Newbi alert

[Anonymous]

Hi, Silly question from a newbie! Reading through various posts it has only just occured to me that as chickens get old they have to be put down rather than die naturally. Is it not possible to let a bird live a longer life and die naturally? I don't like the idea of killing a family pet I read somewhere that they will loose all their feathers as they grow older?

 

[dorinda]

I'm one of those strong believers of "those that have poultry must know how to look after them and also cull them" birds all go through the moult every year (lose their feathers) it's natural, they are not ill they will also stop laying at about the same time - also quite normal - poultry aren't machines -they will do his every year - I have a couple of birds of 10 and 11 years old - they are fully feathered and still enjoying life and still laying the odd egg - but I know that when the time comes I owe it to them to "see them right" your birds might also be your pets - but if you had a dog as a pet and it was ill and old - would you not take it to the vet - who might have to put it down?? it's no different with poultry, and when the time comes and your birds life is coming to an end would you not much rather put it out of it's misery yourself than leave it to die "naturally " in pain etc?? Enjoy your birds and don't worry 17

 

[tygrysek75]

It is up to you really,you can let them grow old and die naturally,but in many cases the bird can suffer an injurry (fox attackfor eg,)and it suffers alot-kind thing to do then is to cull the bird or take to the vet for injection(some people much prefer this method as bird will go to sleep)They can also suffer from some kind of ilness when they can't recover from.Pure breed tend to live longer than hybrids.

 

[daniellesdogs]

if ill put it down but if not and pet let it live. i had 2 old girls not a clue how old but i had them over a year and i think i got not even 6 eggs but they were great pets and dyed quitely one in nest box looked like in her sleep the other was dust bathing fell asleep and didnt wake

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks folks. I guess the reason I asked the question initially was that a posting I read suggested execution equipment was a necessary bit of equipment at start up and this gave me a negative vibe. I would obviously not prolong the suffering of a sick bird or animal

 

[chrismahon]

Some people never have a problem as with a few pedigree hens of good stock they should grow old -yes, plumage gets thinner and more untidy in time- and die naturally.
But the unexpected does happen, particularly when you have a lot more hens. One of our hens ripped herself open on a big rusty nail soil bathing. What a mess. She had to be despatched immediately. Generally some get ill and are nursed back to health, which has taken up to a month. Some get ill and are obviously getting worse, despite treatment and they are despatched quickly to avoid any further suffering. Some just die in moments. Some seem to be recovering and then die in the night. We've had three just found dead in our Orchard for no apparent reason, seemed perfectly healthy hours before. One had a stroke? and started to panic because her head was facing the wrong way! and she was despatched -4 years old, top of pecking order hen and perfectly healthy we thought. So in summary some die naturally and some are despatched quickly to avoid further unecessary suffering. As our vet recommended we despatch if possible to minimise suffering we do, upsetting though it is; the vets is half an hour away from us anyway.

 

[Sue]

I wouldn't even consider doing the necessary task myself, it will be off to the vet when the time comes, but only when they are ill or suffering in some way. As long as they are happy, able to get around and eating, they will be allowed to live as long as possible. I wouldn't be putting my dogs to sleep myself, so wouldn't expect to do it to my pet hens either. It doesn't cost much at the vets and it saves you having to do a very unpleasant task to your probably much loved pet yourself. It would be different if you had lots of hens or were not keeping them as pets, you obviously wouldn't want the expense of getting a vet to do it, neither would you probably be emotionally involved with the bird. Some people can do it, some can't.

 

[Tim]

Chickens can go down hill quickly once they become ill so you will often find they have to be put to sleep on animal welfare grounds rather than because they are old. A bird found one morning in the corner of the coop hunched up can be dead in 12 to 24 hours yet the previous day seemed fine.

We have a responsability under the Code of Recommendations for Laying Hens (the 3rd Freedom: Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention and rapid diagnosis and treatment).... how you interpret this is another thing - Freedom from pain could mean the 'treatment' could be putting them to sleep if the diagnosis leads to the fact that they aren't going to get any better?

Most of the research that has been done on Chickens Health has been on young birds up to 2 years of age because of the commercial viability of the hens. There is very little information about problems that effect older hens such as Tumors.