We got 3 young chickens (mix breeds, born in Dec.) 2 weeks ago. The farm helper told me that she peeled the chicks out of their eggs cause the mom had abandonded the nest and she wanted to save them. So they were "alone" in the stall and I thought I would put them into our flock (we live on a shared farm).
I brought them all over and had them separated for days from our flock (5 ladies).
One of the young chickens acted like it had been hurt and hung back from the flock and never went in the house at night. It liked to sleep in the wheel barrow full of straw. I was always putting it in at night in a nest box alone. It's right wing sort of hung lower than it should, it limped a bit.
I thought it was hurt. Over the last week, it's feet don't seem to be able to support it after a few steps it wobbles and falls down. But it stayed sitting up and ate food or pecked at the feed.
Yesterday I heard it squealing and I went out quickly. Our "big mamma" was pecking at it in the bushes. I pulled it out. The young chicken was on it's back and could not get up. It was squealing really loud. It happened again later in the day.
I am wondering if anyone can tell me what is happening? Is this an illness? Or is it handicapped? I don't know what to do. My son is distraught. And I am thinking that I should just put the young chicken out of it's misery.
Thanks for your guidance
I brought them all over and had them separated for days from our flock (5 ladies).
One of the young chickens acted like it had been hurt and hung back from the flock and never went in the house at night. It liked to sleep in the wheel barrow full of straw. I was always putting it in at night in a nest box alone. It's right wing sort of hung lower than it should, it limped a bit.
I thought it was hurt. Over the last week, it's feet don't seem to be able to support it after a few steps it wobbles and falls down. But it stayed sitting up and ate food or pecked at the feed.
Yesterday I heard it squealing and I went out quickly. Our "big mamma" was pecking at it in the bushes. I pulled it out. The young chicken was on it's back and could not get up. It was squealing really loud. It happened again later in the day.
I am wondering if anyone can tell me what is happening? Is this an illness? Or is it handicapped? I don't know what to do. My son is distraught. And I am thinking that I should just put the young chicken out of it's misery.
Thanks for your guidance