May 16 2008
Sad Part of Raising Chickens
Wednesday we brought home the last of the chicks for this year. We added 10 to our 27 already at home. These were three weeks behind the last batch so they are a bit smaller. The night before we brought them home, our cousin found one of the chicks out of the pen and it looked like a Raven or other type bird might had picked it up. It has a small cut on top of its head and our cousin Darlene treated it. It was doing OK when I brought it home.
I went out yesterday and one of the first batch of chicks was pecking at its head and had caused a bigger cut. I watched out big rooster be killed but I have never done it. I could not allow the chick to suffer so I took a sharp sickle and did it in. I have thought of trying to heal it but the cut was deep and I was afraid it would never recover or never be accepted by the group.
Even though I did not like killing it, I know now that I can do it if I have to. I may have to cull another one but I am trying to decide if I should or not. I have one that has a crossed beak but it seems to eat and drink fine and has grown the same as the rest. I am not sure if it will get worse as it grows. If anyone has ever had this problem, please leave a comment and let me know what you think. Will it get worse as it grows? Should I cull it or let it live?
