What do you do with sick chickens?

[phasianidae]

I am curios as to how other people deal with sick chickens. Thanks.

 

[debilorrah]

We try to treat them and if it appears they are suffering we cull them. I will leave out the how.

 

[Desert Rooster]

My chickens are my pets, and if i have to pay a $500 vet bill, so be it.

 

[debilorrah]

Because we do not have a vet here that treats fowl, I come here and get advise, try to follow it and if it is clear the bird is in distress I (Ken) culls it. It is not easy for either of us either.

 

[redhen]

Depends on whats wrong with the bird.
If its suffering..its culled RIGHT away... we dont wait to let it suffer and linger in pain.
We use the broomstick method...

But i DID bring my favorite rooster to the vets for bumble foot... soo... depends on the situation and if i have any money.
My geese...will ALWAYS go to a vet... even to be put down. They are just to big... and i dont feel comfortable that i could cull them humanely... so.. they will go to the vets.

 

[Matthew3590]

Quote:
What is the broom stick method? Crack its neck with it?

 

[Shannon33]

I haven't had to deal with this yet. I would treat it as well as I could. I doubt I would take it to a vet, although I have a few favorites that I might in some situations. If I thought it was in bad pain and likely untreatable I would cull it.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
What is the broom stick method? Crack its neck with it?

yes..sort of.. its just as instant as an ax....

 

[kathyinmo]

I would cull for illness or injury. It is survival of the fittest here. I do not have extra pens or cages to take care of sick or injured chickens. I do not treat splay leg chicks, crooked or curled toes, and do not "fix" slipped tendons (though I did try that once, unsuccessfully). No crippled or sick chickens here. I had a cross beaked chick, which I did not notice for quite some time. I cull for that too. I do treat for cocci in chicks, and I worm twice a year. I also dust for mites or lice. Though I love my chickens immensely, I don't consider them pets. I consider them a hobby, I guess. Never say never, but I don't plan to ever take a chicken to a vet. If I thought I had an illness in my flock I would call the state to check it out, so I would know what it was.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Cull for injury and illness. I just think the breeding flock is better that way, not breeding any less than healthy birds.