Time to cull

[darin367]

I've never had to cull before. Always let mother nature do it..... I had to restart my flock after a coon attack.. so i've got 5 week olds that just went to the coop out of brooder.. 1 of them had a broken leg that healed crooked.. she made it around the brooder o.k... but she's not gettin around so good out in the coop...... she just ain't got the strength to get up n down ramps etc.... the wife has been babying her for a month and hasn't let me do the deed... guess i'm gonna have to do it when she ain't home..... i know she'll be upset, but to me the bird is struggling...... what do you guys think....

 

[machoman]

If it's able to eat and drink, I'd let it be. The second it can't, I would cull it or it will starve to death.

 

[StarLover21]

I wouldn't kill her- but I would say that to everything. I heard of one legged chickens having long, quality lives, and even blind chickens. It really depends on if you have the time to care for her. Or you could just ship her to me.... . I love special needs chickens.

 

[ralleia]

If the bird is already weak now, then more time is not likely to help. Since it wasn't set properly in the first place, it really isn't being merciful to continue to let the bird suffer along. I would certainly end it--as long as your wife will be forgiving of that.

I see two possible reactions. One, she could be relieved in a way that its difficulties are over, and that she won't have to try to nurse the bird along any more.

The other, if she is really bonded with the bird, is that it could really wound her emotionally.

Not knowing her, I don't know what her reaction would be.

In our household, the roles are somewhat reversed. It's me who wants to cull anything deformed or that doesn't fit in with the our plans, while he wants to let everything just muddle along...

 

[silkiechicken]

Can it live properly in your coop situation? A one legged bird would likly not do well with my flock... I would cull.

 

[Oregon Blues]

All I know is that if you kill your wife's pet without her permission while she is away from home, you are going to be in a world of hurt.

It is disrespectful of your wife's feelings and if she has any sense at all, she will stop trusting you.

 

[EweSheep]

Sit down and talk with her. Let her express her feelings and whats not. Compare the pet chick like a dog who is suffering, would it be more merciful to put the chick down or let it suffer or get pestered by the other chickens.

Not all chickens are created equal. Some can be amputated without a problem while others would just stuck in a rut and can't get out of it, that it simply wont thrive.

If she still wants to keep that chicken, then you don't have a choice but be ready to do the deed if and when she decided the chick isn't going to get the care or she simply don't have the time or resources to care for a special needs chick.

Next time you get a batch of chicks with any kind of deformities, better do the deed before your wife gets too attached to it or if you find it so weak beyond help or broken leg upon arrival, put it down immediately.

 

[StarLover21]

I just read the part about your wife- sit down and have a talk. If SHE"s willing to make sure this bird gets around okay and to care for it, don't kill it.

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

You sure don't kill your wife's chicken without her knowing about it. She will never forgive you. EVER. It's not hurting anything and your wife loves it. If she says cull it, fine. But not until then, or you'll be sleeping on the couch for a long, long, looooong time.

(Long time. On the couch. Sleeping. Alone.)

 

[goldnchocolate]

You sure don't kill your wife's chicken without her knowing about it. She will never forgive you. EVER. It's not hurting anything and your wife loves it. If she says cull it, fine. But not until then, or you'll be sleeping on the couch for a long, long, looooong time.

(Long time. On the couch. Sleeping. Alone.)

Yup....what she said.

My son had a pet rooster that got sick and blind. We babied him along for almost a week and then I did what I would do with any other kind of pet....I took him to the vet to be euthanized. It could have been done at home but it was well worth the money/time spent to spare my son's feelings. Good luck on whatever you decide.