Treat or Don’t Treat?

[Aunt Angus]

There seems to be more "city" folks than "country" folk, which I am. So it's different mindset overall.

So with that new information, even chickens I consider like pets I still don't treat as in my experiences it never helps long term, except for physical injuries.

It's true: most of us seem to be "city" folk. I am somewhere in between. I was raised on a ranch, but went city when I pursued a college education, which was a mixed bag. My ultimate goal is to not be city. That's a work in progress, and it isn't easy to change the hearts and minds of my family, let me tell you.

 

[ThracianHorse]

Trick question, and it completely depends on the situation.

If it's a no-hope scenario, then I don't treat, opting for a quick and humane dispatch. No reason to put a bird through the extreme stresses of going to and seeing a vet if there is zero chance of survival.

If it's something quick and easy to treat, then it's always yes. Something more complex? Fowl pox? I will get the opinion of a vet. If it's something like... oh... Newcastles? You don't get a choice, there.

You don't include enough options for response.

 

[Chickassan]

I always will at least try unless it is something I obviously can't help with or shouldn't because the quality of life would be bad if the bird survives.

 

[MagpieDucks]

I do believe she did mean pet chickens...or this thread would be here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/caged-birds-finches-canaries-cockatiels-parro.57/ and not in 'Raising Backyard Chickens>Managing your Flock'.

There’s a tag at the top that says “other poultry” so it could go either way. I think of Pet Birds as caged birds..:

 

[Mosey2003]

There’s a tag at the top that says “other poultry” so it could go either way. I think of Pet Birds as caged birds..:

Take a wander through the "When To Cull Old Hens" thread and see just how many are considered pets here

 

[MagpieDucks]

Take a wander through the "When To Cull Old Hens" thread and see just how many are considered pets here

But that doesn’t mean my chickens aren’t pets...

 

[aart]

There’s a tag at the top that says “other poultry” so it could go either way. I think of Pet Birds as caged birds..:

That is true, so we may all have misunderstood and made assumptions...and thread starter is a new member so maybe they were lost.
They haven't been back to this thread either.
So @Jewelespc1010 what did you mean, pet chickens or other birds?

Take a wander through the "When To Cull Old Hens" thread and see just how many are considered pets here

That is also very true. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/when-to-cull-old-hens.1294921/

 

[Jewelespc1010]

For pet birds, do you treat your birds, when disease, and illness, arise, or do you put down, and don’t treat?

Depends. If it's something that the bird will live with fine after treatment, and treatment won't prolong suffering, I'll treat. I would take a go at impacted crop or sour crop or vent gleet. If it didn't respond in a couple days, I'd kill the bird. I will give antibiotics if I feel it is worth it. I will treat a wound if I feel it will heal well and quickly.

If a bird is ripped up pretty badly, even if I think I could get it to heal, I'm going to euthanize it. I won't have one in a cage for weeks for that.

If an impacted crop won't move after tube feeding fluids a couple time, I'll euthanize. I am pretty careful to avoid risk factors for impacted crop though, and have not yet had one. Same with sour crop.

If a bird has ascites (water belly), she's going ASAP. There's no hope.

If a bird has an egg break inside her, unless Tylan will do the trick, she's gonna go too.

As bad as it sounds, it also depends on the bird. I would go farther for my three breeders, as I need them still. The mutt layers are slated to go this fall anyway.

Thank you for your post.

 

[Jewelespc1010]

That is true, so we may all have misunderstood and made assumptions...and thread starter is a new member so maybe they were lost.
They haven't been back to this thread either.
So @Jewelespc1010 what did you mean, pet chickens or other birds?

That is also very true. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/when-to-cull-old-hens.1294921/

That is true, so we may all have misunderstood and made assumptions...and thread starter is a new member so maybe they were lost.
They haven't been back to this thread either.
So @Jewelespc1010 what did you mean, pet chickens or other birds?

That is also very true. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/when-to-cull-old-hens.1294921/[/QUOTEWhat I meant by pet bird is one that is your favorite that you spend time with. My pet birds (pheasants and turkeys) are in aviary’s but come out to play and spend time with the family. My birds are potty trained so they use a dog door during the day when they want to say hi or want attention. From time to time I have wild birds being rehabilitated “these are not pets”, and see people as little as possible to aide in their release. Breeders can go both ways depending on the bird.

 

[Jewelespc1010]

I think on this forum overall there are more that consider their chickens pets than livestock.

It’s funny I have a bunch of friends with chickens and all of them think of their chickens as pets. So true.