Thinking about amputating chicks leg... yes or no...

[feather and mountain man]

Well I agree it is time to cull this one out. I am not big on killing animals but I would not want to see it suffer as it gains weight.

 

[Kavellion]

Must be irrational for advocting you don't kill the chicken? Its the whole this animal is my piece of property idea. Sounded to me like the poster just wanted feedback Why not take the extra time to nurse the chicken along. Also people who are disabled require aides to feed and change them a wheelchair or crutches does not do that for them. But then again its only a chicken right?

 

[tnchickenut]

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Honestly I did not mean to offend... but only make the realistic statement that when it's a little fuzzy chick it's easier to "help" it along. When it is even half of it's full grown size and you have to pick it up to feed it and water it - is that more humane then putting it down?

I sincerely didn't mean to offend you. Just wanted to add the realistic outcome of what could happen. Like I said, if a vet could do it... then go for it.

 

[FMAFarms]

If this little chick is happy, active, hops perfectly well to food, is able to poop without a problem, and gets along well with its fellow chicks -- and those chicks are accepting and don't bother it -- then why cull it? It has obviously shown that it can survive just fine, and that its flock has accepted it the way it is. As they get older, the other birds may very well "mother" the gimpy chick and be fierce protectors of it. Yes, culling does make sense if the chick is in obvious distress, if it cannot get to food or water, if it just lies in its own feces, if the other birds act aggressively towards it. But your description shows none of this. Your description shows us a little chick who is doing just fine, other than having a gimpy leg.

I guess the real question is, what would you be comfortable doing? Are you willing to put some extra effort in keeping track of this little chick, to ensure its welfare as it grows up? If so, then don't cull. It might not make it to 10, but it should live well with the adaptations it has already shown. But if you've got lots of poultry, with another hatch or batch of chicks on the horizon plus housework, work, kids, etc., and you're not sure you have the energy or time, then the kindest thing would be to cull the little peep.

 

[gumbii]

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omg... are you saying that you think an animal is equal to a person...????¿

that is what's wrong with people these days... they have 30 pit bulls living in their houses, dress up a bunch of cats and let them breed out of control because "fixing" them hurts... they aren't part of your family... if you believe that, you're totally doing it wrong...


what if this chick was a broiler...? would you think any different...? they get to be 7 weeks sometimes then get processed for a meal... how is this any different...¿


i would cull... it sucks... i know people that have one legged hens, but that was because a predator got to them... but to have one that was born that way and watch it grow handicap, that's not cool... what if it gets worse...¿ instead of finding out how much the chick will suffer while growing up, just cull and never let it go threw it...

i used to breed pit bulls... and if a puppy was born with a limp leg, twisted tail, or something, i would cull it... never even thought about it... plenty of dog breeders do this... and puppies are a lot cuter than chicks...


just sayin'...

 

[M To The Maxx]

If the chick does not improve I would cull.

 

[LeftFootFarm]

Give it no more then a weeks time, but I would not amputate the leg. I think your two options are culling or just letting be. My personal opinion cull.

 

[magicpigeon]

It really depends on how much time you want to devote to that bird. Me personally, at the time of my life I am now, would say cull. If I had the time and the money, I would let it live.

 

[chickened]

Experience has showed me that most of the time a chick will lag behind the others and have growth issues and depending on your purpose for owning chickens if it is for eggs you most likely will end up with a special needs chicken that will take more care as it will never be normal... most of the time. If this is a challenge you are up to by all means keep it otherwise cull it.

 

[FoodKillah]

I hatched 3 eggs, first came healthy, the other 2 had similar problem, their right leg was pointing backwards, i tried to keep them alive until one point. I tortured them. Then i saw i could not help them and i let them on their faith in the incubator but isolated from the healthy that pecked them. They died peacefully without me torturing them with straws of water or putting their beaks with force in the water and food.

I would not cull THEM because thats how i am, if they lived the other would have company now its all alone. Many reasons. What can you do if the chick is not eating and does not want to live, let it die or live dont kill it and dont help it TOO MUCH to keep it alive by yourself. Its nature, what can you do.

The mistake in my case was mine, because i kept the humidity and temperature of the incubator wrong, for too long.