[bubs]

how do you know that the vets didn't try their best for you uncle's dog? your not a vet so can't know what that vet was thinking, i think if i were a vet and put my heart and soul in  trying to save a much loved pet and was then accused of fleecing them i'd be most upset, most vets aren't out to rob people of their money, a friend of mine (who didn't have much money) took his cat to our vets after he had been run over, the vets warned him it would be costly to pin it's leg ect, he didn't have the ready cash, they set up a way for him to pay weekly which he did, there is always a way, and if a pet can be saved, they'll try and save it.

thats right i am not a vet but the dog was about 14 and his back legs were crushed an animal lover would have put the dog to sleep pronto . he charged them about £80 for an injection and slumped the dog in a cage the following morning when they arrived the dog was slumped and didn't know them and was then destroyed for a total of £360 . nobody on this planet will convince me that amount of money the vet charged justified the little impact that vet made .
one reply on here said they had treatment from the vet for their chickens and it cost £3 a bird thats great if you only have 4 birds but what happens when you have got 20 + birds  , the cost's escalates and the chances of the illness not clearing gets greater .

[Tazzy]

I have 6 birds and the total cost from my vet was £20 for Baytril, so just over £3 per bird. I guessed you had had a bad experience with a vet, but you really shouldn't stereotype them. I have also suffered at the hands of a bad vet so I can appreciate what you say. Overall I think the Spock approach works, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".

I would always try to do the best for my birds, even if it meant the final journey.

Tazzy

[Aunt Sally]

As I said previously bubs, it all boils down to why you have chooks and what type of category you place them in:

• Pet
• Valuable breeding stock
• Economic food production unit

I would not criticise your decision on how to manage your birds and I'm sure you would not criticise my choices.  The important thing is to be happy with what you do and that the animal (whatever it is) should be treated with respect and never be allowed to suffer !

[poultrygeist]

Bubs, no-one is sayign you are wrong to cull your birds if they become ill or suffer.

And maybe your uncle indicated that he'd like the vet to try and treat his dog if at all possible. I can't imagine the vet going to great lengths without some agreement.

You do seem to be stereotyping all vets from your own experiences and are now questioning the replies you have got in their defence. I would say, on the evidence here, that the vast majority of vets care about animals and are not just looking for profit.

Rob

[karlooben]

i love my girls and yes i will take them to the vet for baytril etc but my vets dont charge me consulation so like some others on here i only pay for the drugs but also one of the main receptionists keep chickens so i ask her about my probs as well as the vet. only when i know one of my pets is suffering will  i allow them to be put to sleep like my samoyed from about 6 rys ago now , i found him collasped with possible spinal damage { think he fell of the bed } within 5 mins of being at the vets an with them agreeing instantly he was put to sleep as i will not see any animal go though the grieve and pain of recovery on something that will take such a long time to mend , same if one of my dogs was knocked down if the injuries were major then i would not hestiate to let them go .i let one of my horses go when she had a second attack  of laminitis it was heart breaking an on my 30 th brithday as well but my vet let her go with her pride still intact { if u understand what i mean } .

[chickenlady]

I too think that it is down to the individual vets! when i lost layla and tikka it probably came to about £60 in vets bills in total for 2 chickens that cost me £10! but i had to give them that chance!
but if i had been with my old vets in peterborough it would of cost 3 or 4 times that amount cause they did have extortionate prices! When i first got my cocker spaniel as a pup i was worried that her poops were runny, i took her to the vets about 3 or 4 times for it, only to be told after the 4th visit that puppies dont always do solid poops!  I wonder why they never told me that the first time i went!!!!?  probably cause they were getting £30 a visit out of me!

Debbie

[peapod]

Get a vet recommended by word of mouth, it really is the best way to choose a vet. 

There are rip off merchants in every trade, but to generalise all vets through your own couple of experiences is not looking at it objectively. Some are bad, the majority are good.  Some may require a bit more travel but it would be worth it.  My vet is half an hour away and a great guy, and I would recommend him in an instant, one I have only 5 minutes walk away is not used because I have heard he isnt that great

Chicken keepers come in all shapes and sizes and views...what monetarily is not worth it you is worth it another keeper. 

Some chickens are pets, and as such are worth every penny paid to the vet to cure them to the people who keep them

[Big Jen]

I had a horse with a scratched eye ball that had several visits from our vet over the course of a couple of weeks.
One day the vet came and said " I was just passing so I thought I would call in and have a look how hes getting on" He looked over the stable door and commented that he looked much better. I made him a cuppa and then off he went.
Surprise surprise. When I got my bill he had charged for the visit!!!
£35 plus VAT
My total bill was £1600 so I suppose he thought I wouldnt notice as the Insurance was paying.
Got it removed from my bill and I now use a different Vet!!

Jenny

[bubs]

As I said previously bubs, it all boils down to why you have chooks and what type of category you place them in:

• Pet
• Valuable breeding stock
• Economic food production unit

I would not criticise your decision on how to manage your birds and I'm sure you would not criticise my choices.  The important thing is to be happy with what you do and that the animal (whatever it is) should be treated with respect and never be allowed to suffer !

if i had a valueable pet or breeding stock i would also seek a good vet without question i agree , but for a general egg laying hybrid hen it doesn't make any sense to me , and my own sister just spent about £100 at a vets for a £5 ferret first to get it sprayed then for an injection because my brother in law trood on the damned thing and yes she deserves a kick up the backside aswell , i am not saying anybodies wrong for taking their lovable chooks to the vet but surely if a £5 chicken can't lay an egg it should be in a curry {only joking folks  }.

[Foxy]

I think the question "Re: VETS - how much is a chicken worth" has been more than adequately answered in this thread.

[Ice]

Quite agree Foxy, time to move on.  I'll lock it.