Early morning attack, Please help!

[hispoptart]

About a year ago, I was coming home from work. My husband had gotten home before me and had to let the dogs out. One of our dogs was small and only weighed 15 pounds. Unfortunately, as I came into the garage he got under my tire and I ran him over right in front of my 11-year-old son. I had the hardest time with that because I knew that I was responsible even though I didn’t mean to. The point is, we love our animals and we try to give them everything we can. I know that even though it was an accident, he died knowing that he was loved. The same for your hen, Marty. She knew that you loved her. Grieving is a natural thing. It will get easier. The support on this site is AMAZING.

Wow, I am so sorry that happened to you I can't even manage to think about how awful you felt. You are so right about the support here. I really don't know how I would have made it through this without all of you. Everyone I know just laughs at how up set I am. They say "It's just a chicken!" My husband bless his heart is being supportive, but in the back of his mind I know he's thinking the same thing.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It may be "just" a chicken, but that's not the point. It's "just" your heart that's hurting. I don't want to hijack your thread, but this reminds me of when I lost my first pregnancy at three months. Nobody could seem to understand why I didn't just get over it. Your sorrow, your grief, your pain, is real. It's your own and nobody has the right to judge you for it. You put so much of your heart and soul into trying to save this little being that she will always be a part of you. So tuck her into your heart and treasure her. If you wear jewelry, you might get a little chicken-shaped pin or pendant to wear in her memory to comfort you going forward.

 

[microchick]

So am I! We have some pretty big boar raccoons where we live. One even tried to attack our tough cattle dog 4 years ago. He tore two screens off the windows and injured his ear in his quest to get away from the beastie. We never did catch that raccoon.

Fortunately my coop is Fort Knox. Metal clad on the outside and 2/3rds up the walls on the inside. There is a concrete floor. My run in chain link fencing and hot wired and netted. 3 years ago our neighborhood (we live deep rural Missouri in the middle of an Amish community) was hit by a female fox that fed her kits off of area flocks. We found all kinds of feathers on our farm....except none from our birds. We found all sorts of fox prints around the coop but no breakins, thank God. The fox was hold up under a neighbor's cabin and he said he found piles of chicken bones in her den.

Our neighbor lost every bird they had but I was lucky and didn't loose a one. I would love to free range but every time I start to soften, I remember that female fox and how many chickens and guineas she killed in a three month period of time. I would much rather deal with a raccoon. You can catch them but a fox...can't out fox a fox.

 

[hispoptart]

It may be "just" a chicken, but that's not the point. It's "just" your heart that's hurting. I don't want to hijack your thread, but this reminds me of when I lost my first pregnancy at three months. Nobody could seem to understand why I didn't just get over it. Your sorrow, your grief, your pain, is real. It's your own and nobody has the right to judge you for it. You put so much of your heart and soul into trying to save this little being that she will always be a part of you. So tuck her into your heart and treasure her. If you wear jewelry, you might get a little chicken-shaped pin or pendant to wear in her memory to comfort you going forward.

Oh my @BigBlueHen53 There is nothing that can compare to you losing your baby, I am so sorry!!!!Those who thought you should just get over it are lucky I was not around, I would have punched them all in the nose!!!
Thank you for your kind words, I saved a few of her feathers, maybe I can make them into something. My daughter makes dream catchers, maybe see can make me one and attach the feathers to it.

 

[hispoptart]

So am I! We have some pretty big bore raccoons where we live. One even tried to attack our tough cattle dog 4 years ago. He tore two screens off the windows and injured his ear in his quest to get away from the beastie. We never did catch that raccoon.

Fortunately my coop is Fort Knox. Metal clad on the outside and 2/3rds up the walls on the inside. There is a concrete floor. My run in chain link fencing and hot wired and netted. 3 years ago our neighborhood (we live deep rural Missouri in the middle of an Amish community) was hit by a female fox that fed her kits off of area flocks. We found all kinds of feathers on our farm....except none from our birds. We found all sorts of fox prints around the coop but no breakins, thank God. The fox was hold up under a neighbor's cabin and he said he found piles of chicken bones in her den.

Our neighbor lost every bird they had but I was lucky and didn't loose a one. I would love to free range but every time I start to soften, I remember that female fox and how many chickens and guineas she killed in a three month period of time. I would much rather deal with a raccoon. You can catch them but a fox...can't out fox a fox.

Wow, sounds like you have done a really good job protecting your chickens. I am hell bent to get mine just as safe and secure. I don't free range, but their mini coop with a mini run is inside of a larger run area. I have a storage shed that I want to turn into their coop, but I need electric run to it. Husband was supposed to have it done but I think I will just make the call myself.

 

[Kdlevesque]

Wow, I am so sorry that happened to you I can't even manage to think about how awful you felt. You are so right about the support here. I really don't know how I would have made it through this without all of you. Everyone I know just laughs at how up set I am. They say "It's just a chicken!" My husband bless his heart is being supportive, but in the back of his mind I know he's thinking the same thing.

That sounds just like my husband! He says one thing but I know he’s thinking...”it’s just a chicken”.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh my @BigBlueHen53 There is nothing that can compare to you losing your baby, I am so sorry!!!!Those who thought you should just get over it are lucky I was not around, I would have punched them all in the nose!!!
Thank you for your kind words, I saved a few of her feathers, maybe I can make them into something. My daughter makes dream catchers, maybe see can make me one and attach the feathers to it.

A dreamcatcher would be so cool! Thank you for your kind words. We'll all get through this.

 

[microchick]

@BigBlueHen53. I started my nursing career as an Obstetrical nurse. Don't let anyone fool you. When you suffer a miscarriage, you have suffered a death of a child/family member/loved one. That is how we treated the grieving process for the mother. We also told them not to give up and try not to dwell on what ifs. Pregnancy is a lot like hatching eggs. Sometimes they are perfect. Sometimes something happens and it ends in failure. Talk to their doctor and if he gave them the go ahead, try again as soon as possible as their bodies are still in 'pregnancy' mode and will conceive easier than if they starting from scratch.

Held many a grieving woman while she wept. Offered comfort as required but always told them to pull themselves up, dust themselves off and not give up.

So to you I offer a hug along with my deepest condolences on the death of your child.

 

[coach723]

I think the dream catcher is a lovely idea!
No matter what or whom you lose, it is never 'just' anything. You gave them a piece of your heart, and you hold a piece of them in your heart always.

 

[guineapeeps]

@BigBlueHen53. I started my nursing career as an Obstetrical nurse. Don't let anyone fool you. When you suffer a miscarriage, you have suffered a death of a child/family member/loved one. That is how we treated the grieving process for the mother. We also told them not to give up and try not to dwell on what ifs. Pregnancy is a lot like hatching eggs. Sometimes they are perfect. Sometimes something happens and it ends in failure. Talk to their doctor and if he gave them the go ahead, try again as soon as possible as their bodies are still in 'pregnancy' mode and will conceive easier than if they starting from scratch.

Held many a grieving woman while she wept. Offered comfort as required but always told them to pull themselves up, dust themselves off and not give up.

So to you I offer a hug along with my deepest condolences on the death of your child.

Don’t mean to hijack the thread but wanted to say I appreciate your post and completely agree. I was a Labor and Delivery and NICU nurse for quite awhile. During that time I had a still birth myself at 8 months. Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was go back to work, but time heals all things, and every day gets just a little easier. I never did have a pregnancy after that but we adopted our son, which was also very healing. Sometimes, getting another “baby something” helps, whether it be a baby chick, puppy, etc because it is something that needs to be taken care of and just simply needs you in general!