Topic of the Week - "Special Needs" Chickens

[MegD1015]

My fiancé and I are newbies with our first flock of babies! We have a mix of silkies, RIR, and Easter eggers. One of our silkies, HeiHei (from Moana), I’m pretty sure is special needs. At just a week old we treated her for splay leg and she recovered just fine. We noticed she wasn’t growing as quick as our other silkies so we separated her and got her some new baby friends. They also quickly started outgrowing her. We noticed one day when she was about 3 weeks old that she was walking around with a crooked neck (one eye looking up to the ceiling) and walking in circles. Nothing severe but decided to give her some extra vitamins just in case. Now when she gets nervous she walks backwards with her head to the ground and neck turned upward. She is now separated from the others because they were starting to peck her. She’s getting a lot of one on one attention in the house and has gotten used to me sitting next to her. She now “purrs” when I talk to her. She breaks my heart because I don’t want her to suffer but she’s eating and drinking and seems to be happy! She’s an odd little bird but I love her!

 

[african chickens]

very helpful showed me what to expect i am being daring and hatching the weirdest eggs from our guinea hen eggs from weird colors to wrinkles to a weird circle

 

[cindyja51]

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By request, I'm starting a topic of the week discussion this week for "special needs" chickens. The flock members with crooked beaks, foot and/or leg issues, the stunted chicks, the blind chickens. The birds that some chicken keepers want to give a chance at living regardless and the ups and downs and how to's of taking care of them.

I know that many chicken owners feel that birds that are in any way physically challenged should be humanely euthanized, while others feel they should live, provided they can have some quality of life. The purpose of this discussion is for the chicken keepers that fall into the latter category. So let's keep this thread and discussion positive and educational, please.

To get the discussion going, tell me about your special needs birds and how you take care of them, and how you provide and work around the basics such as housing and feeding them. I'll share my own story in the thread.

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Pic by @sumi​

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I have 3 special needs chickens. Rhonda is a one-eyed, cross beak who had her facial skeleton crushed on one side. She was a little fighter and tried so hard to eat on her own. I’ve been hand feeding her for 18 months. Helen, who is actually a rooster is blind and anemic. I give him B-12 shots weekly. The vet didn’t think he would make it but he came with Rhonda and he is the sweetest boy. Mamma has a short femur so she cannot walk other than to hop herself over for food and water and especially treats! I had a pen built for them so that they are protected from weather and predators. All three were left in back at local feed store 18 months ago and with a little help are all doing fine.