would cull him.

 

[TigerLilly]

Nobody likes to do it, but it has to be done. You said it yourself, he's not thriving. If it makes you feel better to try the broody hen, go for it. Just don't be surprised if she doesn't mother him.

 

[ladybug99]

I have no issues letting him live but I am concerned if he does survive to adulthood how the others will treat him... especially my adult Roo. I am on the fence with this one....but I have given him 2 weeks and he has not shown any improvement....maybe I will wait and see what others suggest....it will have to wait till the morning.

 

[Little Tweets]

IMHO and I'm no expert by any means, but he won't make it to adulthood if the flock start to realize his condition.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Poor little guy.

If he's not improving and not thriving I think there is only one solution.

I suspect if you did try putting him under the hen she may kill him as she will know he's not right. He certainly won't be able to keep up with the others and won't survive. If you were to raise him in the brooder with lots of special treatment and he did survive (which is unlikely) your older roo will not tolerate him and he won't be able to defend himself properly. You would be looking at having to house him separately because sadly chickens are cruel when they realize something is wrong with one of the flock and they will pick on him mercilessly.

 

[ladybug99]

I have decided that culling him would be the best thing to do at this point...I don't have room for a "house" chicken. and I agree if he made it to adulthood, because he is a roo he would most probally be picked on and eventually killed anyway. Looking at him I don't think this is wry neck....he is just way too twisted for that....I think it is a spinal deformity. He is so much slower and unsteady on his feet than the other chick, I also think the broody would not accept him either.

I hate to kill spiders! So this is going to be a hard thing for me to do.....but I think its the best I can do for the little guy. I appreciate everyones replies and hugs!!

 

[ScissorChick]

See if someone could do it for you, if you have to...

 

[megshenhut]

This is sort of off subject, but I'm not sure that the broody will accept the healthy chick either if it is 2 weeks old. But she might. And I'm so sorry about the little roo, but the others would make his life miserable.