[Declan]

I've hatched a few light sussex- they are approx 5 weeks now and as they've got bigger I've noticed one of them has a crooked foot. He/she (don't know yet) is not scratching at the ground like the others and is a little smaller than the others. it walks okay but carries the leg out to the side a little.
Whilst it might be at a disadvantage with not being able to scratch about it seems to be managing- eating/drinking okay. Should I look to destroying it or will i let it be?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Declan

[shetlandpaul]

i would cull it. you don't want to breed from it and as a meat bird it sounds like a no go. on welfare grounds it sounds like its just about coping but it may be in pain. hence small size. we have had a few with wonky toes but if the show any limp then they go.

[harry]

crooked feet in day olds = poor hatching egg quality,  if yours developed it later could be the same reason, feed parent birds with breeder pellet  mix. not worth messing about with, cull everthing thats looks dodgy, week birds bring trouble to the others, i have ferrets and they occasionaly have a culled sick bird.

[egglady]

i accidentally bought a black rock with twisted feet, it was one of four and have had them for about 6 months now.  they all lay, and lay well - good sized eggs.  it certainly looks strange but she manages just as well as the 3 others and doesnt seem to be disadvantaged in any way - other than looks of course! 

[valantinas]

I too bought a black rock with twisted feet.  At first fretted what to do with her.  Now a few months down the line, she has out grown the others, egss are bigger and she has no problems perching, scratting, walking or bathing.  Great hen.

[shetlandpaul]

if its having problems. you don't cull just because they have weird feet.

[harry]

by culling if it looks dodgy i mean if it cant walk and scratch. some toes are bent and ok but some legs are bent so they cannot straighten 1 or both legs which may cause the bird to be weak, thin and not be able to perch and always in contact with the wet ground, birds with bent toes can live a normal live but you have to decide on the degree of distress and maybe cull. feel its breast if its thin and boney kill it, before it dies slowly.

[Declan]

I've held off as long as possible- but i noticed that the other birds are thriving and this wee bird is not. It is even struggling to stand up high enough to reach its neck into the feeder and it is getting knocked about when all the others go for the crumb.
So yesterday morning I culled it- axe job on the neck. To be honest as a newcomer to this mullarky i actually found it a bit traumatic- the blood put me off- and as a result I might be looking to give 2 cockerals away rather than keep them for the pot. Overall I feel satisfied that I did the right thing, for the right reasons and the right method of dispatch was used- so I suppose I've progressed.

[doganjo]

Well done, Declan, you did what was right for this bird despite your own feelings.

[shetlandpaul]

you did the right thing. it does get easier.

[egglady]

agree with the others.  we had to cullone of ours yesterday and it was horrible - but best for the bird before she suffered a slow and painful death.  Good job & you did the right thing