Did I do the right thing? Warning GRAPHIC CONTENT!

[TxAg11]

today was a sad sad day. We have been out of town for the past two nights. A few nights ago it seems a possum maimed our beloved Big Black Betty. I didn't discover it until we got back last night. By then she was already showing signs of infection and pooping what looks like puss. There were deep bite marks on her back that I didn't show because I didn't want to add to her discomfort by moving feathers around. She has been under observation most of the day and won't eat or drink. We leave again in 2 days for over a week, so I made a judgement call and put her out of her misery. I'm racked with guilt. I raised her from a chick and she was our favorite hen. I guess what I'm asking is a general concensus from the community as to if hens come back from a maiming this severe (to ease myself and my wife's conscience).

 

[JaeG]

Oh, poor baby, and poor you. I think you made the right decision. It was the kindest thing to do. Why is it always our favourites that go too young?!

 

[freemare]

That looks bad, I had a young chick who got pulled apart from a hawk and was able to find a vet that fixed her up and mind you she was only a few weeks old. $90 later and 2 weeks on drugs for her she is fine and doing great. She is all grown up now.


I think it was the kindest thing to do, you now can leave and not worry about her being in pain.

 

[lazy gardener]

You made the right decision. There is no way she could have survived that. When in doubt with a deep wound, I err on the side of putting the animal out of her misery, rather than forcing her to suffer through an attempt at healing her. Obviously, if I think that she will heal, I provide treatment. But, I'm not into heroics when it comes to deep wounds.

 

[PirateGirl]

You did everything you could to take care of your girl in life and by giving her a peaceful death you did the best thing as well.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I agree. I have seen animals recover from horrendous wounds, horse legs degloved by wire with tendons hanging, dogs put through surgeries that left them permanently crippled living at the vets for months, many tough things. I've insisted on keeping some alive myself that suffered.

I feel that everyone has to make the best choice they can at that moment. Emotions color our vision and make it so hard.

But truly after seeing one horse in particular suffer so awfully, trembling and sweating for days through the pain meds, sitting down like a dog in exhaustion, I've learned something. The woman who owned that horse had been warned repeatedly that he was going to get hurt due to his studdy behavior in the pasture. She was jealous and hateful to the person who warned her so persisted. So when her horse was found hanging in the fence by a leg that was nothing but bone after being left unattended for hours, she just had to "save" him. Because of her guilt. It wasn't love, just ugly guilt that matched the emotions that made her leave him out day after day adjacent to mares he was trying to get to. He suffered horribly so she could feel better about being a jerk. It was truly inhumane. Sure he's alive today and can walk, after a fashion. But those ends didn't justify the months of agony.

Animals don't reflect about the years they will miss but they sure feel pain. It's not right to make them suffer to make us feel better. All we can do is make good choices and you did that well. Better than many. Better then I've done at times.

Good job being so giving to your beautiful hen and sending her on her way. I don't know if she could have recovered but your instinct was likely right. Be at peace.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

This was NOT a judgement call.. it was the ONLY call you could make to help Betty. Period. No guilt should be felt, as there was nothing short of a miracle that could have *saved* her. You gave her a good life. You gave her a peaceful death. Be happy in that knowledge.

 

[staceyj]

Kindness and compassion at the end of their lives is the greatest gift we can give our animals, and that's exactly what you gave Betty.
Recovery from an injury that severe would not have been likely.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sorry for you loss, you made the right decision hard as it was.

 

[Ravynscroft]

You made a decision based on her best interests and didn't put your own wants first... that is the right decision...

While birds *can* possibly recover from what seems to be certain death, it always requires intense treatment, monitoring and care to even think of that possibility... circumstances made that unlikely for that to happen, so you made the best decision for her in that moment... rest easy, as much as you can... you did your best for her... so sorry for your loss...