Stop telling me to kill my birds....

[RossAcres]

Ya actually quite a few experienced show breeders would. Especially older ones. Ask the OP.
The show world is a lot different then the backyard poultry world. Lots are either set in their ways or they learned from the ones before them. With that comes the good as well as the not so good.

Yeah that's exactly right. If PETA were to step anywhere near an older exhibitor's yard in spring time, they'd faint immediately. They tend to cull atleast 60% of chicks as soon as they fluff up.

 

[RossAcres]

Just an update:
I had this bird quarantined since I got back from the show. I quarantine every bird that goes to a show for safety. He had absolutely no symptoms at the show, but he went to quarantine anyway. He started showing symptoms about two-three days after the show. I gave him 0.5cc of Tylan 50 yesterday morning and today the swelling has gone down tremendously. Going to keep an eye on him for the next week. He's getting poultry cell in his water as well. Keeping an eye on the pullet that was caged next to him, but she hasn't shown any symptoms yet.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just an additional tidbit about the breeder: He told me that if I ever decided not to breed them anymore, to kill them immediately. Do not sell them. This guy is a little harsh ever since he won 5th best at Ohio Nationals last year.

Sounds like a rabbit breeder my mom used to know when she was a kid.

 

[ChicNmom]

Because, a experienced person would not say, go kill your chicken, practically.

I have a neighbor who has had chickens for 30 years. She'll kill any bird or animal that she doesn't like or is inconvenient.

There are a few people here who are big on culling as well. There is a different mentality between backyard chicken people who view their chickens as useful pets and farm people who view them as mindless livestock.

 

[nuthatched]

I have a neighbor who has had chickens for 30 years. She'll kill any bird or animal that she doesn't like or is inconvenient.

There are a few people here who are big on culling as well. There is a different mentality between backyard chicken people who view their chickens as useful pets and farm people who view them as mindless livestock.

Even pet owners have to know at what point it's necessary: the animal is suffering and unlikely to get better/has a horrible issue that the other animals will get and die from.
My first boss loved her pets to abuse, kept them alive years longer than they should have been, seizures, blind, horrible arthritis, no teeth, couldn't walk and incontinence so bad they lived in pee pad covered bed. She sure did love those pets.


I've been here for years, watching chicken owners frantically get on here after a incident, the bird has wing/legs ripped off, bowels out, eyes gone, but "don't tell me to kill her because she's a pet and I love her and that's so

There's a balance that needs to be strived for.

 

[ChicNmom]

Even pet owners have to know at what point it's necessary: the animal is suffering and unlikely to get better/has a horrible issue that the other animals will get and die from.

There's a balance that needs to be strived for.

I agree. There is a point where the animal has no quality of life.

Yet I have seen some go straight for culling even when the bird has a chance of recovering. And if it's their bird, and they don't want to put the time into itMany years ago I had a cat that suddenly wouldn't eat and was breathing rapidly. I took her to the vet. She did an x-ray and showed me that her heart was not expanding and contracting properly. She said I should immediately put her down because of blah, blah, blah.....

But the episode had resolved and the cat looked OK. So I decided to take her home and watch for the signs her heart was failing and then put her down.
I got another cat so my 2nd cat would have a friend in place when the one with the heart problem got worse.

That cat lived 6 more happy years and finally had to be put down because of a massive stroke. She was 19 1/2.

So as long as a bird has a decent chance and isn't suffering, and someone wants to try and save it then I think helpful ideas are best instead of telling people to put their bird down.

Balance is definitely necessary.

 

[FrostRanger]

in the case of respiratory infections I can see why he said that, unless you know for certain that what's going on is something that can be cured completely, I would not show that bird again nor keep him with the rest of my show birds as there are many respiratory infections that can seem minor and go away with antibiotics but the bird is still in fact contagious despite being asymptomatic and can make a less resistant bird ill and possibly kill them. In that case culling might be the best thing to do for the sake of those around you. In any case I'd at least look at testing for this bird to make sure it's nothing chronic

 

[nuthatched]

I agree. There is a point where the animal has no quality of life.

Yet I have seen some go straight for culling even when the bird has a chance of recovering. And if it's their bird, and they don't want to put the time into itMany years ago I had a cat that suddenly wouldn't eat and was breathing rapidly. I took her to the vet. She did an x-ray and showed me that her heart was not expanding and contracting properly. She said I should immediately put her down because of blah, blah, blah.....

But the episode had resolved and the cat looked OK. So I decided to take her home and watch for the signs her heart was failing and then put her down.
I got another cat so my 2nd cat would have a friend in place when the one with the heart problem got worse.

That cat lived 6 more happy years and finally had to be put down because of a massive stroke. She was 19 1/2.

So as long as a bird has a decent chance and isn't suffering, and someone wants to try and save it then I think helpful ideas are best instead of telling people to put their bird down.

Balance is definitely necessary.

I'm glad you cat lived longer than you were told, that's great.
Unfortunately, not putting down an animal is often rolling the dice, they could heal and bounce back or slowly die a suffering death.
None of us can see the future so if the chances are slim for recovery, I'd not like my animals to suffer more than they have to.

 

[LoveChickens27]

I have a neighbor who has had chickens for 30 years. She'll kill any bird or animal that she doesn't like or is inconvenient.

There are a few people here who are big on culling as well. There is a different mentality between backyard chicken people who view their chickens as useful pets and farm people who view them as mindless livestock.

Yes, that is the sad truth. (Sorry, I am going to rant.)
I mean, chickens are practically like dogs. They might have a different personality, body shape, and behavior but they still have the same creator, God. Chickens have feelings, so try to treat them like a human, like would you walk up to your annoying brother and cull him because he is annoying and inconvenient? I sort of understand when a chicken stops laying eggs you put them down because you don't have enough money, yet chickens do not have souls and cannot go to heaven or hell.

Note: I hope I did not rant too much. If you cull your chickens like the way I just ranted about but you have a reason for it, please understand I was not talking about you. If your opinion is different, please excuse me. I don't want to get in an argument but if you want to talk about this, not in an argument, I am totally up for that. Thanks for being so understanding!

Oh! And just remember, if I have a different opinion, that is normal, everyone has their own opinions.

 

[LoveChickens27]

Even pet owners have to know at what point it's necessary: the animal is suffering and unlikely to get better/has a horrible issue that the other animals will get and die from.
My first boss loved her pets to abuse, kept them alive years longer than they should have been, seizures, blind, horrible arthritis, no teeth, couldn't walk and incontinence so bad they lived in pee pad covered bed. She sure did love those pets.


I've been here for years, watching chicken owners frantically get on here after a incident, the bird has wing/legs ripped off, bowels out, eyes gone, but "don't tell me to kill her because she's a pet and I love her and that's so

There's a balance that needs to be strived for.

Yes, well said.