special needs chick-need opinions please

[Shogun99]

Keep it separate or euthanize it? But that sounds just like the Soilant Green movie or even the modern day educational system!?!

Separate is not equal! Viva la Revolucion y No more youth-in-asia (euthenasia) for baby chicks!

Tell you what? Don't want the bugger, send him to me and I'll take good care of him. He'll probably get along well with my black stars and 2x mutts.

If he dies despite the best chicken medical technology money can buy (I'm an EMT) well...then it was meant to be. I do know mouth-2-mouth and Defibrilation though. Shocking isn't it? *ok BAD pun*

 

[debilorrah]

Wow Shogun, I was just offering opinion. Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers. I believe in being kindest to the animal - and they others they are around. I would not keep a sick chick just for the sake of keeping it. I have 12 others to keep healthy. And I happen to love each and every one of them. Enough to put one out of it's misery if needed.

 

[Shogun99]

Deb,

Yeah I know what you meant and after not having slept well in the last few days needed a creative and a tad crazy outlet for ranting. SOrry but you got hit with that bullet.

Honestly I WOULD take the chick and care for it best I could. I have 25 myself, but there's room for another even if he has a lump on his head and runs backwards when he freaks out.

I've worked with special needs KIDS before (children not goats) and enjoy their interesting outlook on life. While a chicken is certainly not a child, I'd still try and keep it around while it is healthy.

And finally for the record, I have culled animals before. I had a pet snake when I was a kid that needed feeder mice and about a month ago when I received my birds, my pup got one and mauled it a bit on Day 2. He learned to keep his distance though and the chick needed to be put out of his misery as it was on its way out.

Just for the Record,

Ryan

 

[debilorrah]

Ryan, dear, I dodged that bullet HAHAHAHA! I was a bit insulted because I DO care about all animals, but all is forgiven. I was dealing with a disabled 17 year old last night with econoimcs homework and he wasn't helping me a bit. So you were stressed and I was stressed and we had a fight. Too funny - I have never fought online before. HAHA!

Any progress with the lumpy chickie?

 

[ginasmarans]

If you think you may have to put it down,it's easier to do when they are young. I have done it before and I cry every time,but I know I did what I thought was best. I have also kept special needs chicks(my first one,Woodsey,got her leg broken as a chick) but honestly, I wish I had had the guts to go on and put them down early. Woodsey grew and even laid eggs,but she never could get around very good. She led a solitary life and crooned to us whenever we came near,but we couldn't hold her all the time. Finally I put her in a pen with another young hen with leg problems. Some dratted young possums squeezed through the 3x5 wire and killed them both.

 

[Alpha Roo]

Are these hatched from your own flock? perhaps you need to bring in some new birds to ensure its not caused from inbreeding. But I would give the lil' one a chance, most any quality of life is still better than no life (imho).

 

[Solsken Farm]

These are not from Krista's flock. She is building flocks and flocks from shipped eggs.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
I would cull him now, why keep the poor little guy. Just to convert to soup later.

 

[s6bee]

I guess my question would be so he runs backwards! Does it hurt? Is he unable to eat, is he in distress? If yes to any of those questions, maybe then cull, if he's just a little wierd, well aren't we all?

 

[TillinWithMyPeeps]

Woodsey grew and even laid eggs,but she never could get around very good. She led a solitary life and crooned to us whenever we came near,but we couldn't hold her all the time. Finally I put her in a pen with another young hen with leg problems. Some dratted young possums squeezed through the 3x5 wire and killed them both.

That is really Sad

But anyway, with Shorty, I would keep him and try to give him the best quality of life possible. If he is not hurting, and is just a little clutsy and crazy, he may be fun to have with his own little quirks

Don't give up on him yet.​