Hardest Thing About Raising Chickens!

[thudson]

The hardest thing to do when raising your own flock of friends is deciding when an injury is too much and they need put down. Today I had to put down one of my girls. She had a bite of some type show up that kept getting bigger and bigger. The wound grew from golf ball sized to softball size overnight. I decided she was suffering and did what I thought was best for her. It hurts so bad to see the chicks that we raise turn into beautiful hens and then we have to make decisions like this. Its so hard to do but its part of the way of life we lead. My Black Australorp hen looked at me at that moment and seem to tell me it was ok! I know that sounds strange but I swear the way she looked at me she soothed my heart. You will be missed sweet lady. Thanks for all the enjoyment you gave me!!!!

 

[happyhens1972]

Oh, I absolutely agree with you. It is sooooo heartbreaking to have to take the life of something you have loved and cared for since birth. But it is wrong to leave it too long too.

I had this with a poisoned roo, was hoping he would 'pull through' but knew in my heart of hearts that he wouldn't. I left him sitting quietly under a bush, maybe secretly hoping he would pass away on his own and save me the awful job of killing this beautiful boy I had raised from an egg. When I returned an hour or so later, I found him laying by the fence with nothing left of his comb or wattles, no scalp, his head a lake of blood but he was still alive. I have no idea if the rats got him or the other chickens saw his weakness and attacked him but I shall never forgive myself, for as long as I live, for putting off the inevitable to prevent MY suffering and causing him the worst suffering imaginable.

I learned two things from this....firstly, to ALWAYS seperate a poorly bird and secondly, when you know it has to be done, cull straight away.

I'm so sorry for your loss but well done for doing what needed doing and ending your beautiful girl's suffering for her xxx

 

[thudson]

Thank you so much. Some people out in this world do not realize its like the loss of a family member. God will see us through.

 

[Magic Birdie]

 

[JAZsMom]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

I'm so sorry about your hen.

You're right: that is the hardest part of owning a pet. You don't want them to go, but you also don't want them to suffer. A couple months ago, one of our greatest hens developed what we think was ovarian cancer. She was not eating or drinking much, and barely moving. I didn't want to see her like that, so I made the hardest call I've made yet: the one to the vet asking how much it would be to put her down. She passed away in my arms later that day.

There's just no such thing as "Oh, it's just a chicken." It's a part of our family.

 

[thudson]

It is so strange how a injured or sick hen can affect your life or the lives of your flock. Since I made the hard decision to put down my injured hen my flock has been laying incredibly well and the flock is peaceful. Also since that day one particular hen has ran to meet me everyday at the back door of the coop to be held. I pick her up and she will cluck to me softly. This has made it so much easier what I had to do. So this particular hen is now known as "Angelgirl". Nature and God have such good but strange ways to mend a broken heart and spirit!