Chickens 2023/2024/2025

My Wyandotte looked like she was struggling yesterday, went out this morning and she was back on her side unable to get up. I have enough meds on hand to try to nurse her back to health but not sure if it’s worth it at this point. Pullets are $22. Vet meds are $35/bottle and if she needs them forever I don’t know if her eggs will be any good.
 
In farming, there comes a time when it is time to let go. We have chickens and when the egg production drops those birds are culled out.
We have birds for eggs, and we have birds in a separate coup with a rooster to get eggs that we will incubate for the next batch of meat birds (Freedom Rangers).
We also have pigs, my gilt didn't take a breeding last year and she was slaughtered and butchered.
There is no place for emotion or attachment. The animals either produce or they are gone.
 
FisherTech said:
In farming, there comes a time when it is time to let go. We have chickens and when the egg production drops those birds are culled out.
We have birds for eggs, and we have birds in a separate coup with a rooster to get eggs that we will incubate for the next batch of meat birds (Freedom Rangers).
We also have pigs, my gilt didn't take a breeding last year and she was slaughtered and butchered.
There is no place for emotion or attachment. The animals either produce or they are gone.
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I get it and agree. I would have felt “lazy” if i didn’t try to help her a couple weeks ago but this is trending down at this point.
 
lancecolonel said:
I get it and agree. I would have felt “lazy” if i didn’t try to help her a couple weeks ago but this is trending down at this point.
Click to expand...
I know what you mean. We’ve had chickens that were sick (or who knows what was wrong) and my wife would bring them in and try to nurse back to health. I think the longest we tried was around 4 weeks. There have been roughly 5 or 6 and only 1 made it back to 100% and is still alive today. Only 2 died on their own in the house and the rest I had to cull. Just trying to tell my wife there comes a time where you say enough is enough.
 
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Romokid said:
I know what you mean. We’ve had chickens that were sick (or who knows what was wrong) and my wife would bring them in and try to nurse back to health. I think the longest we tried was around 4 weeks. There have been roughly 5 or 6 and only 1 made it back to 100% and is still alive today. Only 2 died on their own in the house and the rest I had to cull. Just trying to tell my wife there comes a time where you say enough is enough.
Click to expand...
I had to tell myself enough was enough this morning. I saw a method this morning that showed using a shovel handle to provide leverage for cervical separation. I pulled a little too hard and completely decapitated the bird. Not going to lie, it made my cry and sick to my stomach.
 
lancecolonel said:
I had to tell myself enough was enough this morning. I saw a method this morning that showed using a shovel handle to provide leverage for cervical separation. I pulled a little too hard and completely decapitated the bird. Not going to lie, it made my cry and sick to my stomach.
Click to expand...
I saw that type of video too. I use the cervical dislocation method too but I do it by holding the bird under my left arm while using my right hand. It’s not fun either way that’s for sure, but I’m trying to do it as quick and painlessly as possible without all the blood of decapitating.
 
mousegunguy said:
Not nice, the little F killed 3 of my full size hens over the course of three nights.
I finally caught it in a have a heart trap baited with the head of the last chicken it killed.
We brought it out back to the vernal pool and released it.
Click to expand...
I don't want to know how it was released. Here in New Hampshire we use a box with 0 sized traps for weasels and ermine
 
I had to gank my rooster today, he attacked my daughter twice. I let her choose, and she said he didn't even do a good job protecting the hens, he had to go. So he is now looking at himself on our coyote bait pile at the back side of the property.
 

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