Enjoy your Chickens. I can’t kill anything either. I do have a husband and 2 boys who can and do when needed. I am sure if your neighbors can’t do it either they will know of someone who can. In 10 years of chicken ownership we have only had to do in about 3 birds and that was due to frostbite on a rooster and 2 roosters ( supposed to be pullets) that we ate.
The ones we lose just up and die from old age, heart issues etc…
I think the problem for those new to hens is that they only lay eggs for a limited time, but live for much longer. So you need to be ready to provide a long retirement for the hens who age out of laying. The added info from people who had to deal with seriously sick and injured chickens really applies for all pet / animal ownership. Do right by a suffering animal. It doesn’t hurt to think of the various unforeseen and difficult possibilities and be ready to address them if needed.
Enjoy! Hens are so much fun and full of their own personalities.
I’m bumping this thread up to point out that many small animal vets don’t do chickens, or they charge $extra$ for treating “exotic” pets like chickens 
. At least, that’s what I’ve heard from Backyard chickens.com… My horse vet told me he doesn’t do chickens, either. So my plan is that any injured/ill animal will be treated by me or culled.
We’ve had to cull 2 chooks from our flock, and I cried and I was sad but we all got through it. They were both ill.
[QUOTE=Justa Bob;8159945]
I think the problem for those new to hens is that they only lay eggs for a limited time, but live for much longer. So you need to be ready to provide a long retirement for the hens who age out of laying. [/QUOTE]
No, you don’t. You can often sell them or give them away for free to people who will eat them.
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