To cull or not to cull

[Tinktank]

Hi all, the worst happened. I was moving my quail chicks into a secondary brooder to clean out the first and my chick flailed out of my grip. He didn’t fall far or particularly hard but he seems to have sustained trauma regardless. He walks around in circles constantly, may not be able to see and his head constantly swivels to one side. That being said he still walks around, eats, drinks, preens, and can find a comfortable place to sleep. It’s been a few days without improvements and I’m wondering if I should cull the poor thing. Thoughts?

 

[Darius123]

Leave him another couple of days, i would wait 2 more and than cull him, it s just not right to let it suffer. Hope he gets better tough .

 

[m0ther_g00se]

If he doesn't appear to be suffering from it, I'd leave it. It sounds like he's otherwise a healthy chick, just might grow up to be a little odd.

 

[Tinktank]

Leave him another couple of days, i would wait 2 more and than cull him, it s just not right to let it suffer. Hope he gets better tough .

He is an older chick, 3 weeks tomorrow. If I decide to cull him what is the best method for an older one? I’m worried scissors no longer would work and the thumb method sounds horrible if not executed properly.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

He is an older chick, 3 weeks tomorrow. If I decide to cull him what is the best method for an older one? I’m worried scissors no longer would work and the thumb method sounds horrible if not executed properly.

Well, a gun would be quickest. Just a fair warning, they die on the first shot, but their gonna flop around like there alive. I did not have to witness it when putting down my poor baby, Minerva, but he shot her 7 times just to be absolutely sure. Really rough but I believe that we will see our pets again

 

[m0ther_g00se]

We always used a pair of sharp garden shears to euthanize birds- get them comfy and make sure they can't squirm too much (between your legs or in a towel), face them away from you, position the shears and just quickly snip. The head comes right off the neck and you can be sure of the fact they're not still alive and suffering because well, they have no head. You've just got to do it quickly and with sharp shears, I cannot stress enough that they must be as sharp as you can get them.

Barred Rock Mama is right, they might squirm and flop around as if they're still alive, so you've got to be prepared for that. I've heard of people using other methods (using dry ice fumes comes to mind) and that doesn't seem to produce the same response, but it also takes longer for them to die, so you might be trading their comfort for yours.

I still have the opinion that euthanasia seems a bit much for this situation, but maybe I'm just a softie.

 

[Weeg]

Wait! Don't jump to any conclusions, you could be able to do something for him. Let me tag some more experienced members first.
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all, the worst happened. I was moving my quail chicks into a secondary brooder to clean out the first and my chick flailed out of my grip. He didn’t fall far or particularly hard but he seems to have sustained trauma regardless. He walks around in circles constantly, may not be able to see and his head constantly swivels to one side. That being said he still walks around, eats, drinks, preens, and can find a comfortable place to sleep. It’s been a few days without improvements and I’m wondering if I should cull the poor thing. Thoughts?

I don't know much about Quail, but I'm a bit confused.

This is a 3week old chick, he's able to walk, eat/drink on his own and preen?
Doesn't sound like there's too much wrong if he's able to do all that.

A video of actions may be helpful - upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Walking in circles from trauma - I would give him vitamin therapy. Do you have any Poultry Nutri-drench? If so, give him .25ml once a day. Otherwise, give him 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex.

As for culling a tiny chick, using shears or scissors is the best method. Read this article https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-for-squeamish-people-slightly-graphic.74734/

 

[Weeg]

I don't know much about Quail, but I'm a bit confused.

This is a 3week old chick, he's able to walk, eat/drink on his own and preen?
Doesn't sound like there's too much wrong if he's able to do all that.

My thoughts exactly. Thank you @Wyorp Rock!
I was hoping vitamins would be helpful.

 

[Tinktank]

Wait! Don't jump to any conclusions, you could be able to do something for him. Let me tag some more experienced members first.
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

That would be great thank you. The chick is relatively functional and not in obvious distress so I’m not jumping straight to culling. Just need to know my options in case things turn for the worse and I need to have a game plan.