Struggling Runtlet chick

[8chickens8]

hello everyone! i joined this page today, and am kind of desperate for some advice. our haus is raising chickens for the first time, we have 8 of thm, and one is the Runt. She was doing wel for the first month or so, and now she is not doing so well at all. she has a smallish growth on the left side of her neck, and can't stand upright. her growth has been stunted, the others are easily double her size. :/ i feel guilty keeping her alive, but am unsure of the options. anaesthesia? a rock? a cat? it saddens and confuses all of us,
any help would be good, thank you!
~bless~

 

[chickenzoo]

I'm afraid it doesn't sound good. The trouble standing and the growth could be the start of Mareks...but I've never had growths outside the body with it.... Or it could be something else entirely.
If the growth was not there, then I would think coccidia could be the cause of her stunted growth...or just a failure to thrive due to unknow internal issues. You could seperate her and treat her with Corid..... See if that helps.

The easiest way I have found for myself and my chickens when I have to end suffering is this.
I take an empty feed sack, and open it up standing on the ground. Place I'll bird in the sack. Take a very sharp pair of tree pruners or limb loppers and position inside the bag... One each side of the neck..about in the middle. With one lop, the neck is severed, the chicken is already in the sack, so I don't have to view it, and if the chicken still moves it is contained.
There are many different ways, but the best way is any way that ends quickly with the least amount of pain for the bird and yourself.