What would you do?

[technodoll]

I'm so sad...

Am afraid that I have to cull one of my best hens but want your opinions before taking such an irreversible decision.

Kiwi, my sweetheart 8 month-old blue cochin hen, hurt her leg about 3 or 4 weeks ago.

Her limp has progressed to a dead limb that she drags around, hopping on her one good leg and spending most of her days splayed on the floor of the coop.

I brought her to the vet, she got examined and got x-rays, the vet found no visible injuries (no fractures, breaks, dislocations, inflammation, swelling, etc) so the probably diagnosis is permanent nerve damage. Nothing even a surgery could fix.

She has to be alone in a corner of the coop as the others have attacked her, she was de-feathered and looks like a turken. I can't let anyone near her again, they might kill her as she can't escape or defend herself.

She still lays an egg almost every day, she talks, gets around just enough to eat, drink and poop.

It hurts to see her like this - not much quality of life, and even if the vet said she wasn't in pain, how could she know? What if she IS in pain? She's lonely, she can't scratch the ground, she can't dust-bathe, she can't roost and after a while of hobbling around on her one good leg, she risks damaging that one too. She's a big girl and not done growing either.

My heart is broken. I don't want to lose her but I have to think of her first.

What would you do??

 

[trilyn]

I'm sorry for you, but I'm more sorry for her. If she were mine, she'd be put down as quickly and humanely as possible. Why subject her to that kind of misery.

 

[technodoll]

That's what we're facing... Giving her peace...

To have her life end because of one stupid accident is a lot to bear

But I have to love her enough to do it.

I'll be buying some ether this week, she will just fall asleep in our home and never wake up...

I've cried so much for this girl, will it ever end?

 

[MamaJohnson]

Although it certainly won't be easy, my opinion is that it would be better for her to end her life in a quick and painless way, rather then her having to suffer and die a slow and painful death. Certainly a heartbreaking situation.

My deepest sympathies.

 

[easttxchick]

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this technodoll.

For me, it all comes down to quality of life-if you think she has no quality of life, the kindest thing to do would be to set her free. You know how social chickens are and she will always have to be isolated or you risk her being killed by the others.
You'll do the right thing, I'm sure.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

This may sound a bit ridiculous, but is it possible to have her bad leg amputated? If she's otherwise health, she might just be able to hop around on one leg more easily without the dead weight of the other leg weighing her down. It's amazing how animals can adapt to disability. One of my friends had a hen who was missing a leg, and she made it for a while until I think she succumbed to infection (she wasn't being kept in the cleanest quarters/being all that well cared for, sadly). If it's nerve damage, it could be that she's not suffering that much pain at all.

That said, of course there is the social factor and whether perhaps she has any other issues going on. Being a heavier bird, it could be that one leg won't be enough for her to get around.

Anyway, something to look into and think about. Ultimately the decision is up to you, and you're the only one who really knows what her quality of life is like. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for her, even if it's the incredibly hard one.

 

[lizzy06019]

I can't imagine having to make that kind of decision for any of my girls let alone my favorite. I hope whatever you decide to do is best for her. Sorry I can't help you anymore than that

 

[NewHopePoultry]

Im so sorry.
But if she is suffering, you either need to put her down or see if you can find someone who wants a pet chicken.

 

[hoosier]

 

[onthespot]

I wouldn't do this myself, but maybe you could make her a little wheelchair that would support her bad leg and let her push along with her good leg. I would probably just make one for an experiment and then cull the bird, myself. I wonder if she got problems from Marek's.