To cull or not to cull :(

[MarlaKaye]

We had a chick born with a limp leg. It stuck all the way out to the left. But we could tell it did move it. My DH took it three times a day, and gave it "physical therapy". He would massage the leg and foot, in the direction it needed to go. Then he would put it down on a rug with another chick that was normal, and let them flit around with lots of room. Using thier wings they were able to Feel Free, and in a week the little one got his leg under him walking with less of a limp. In two weeks It was walking normally.

Question in our minds is.... What if it hadn't worked. Would we be able to cull the chick at two weeks old?

DH says no way!!!!

He named the chick precious and Precious gets to sit with him in his easy chair every morning and evening, and gets special attention when they visit the outside Chckens. (bantams mostly)

WE haven't yet culled a chicks, so I can't answer to that. Though I have had to do so with invasive outdoor birds. It is very traumatizing. DH can't do it. We work so hard with each hatch, and get emotionally involved. Maybe I could do it if absolutely had to be. And then, I think I would not tell DH if I didn't have to. I am the one up with the birds hatching at nite.

Anyone have any experience with culling and keeping it to yourself because a family member couldn't handle it? I have a medical background and though I am sensitive, I can veiw things scientificly.

I must say, I have seen much too much death for one lifetime. (humans) and wonder if I am going to start relating this chick stuff to it. If that happens, no more hatching for me. It's bad enough already with the ones that don't hatch.

Oh well, going on, and getting into stuff for a professional counselor.
Love,
MarlaKaye

 

[MarlaKaye]

You said you are going to sell or give away most of your cockerals. If that is the case, let it live a happy life. It will get around however it does. The people who take cockerals around here just use them for the table. So you don't have to do it, and the cockeral (if that is what it is) lives a humane life with no account given to it's leg. If it is a female. Let it run too. I would let the one in the cage out to enjoy life as well as it can. If I had a gimp leg, I would still want to go out on the playground with the other children. And maybe if I were out excercising I would get stronger, and start using the leg more.
I don't know how much the others will bother it. They haven't bothered our little one with the gimp at all. But then It is much better now. Actually not noticable since hubby worked with it. He started early.
I'm no expert, Just thinking... How thought provoking your thread is, considering how much I have responded to it... lol.
so is there a limit to responses per day at this website?
Love,
MarlaKaye

 

[Schroeder]

The books on parrots suggest a large paper or plastic bag. Hold it around the exhaust of your car for a couple of seconds, remove and then secure the open end. The carbon monoxide works quickly. I've used this method for sparrows trapped in my purple martin houses and it seemed very humane.

 

[Felicitas]

OK, update. It took this long to finally decide what to do.

Quote:
The past week, it was pretty clear he wasn't going to have a happy life. I attempted to splint the leg, but he reacted in such a way to indicate that he was in pain. He stopped eating as much, and he was starting to look a little smaller than the others. He mostly just laid around. He was really just pitiful. Today I dug a deep hole outside, we lined it with plastic, laid the poor guy in it, and my husband dispatched him with the pistol. I guess it's a noisy way to cull, but it was instantaneous and the chick's suffering is finished.

 

[CrazyChickieMama]

 

[MarlaKaye]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how dificult it is, but afraid I will have to find out one day.
I didn't remember which thread I had posted my silly intructions to someone for whom I didn't know all the details. This one has been bothering me. I'm glad you responded so I could apologize.

Im sorry for sticking my nose into your buisness like that. Silly me.
I wish you peace, and much joy with your other chickens.
MarlaKaye

 

[Mahonri]

Now I'm wishing I wouldn't have opened this thread, but I can see the need.

When I was a child if the chick was less than a week old and had to be culled, my older brother would just pull the head off. Made me cry every time.

I'd just hold it tight under water. It's quick and semi painless.

 

[charlotteda]

I'm so sorry. It is always hard to lose any kind of pet when you value "fuzzy or furry" life. I'm sure you are at peace that you did the best thing a chicken mamma can do.

Its one of the parts of chicken tending that I dread to have to do again as I return to the chicken world but it is an act of love...

 

[Felicitas]

Quote:
Oh no, please don't apologize. I definitely understand where you were coming from because that is how we were looking at it at first.

It just became obvious that the little guy didn't have much quality of life. That's all.

 

[Suellyn]

Quote:
I have been in the "animal business" (Zoo) for years, and anytime someone asks me what I feel the #1 quality for being a Zookeeper, or working with animals is, I tell them you must have a HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL love for animals. Meaning, it's easy to to the easy/lovey stuff, anyone can pet a puppy or snuggle a chick, but not everyone can make & implement the REALLY TOUGH decisions that are a nesc part of true animal care. You did everything you could; asked questions, tried to treat, were able to honestly evaluate this poor creature's quality of life, and then do what was best FOR IT, probably at the expense of your own emotions... Very brave & kind.