cull decision. PLEASE GIVE OPINIONS.

[my21chickens]

Hi all, Tilly, one of my Polish chickens, has always been a little special. I believe she's blind, and not just feathers in front of her eyes, like actually blind. so that's one thing. last summer my dog attacked her when she escaped. obviously shes an easy target.
but ever since my dog attacked her, she falls over a lot, and I feel like it's just been getting worse lately. there was never any blood so I wondered about a broken bone or just something I couldn't see. she seemed fine for a bit after the attack but then it just slowly got worse. This morning I went outside to do my daily chicken chores, and I was petting one of my other chickens when I see tilly on her side, then on her back, and she was rolling down the hill!!! so I jump up and grab her, of course, and put her under the coop where I have some straw on the ground because the hens like to lay down there, she fell over again but then she stood up and fell once again. she just seems very off balance and kinda in her own little world. she lays on the ground a lot because she falls and I'm scared one day I'm going to step on her. I'm very careful where i step for that reason but still. shes constantly falling and is on her own because she doesn't know where everyone else is. i just don't know what to do. i really don't want to because shes one of my favorites but would the most ethical thing to do be to cull her? and if not, what do i do? i just feel really bad and don't want her to suffer just because i cant make the right decision.
thank you

 

[Debbie292d]

You could try putting Tilly and them all on a vitamin regimen and see if that helps. I'd get some Poultry Cell, put it in her water as the only source, every other day, for a couple of weeks. Tilly I'd have in the house in a dog kennel/cage.

She could be suffering from something neurological too. In that case, a Vitamin E daily, plus a little bit of scrambled eggs for the selenium, and it helps the E absorb.

 

[DemeterAD9]

A chicken that cannot do normal chicken things is suffering IMO. Sounds like she may also be having a hard time getting food. Check her weight and see if she seems too light. If the vitamin treatment does not work then I’d euthanize her.

I’ve only had to cull a chick before because it could no longer stand and get to food/water properly. It wasn’t a fun task but I found it necessary. Probably would have been more difficult if it wasn’t a cockerel already destined for the table.

 

[my21chickens]

You could try putting Tilly and them all on a vitamin regimen and see if that helps. I'd get some Poultry Cell, put it in her water as the only source, every other day, for a couple of weeks. Tilly I'd have in the house in a dog kennel/cage.

She could be suffering from something neurological too. In that case, a Vitamin E daily, plus a little bit of scrambled eggs for the selenium, and it helps the E absorb.

oooo okay! thank you!

 

[my21chickens]

A chicken that cannot do normal chicken things is suffering IMO. Sounds like she may also be having a hard time getting food. Check her weight and see if she seems too light. If the vitamin treatment does not work then I’d euthanize her.

I’ve only had to cull a chick before because it could no longer stand and get to food/water properly. It wasn’t a fun task but I found it necessary. Probably would have been more difficult if it wasn’t a cockerel already destined for the table.

i completely agree, thank you!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I had a very similar situation with a blind hen who was attacked. She was never quite the same and eventually died of unknown causes. She had trouble finding food and water and I didn’t have time to hand-feed her every day. I wish I had culled her instead of prolonging the inevitable. I would try the vitamins but then give yourself a limit on how much intervention you continue with.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hmm, tough decision. I think I would cull but the decision is yours. My reasoning: in her weakened, compromised state, she is a potential victim, not only of predators but also of the flock, which may turn on her. If you have the time, energy and dedication to nurse her, then do so, knowing that your efforts may only prolong the inevitable. If not, the humane thing is to put a quick end to her. I wish you peace, whatever you decide. And know that most if not all of us, have walked in your shoes, so no judgment.

 

[maechicky]

Hi all, Tilly, one of my Polish chickens, has always been a little special. I believe she's blind, and not just feathers in front of her eyes, like actually blind. so that's one thing. last summer my dog attacked her when she escaped. obviously shes an easy target.
but ever since my dog attacked her, she falls over a lot, and I feel like it's just been getting worse lately. there was never any blood so I wondered about a broken bone or just something I couldn't see. she seemed fine for a bit after the attack but then it just slowly got worse. This morning I went outside to do my daily chicken chores, and I was petting one of my other chickens when I see tilly on her side, then on her back, and she was rolling down the hill!!! so I jump up and grab her, of course, and put her under the coop where I have some straw on the ground because the hens like to lay down there, she fell over again but then she stood up and fell once again. she just seems very off balance and kinda in her own little world. she lays on the ground a lot because she falls and I'm scared one day I'm going to step on her. I'm very careful where i step for that reason but still. shes constantly falling and is on her own because she doesn't know where everyone else is. i just don't know what to do. i really don't want to because shes one of my favorites but would the most ethical thing to do be to cull her? and if not, what do i do? i just feel really bad and don't want her to suffer just because i cant make the right decision.
thank you

In that case, a Vitamin E daily, plus a little bit of scrambled eggs for the selenium, and it helps the E absorb.

I’d suggest doing what Debbie292d is saying! My 3 week old chick had wry neck, which is a neurological issue- since starting this Vitamin and egg regimen, her neck isn’t twisting (only sometimes when I pick her up she gets squirmy) So I’d 100% recommend it as well! Keep doing it until she is 100% better. But if she still isn’t getting better- maybe it’d be time to consider other options unfortunately!

 

[my21chickens]

thank you guys so much