Does this make me cold hearted and evil?

[patnjess]

I think most of us will put down our chickens, but it is sad. But she laughs at our sadness

so yes I do think that makes you just as crazy as us for crying over them.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I just wanted to add that I DO agree about culling, however. If a creature is in pain that cannot be remedied, the kind and compassionate thing to do is give them a quick and peaceful death, no matter what the species. It does make me very sad and sick to see people keeping animals alive that have no business being alive. That said, there have been posts on here where the person was debating to cull, decided not to, and the bird later made a full recovery--but that's a different case, I think, than a bird that is definitely dying/in agony/not going to be able to heal and simply needs help to go out quickly.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Is it your dumpster? Unless you're the one leasing it, that's not legal. Not too mention stinky if it's a once a week pickup. Can't you just dig a hole, toss a few rocks on top and return it to the earth? That's what I do, and I sometimes plant a tree or rosebush on top if it's a cat or dog.

 

[Zahboo]

Quote:
If this is directed at me then I will share my thoughts, if not just ignore it. I would gladly share my home if I could trust people. I would love to help people if they would help themselves instead of just crying in pitty.

I think the reason I'm so strongly attached to my chickens more than say a neighbor is because the chicken is in my care. I was blessed with this bird and it is dependent on me for food, shelter and safety. If the neighbors dog gets into the pen because I failed to provide safe housing then I'm going to feel like pure crap. If my bird died because I was able to recognize that it's quality of life was gone and that I saw it was in too much pain, then I will cry. I cried when I had to cull Fleck because I saw he depreciating in front of my eyes and I felt like I was playing God when i had to make the decision to kill her. I knew it was the right thing though. That's what mattered to me. I don't understand why I had to be faced with that decision. I don't know why the heck my chicken got sick and I couldn't find a vet that would help. I came to these people because they've been through the Hell of watching a pet die, and could share their understanding with me.

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
I haven't lived in the city since I was 2 years old(which is approx. 40 years ago) so I hardly consider myself a city slicker-I do, however feel sadness when I lose an animal-I can't find it in me to be matter of fact about it. Don't think geography has much to do with it, to be honest with you.

 

[yotetrapper]

I guess my original post came off as harsh but I want to clarify that I wasn't talking about all such things, just the really ridiculous ones. Women posting that there husbands were sobbing over a hen? Really? Sometimes I wonder if these posts can even BE true. What I was trying to say is along the lines of what Beekissed put much better. I've read posts on here about people killing their own dogs because they're dog ate a chicken. Well, many dogs were bred to hunt and kill, stuff like that makes no sense to me at all. I've read of people missing days of work because they were distraught over the death or injury of a chicken. It boggles my mind that people would risk their livlihood over a chicken. I've read seen certain people on here post that they can't get tests/treatment/pills they need for theirselves, and then a day later post about $300 vet bills for chickens?

And, I've seen a lot of posts on here that I just could not believe, but I do think the most outrageous one I've ever seen was just posted here on this post. Someone posted that they would run in front of a car to save a chicken. That shows that they value an animals live more than their own, and more than their family's well being. To me, THAT is very sad.

A lot of you made it sound as if I don't care for my chickens. That couldnt be further from the truth. I love my chickens very much, and my husband always tells me I put the chickens before him. (I think he's joking, but the other day I DID go feed the chickens, and clear forgot to feed HIM, lol). I let my birds free range now, and give them all treats, talk to them, take pictures, some (but not all) have names. They certainly have personalites, which I do enjoy. Not a day goes by that I don't smile or outright laugh at the antics of my chickens, and one my favorite things to do in the summer is sit in the grass in the evening and watch my chickens. I call it chickenTV. LOL.

I guess it just upsets me to see what consider to be an unnatural attachment to poultry. If I got as upset as some here do over the death of a chicken, I would sell each and everyone of them. I've shed a few tears over dogs, but never over a chicken. The posts I was referring to, it seems as though they are not only considering a chicken as a pet (which is fine) but they're valueing it as much or more than a human life, and that seems scary.

As for avoiding the posts, I often open them as they seem at first to be a normal post seeking advice. If they turn out to be a post that bothers me, I DO refrain from posting on them... which was why I made this post to begin with, cos I read a post here, but didnt want to "make it personal" by posting on a thread where someone was clearly upset.

 

[DuckLady]

No one here needs apologize or explain how they feel about their pets, no matter the provocation.

IMO this was started to provoke a huge reaction otherwise why bother opening threads so you can then go and comment on in an inflammatory way in order to get a large number of members' goats??

Now I am one more staff member unable to moderate this thread.

 

[yotetrapper]

No.....I was just wondering if there were more people like me out here that just couldn't understand is all. That was why I made a general post instead of posting on any particular thread. But, apparently, everyone here considers chickens as family members, so go ahead and lock it up, mods.

 

[PotterWatch]

You're wrong in saying you are the only one. There are others besides yourself who said they don't view their chickens as pets, but disagreed with your laughing at someone who does.

 

[Zahboo]

There are tons that feel both ways, not just you boyd