Have one newly hatched chick which seems to have a problem with one leg. Can't see anything wrong, but it can't seem to get around well. Now comes my problem. I brought it inside to see if a little TLC will help it get stronger, but if it doesn't, what is the most humane way to...put it out of it's misery? (I admit it, I'm gutless when it comes to the little ones!)Should I just put it out with the hen and let nature take it's course? I know it will starve to death, as it is unable to get out of the nest and follow the others to the feeder, etc. Guess I will have to toughen up if I am going to be a "farm girl"! Thanks, Jan

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), April 26, 2000

Answers

Jan I had a rooster with a leg problem. Brought him in and gave him every medication under the sun. He never did heal, but after having him as a housemate, I couldn't get rid of him! He went back out with the ladies and "did his thing" the best he could. I called him Travelin Man, although he couldn't. A couple of years later he became dinner to a coyote or coon. Maybe a waste, but he was a treasure. Sue

-- Sue Landress (Sulandherb@aol.com), April 26, 2000.

Wimp is in my vocabulary too but...In the book Completely Angora by Samson and Kilfoyle, the authors suggest decapitation with sturdy scissors like kitchen shears as a quick and humane method to kill rabbit kits. As I say, I'm a wimp and have never had need of this technique. We do in big chickens with a hatchet on the ole chopping block. Lots of luck on this chore, Jan.

Marilyn

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 26, 2000.

I had one last year with the same problem , he did mature o.k. then went in the pot .I wasn't sure if it was genetic or not so I did not want him to reproduce.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), April 27, 2000.

For the past 2 years, we have had one aracana chick w/ the same type of symptoms, we have just put it out with the others, but in both cases, the bird made it to about 6 months old and would die on it's own, not sure if possibly a broken pelvis/hip that may have went septic, but no other symptoms.

-- Mary (mlogan298@yahoo.com), April 27, 2000.

I work as a wildlife rehabilitator (birds only), and for those which will not make it, place it in a shoebox and place it in the coldest part of the freezer - they go tosleep in the dark and don't wake up. Vets will do this with smaller animals in their offices, rather than inject them. Cleaner and less traumatizing (to you) than the scissors thing (ooooo - yuck). Good luck. Judi

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), April 27, 2000.

i'm a wimp to just grab it's head over a trash can 0ne quick flip of the wrist (hard) drop it in and walk away i find it best for me and the chicken.

-- shaun cornish (shaun-terri@juno.com), April 27, 2000.

Thanks for the suggestions,everyone. Wish I wasn't such a softhearted wimp! I like the idea of putting them into the freezer, as long as I remember to take them out later! I decided to try putting it back in with the hen, as I couldn't sleep with all the cheeping it was doing, even with a light. So far, so good, it is at least still alive, but for how long, I don't know. The other three survivors are out and eating, so they will probably make it ok. Thanks again for the ideas! Jan

-- Jan B (Janicea12@aol.com), April 28, 2000.