Egg production way down

And I just noticed your post about being a vet, but having limited experience with hens.
I asked my vet a question about a hen I was concerned about a few weeks ago. She said "You know, with chicken flocks, the weak really should just be culled, and the flock as a whole will get stronger. That's what we did when UI was a kid, and we had very healthy flocks".
Yes, that's what we did when I was a kid too, but this flock is a bit of a diva/pet flock, and I do care about them. What if it's something like something stuck in her crop, or something that isn't caused by her inherent weakness, but just something she needs help with? So I called around looking for a vet who could take a peek at my bird and give advice.
I live in a rural area, with farms everywhere. I called 9 vets. Not a single one would take a look at my chicken, or had any advice to give, other than "chickens die".

You'd think it would be a great opportunity for a vet to take on the challenge of helping people with their weird chicken-problems? Why don't vets work on chickens? Are they considered disposable? Are they just too cheap an animal (after what I've invested over 5 years, I can attest that each one of them is quite valuable). Are there just not many people who would bother ever taking their chicken to a vet? Are birds just too hard to work on?
I'm not challenging or critisizing. I've just been wondering about this since not being able to find a chicken-vet, and since trying to help my poor, hapless, Hally for the past 2 weeks.

Deleted: double-post

Oops, sorry. Great picture!

I do the same. Light is on from 5am until 8pm. They all seem to be on the roost well before "lights-out". They seem to learn the rhythm after being caught off the roost the first time.

My old spinsters have all molted now, so I'm leaving the lights on for the 3 new chicks who are now 20 weeks old. I want some good omelettes this Christmas.

The fact that most vets won't work on poultry is how I got the two cases I did. The duck people drove about 50 miles to see me.
I am not practicing full time right now because I am teaching at a college, but when I have been in full time practice, I would try to help anything.

There are some veterinarians that specialize in chickens. There was one in my graduating class. He worked full time for one of the giant chicken corporations. They all have the "kill em and get a new chicken" philosophy.

And DeadRabbit, you aren't a female! Cool. You are better looking than most dead rabbits. ;)

Lol....thankyou ladies.

Heres my take on the point of no vets for poultry. I personally cannot fanthom, paying vet prices for a chicken. I wouldnt do it, no matter what. Course I've always been one that has the traditionaal viewpoint of animals and esp. Farm animals. They are there to serve a purpose. If they don't serve it, then they are not kept at my place. Not cold hearted. Just practical.
Now with that said. I at one time kept fowl that were worth hundreds of dollars apiece. Still I couldnt see taking one to a vet. I personally know of two individuals that did this. One many yrs ago had a prized brood cock that was worth thousands b/c of what he was able to produce. His owner had him in an oxygen tent at a vet trying to save him.
Another lady, she spent if memory serves me......$125 on a serama bantam rooster that got in fight with another rooster and lost his eye. The rooster could have been replace with another $10 rooster. (and that's high for most breeds of fowl) but that's what she felt was necessary.
All I can say is God bless her kind heart....she definitely is a good hearted person.

If my rooster is worth $10, then he would bring $10 more at auction than my dog would. But you gotta love a dog like this! (She is somewhat afraid of chickens though.)

Very true.

Yes I understand that. I have two dogs. A great pyrennes that keeps everything alive in the chicken yard. And then the lil yorkie that's in the house. He's the most worthless in regards to being practical. But I wouldnt trade that aggrevating booger for the world.

I have been thinking. It started at daylight when I wanted to be asleep. I would actually sell my rooster for considerably less than $10. Anybody want a very pretty barred rock rooster? One that will crow in the morning?

I calls that, rooster music. Soothing to the soul. Good for what ails you. Pure and natural the way God intended it to be. Soak it up mrs celeste.

In a soup or a casserole?