What is wrong with this baby...Is it suffering...Can I help it?

[billyb]

Sorry to hear that! How long did it take for him/her to pass away?

 

[CALI CHICK]

Sorry to hear that! How long did it take for him/her to pass away?

The chick "layed down" within 30 seconds of closing the lid. But it might have been 10 minutes before it stopped breathing completely. I wasn't watching.

 

[billyb]

oh, okay.

 

[karlamaria]

If I had to do this ( God forbid ) I think I would just put him down on the ground and hit with a shovel. Fast and done. But again can I put one out of its misery? Not sure, I'm truly sorry hon you had to go through that. You did the right thing hon .

 

[California_chickie]

Hey CC:
I'm so sorry you had to do that-- but I admire you for sticking it & never losing sight of what was best for the chick. I was also curious about the "compassionate euthanasia" technique you used. Sounds like it was a peaceful passing for the little one & personally, I would prefer that then a swift violent one. I think I mentioned to you in a PM that my darling boyfriend had to put 2 of our chicks down-- after they were suffering for days. First time he used a towel and his hands, second time he said he didn't want to do that again & used a towel and shears. Yikes. He's a softie like me and after the fact he said it was harder to do than he thought.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and I hope you feel better when you see the other little peepers! Please know that your did NOTHING wrong- that little one was just born that way.
Hope you have an awesome day full of smiles and chick chirps!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Thank you so much for your sympathy.

I don't know where I got the courage to do it myself, except I KNEW it had to be done! (I also had a friend tell me that she couldn't sleep that night and she was actually praying for me and the sick baby chick....everything helps.) By the way, I only killed it after every effort was given to save it.

Even if I have to do this again, I will research using this method more thouroughly if there is a next time. The "peaceful" and "painless" way is important to me, even though I know a shovel (or quick twist of the neck) would be quicker....I could not do that personally. I'm glad if this post helps others in this situation.

And yes, I AM enjoying my other babies. Here they are at a week old....
Notice the little "partridge" on the front/right that could be my "sick babies twin".....eerie, huh?

 

[Lacrystol]

Well you absolutely did the right thing, he did not look good in that last picture. WOW, you are a brave person, I'm not sure if I could go threw with that, I usually get my husband to take care of things like that, I'm such a whimp.... I envy you..

 

[mother o' chicks72]

You did the right thing. You are very brave for culling it yourself. We had a pullet with an impacted or swollen crop and nobody in my family could kill her so we actually brought to the vet and had her euthanized like you would a cat or dog.