To cull or not to cull...help!

[Life is Good!]

I have three white Java chicks and eight black Java chicks - all hatch-mates, about 8wks old. The black Javas pick on the white Java's. Two of the three white Java's are nearly bald on their backs due to their hatchmates 'pecking'. They're not being mean - the black Java's just don't 'get' the white feathers on the white Javas. And they have to check it out.

The little female white Java (Little Bo Peep) is just now - almost, if her crop is full - a full pound (gained 8oz in three weeks!). The other female white Java is gigantic at 1#10oz! Nearly double the size. Little Bo Peep is thriving and gets 2 drops Poly-vi-sol (no iron) once a day. Having done it now for 3wks, she 'knows' what's coming and actually LIKES the flavor of the drops (seems to hum in satisfaction when she's swallowing the drops down!). No one else gets the drops - just her. I'm exceptionally gentle in handling her and place the drops just inside her mouth (tilt her beak upward and gently pry it open with the end of the dropper), she does the rest! Now, somedays I swear I've given her three or four drops, as it's really hard to tell what goes in there! But I've not freaked out, as she'll squirt some out if there's too much! (don't wear a nice dressy shirt to do this - oops!)

I believe it's helping her get stronger, if not helping with the growth factor! She was pretty weak when we first got her at 5wks. Now, she's strong enough to roost on the top bar all by herself! (no one else can yet get up there!).

The drops are pricy - $12.00 a bottle! But it does seem to be lasting quite a while. Give them a try if you're going to try to help this chick out. In your picture, she doesn't appear that much smaller than the others - but pictures can be deceiving.

Best wishes with your decision...it's never easy, is it?

 

[ADozenGirlz]

I think I would try to treat her first too. If she is eating and drinking normally and otherwise behaving appropriately, I would try to get the seizures under control and see if that works. As long as she's not in any obvious discomfort or withdrawing (not eating/drinking, etc.) I would give it a chance.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[YYZ]

Can someone explain culling? is it taking one chick that is sick away from the others?
Thanks .

 

[Silkie Sue]

it means to kill

 

[mrszlopez]

Quote:
I can understand your point of view however, my blind seizure having rooster is very much normal. Knows his way around the coop, protects his hens, roosts, forages & communicates with the others. He lives a very sufficient as well as a comfortable & happy life. I took him off of the hands of a woman that kept him in her bathroom for a year since he was hatched - he never felt dirt or was ever around another chicken. The life he is living now is much more substantial & "normal" to a chickens life. If a chicken is in obvious pain or anguish or doesnt thrive in a healthy "chicken" way, i dont feel its fair for them to carry on.

All of this being said, everyone is entitled to handle certain situations in the best way suited for them. We are all here to offer helpful advice as well as pros & cons to both sides.

To the OP - wishing you very best of luck & support in whichever way you choose to take it.

 

[Missouri Chicken Chick]

Quote:
I totally agree with your "moral of the story." I guess my opinions have changed a bit because I, too, have learned my lesson the hard way. I have spent many hours and dollars trying to save birds that end up needing special care their whole lives. I have 2 chickens right now that are a perfect example. I have a lavender orpington that also has a leg that didn't develop properly and she, too, is my chick "babysitter." She can't be outside on her own because of the roosters, predators, other aggressive hens, etc. I also have a BLRW that has a "crossed beak" that I didn't really develop until she was almost 2 months old. She eats fine, scratches for food, gets around fine, etc. and is actually a bit aggressive herself, so she holds her own. When it comes to breeding, however, I will never use her eggs for chicks, so she will end up in the pen with my egg layers and will most likely live out a full and happy life, just maybe a bit smaller than normal.

Anyway, the point is that we all do our best to do what we think is right. The hard part is that once the birds get older and you see that they need all the special help and actually can't live a normal life, it's difficult to justify your decisions. Due to my experiences, it seems to be easier to cull early on instead of living with the guilt every time you look out into your chicken pen and see them. The first time I had to do it, I cried for two days every time I thought about it. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it was still very difficult.

I wasn't trying to be judgmental in my post. We all do what we think is right and as long as we can live with our decisions, that's all that really matters.

 

[Silkie Sue]

Quote:
I totally agree with your "moral of the story." I guess my opinions have changed a bit because I, too, have learned my lesson the hard way. I have spent many hours and dollars trying to save birds that end up needing special care their whole lives. I have 2 chickens right now that are a perfect example. I have a lavender orpington that also has a leg that didn't develop properly and she, too, is my chick "babysitter." She can't be outside on her own because of the roosters, predators, other aggressive hens, etc. I also have a BLRW that has a "crossed beak" that I didn't really develop until she was almost 2 months old. She eats fine, scratches for food, gets around fine, etc. and is actually a bit aggressive herself, so she holds her own. When it comes to breeding, however, I will never use her eggs for chicks, so she will end up in the pen with my egg layers and will most likely live out a full and happy life, just maybe a bit smaller than normal.

Anyway, the point is that we all do our best to do what we think is right. The hard part is that once the birds get older and you see that they need all the special help and actually can't live a normal life, it's difficult to justify your decisions. Due to my experiences, it seems to be easier to cull early on instead of living with the guilt every time you look out into your chicken pen and see them. The first time I had to do it, I cried for two days every time I thought about it. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it was still very difficult.

I wasn't trying to be judgmental in my post. We all do what we think is right and as long as we can live with our decisions, that's all that really matters.

Amen

 

[mrszlopez]

Quote:
I totally agree with your "moral of the story." I guess my opinions have changed a bit because I, too, have learned my lesson the hard way. I have spent many hours and dollars trying to save birds that end up needing special care their whole lives. I have 2 chickens right now that are a perfect example. I have a lavender orpington that also has a leg that didn't develop properly and she, too, is my chick "babysitter." She can't be outside on her own because of the roosters, predators, other aggressive hens, etc. I also have a BLRW that has a "crossed beak" that I didn't really develop until she was almost 2 months old. She eats fine, scratches for food, gets around fine, etc. and is actually a bit aggressive herself, so she holds her own. When it comes to breeding, however, I will never use her eggs for chicks, so she will end up in the pen with my egg layers and will most likely live out a full and happy life, just maybe a bit smaller than normal.

Anyway, the point is that we all do our best to do what we think is right. The hard part is that once the birds get older and you see that they need all the special help and actually can't live a normal life, it's difficult to justify your decisions. Due to my experiences, it seems to be easier to cull early on instead of living with the guilt every time you look out into your chicken pen and see them. The first time I had to do it, I cried for two days every time I thought about it. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it was still very difficult.

I wasn't trying to be judgmental in my post. We all do what we think is right and as long as we can live with our decisions, that's all that really matters.

Completely agree with you on this. I had to cull a hen at one point after doing EVERYTHING on this earth to make her right. I still get hysterical thinking about her & the situation. I sometimes dont mind the special care for them. But i know every situation is different , as are the people going thru it. If i had the heart to cull at ANY age, i would if need be.