**help**must Do The Hardest Thing!

[faykokoWV]

Put her down, why let her suffer. Axe, or hang her upside down and use a sharp knife to slit the throat.

Get a new home for the rooster. What if he decides to go after you next.

 

[lady feathers]

Don't use a gun, chickens move around alot (and as you are emotionally attached your aim may be off some if you close your eyes or wince) and she has already suffered.... I'd hate for her to also have to live through a gunshot wound. Don't drown her, that will surely tramatize you both. If you decide to still go through with it.... either the axe (you can hammer two nail onto a piece of wood to place her head between to keep her from moving on you, or youcan use garden shears (either will be messy but quick for her sake. You could also try snapping her neck by grabbing both legs in one hand the neck/head in anothr... turn her over upside down and pull in opposite directions while swiftly twisting at the head. If this is the first one you have done this and you think you may not use enough pressure I have read that you can use a broom handle to stand on while you place her head under and simply pull up quickly on her body and legs.

It's a tough call, I don't know that I would nurse her back to health... she's already suffered quite a bit of pain and while she may be able to be nursed back to health if she is blind you have to think about how much time you can devote to her care/needs specifically. Also, just throwing it out there although it sounds like you just have a crazy rooster there may be an underlying cause to his attacks (something you can't see that he senses-could she be ill). In any case, I would work on your nerves on the rooster- any roo that aggressive needs to go (once she is gone e may choose to do this again to the next lowest in the pecking order)! Good luck with whatever you decide. Owning chickens is not all fun that's for sure- try to do what is best for her, whatever that may be!

 

[MobyQuail]

second thread I read today having to do with a tough dispatch decision.
I'm with ya, it hurts your heart, in your head what do you think you should do?
we had to put down two chicks today, not the same- not the length of attachment you have, but the chicks were blue and cute. I figured they would be happier without the pain...
its tough but sometimes you gotta do what you don't want to do.
it's your call big dog. I'm with ya, whatever you decide.
TD

 

[Bizzybirdy]

I have a red EE hen with only one eye and she does FINE with the other hens, etc. She was one of 6 out of 16 that survived a predator attack when they were 4 months of age. She is now a year and a half.

Why would anyone keep a rooster that maims and tries to kill a hen??? Eventually he will hurt and try to kill another hen. A despicable roo like that would certainly get the ax here.

I wish your hen the best...she deserves another chance to live in peace.

 

[BrattishTaz]

Clean up your hen and evaluate her carefully. If she is eating and drinking and does not seem to be in severe pain, you may be able to save her. I have had some nasty injuries heal up just fine. I also have a one eyed rooster that has learned to function as well as any other "normal" chicken. He was injured when a neighbor's roo attacked him. Good luck.

 

[SJ]

Wildlife...I feel your pain. i once had a very large mixed breed roo named Lenard with the sweetest personality, and as colourful a rainbow. He too was a slow motion chicken. One afternoon my other rooster, a stunning white leghorn, decided that he and lenard could no longer be friends. In the time it took for me to run over and pull the the leghorn off(10 secs) Lenard had lost an eye, had his comb half ripped off, and several puncture wounds in the neck and chest. I like you, kept Lenard seperate until he healed. But at the same time that lenard was healing this leghorn started "abusing" his hens. He also tried attacking my mom, brother, stepdad, and sisters. But i didnt want to kill my beautiful white rooster either. Your roo is a beauty too. Now before lenard had healed the leghorn made his final mistake by attacking me. Check my other posts for that tale.

Words of wisdom:

1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Get that seperate pen built asap, too.
Give Goldie every chance to make it but if she is too far gone don't risk an axe swing blurred by tears and emotions. The last thing she needs is a poorly placed chop. Take the .410 and some #9 shot walk back ten yards and give her the best you can, quick, sweet relief.

You may feel different about your man after.

I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[chirpingcricket]

Jeez. What a tough call. Like many others, if she's a good hen and you have the time and patience, see if she still has the spirit to live. If so, take the time to help her heal again. I'm a nurse, but know little about chickens, except I've had to "patch" up a few here and there, and my nursing experience was minimal as it related to chickens. However, they seem to be quite resilient.
Just the basics. Keep the wounds clean, plenty of food, water, antibiotics (if needed) and especially isolate her until she has time to heal and "build up confidence". (weeks and then supervised visits only. . .for a while. . .with the crew.)
Now, on the other hand, the roo may need to find a "happy home" somewhere else. Either way, a tough, committed decision(s).......Verna

 

[Veggie4life55]

Quote:

 

[Aj1911]

give her a chance her other eye may be fine

try to find a vet if you cant find one listen to dawg's advice

i'd shoot the rooster tho, you dont want to breed with him and another hen could be next (aggressiveness can be passed on in breeding)

at the least give him his own pen and never let hens in or breed with him

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
Exactly what I was thinking!
Also, if she were already low on the roost, you took her out and then put her back in. That is the double wammy! People think you need to separate the injured or lowly chicken out and pamper it. If it is just one bird pecking on another, take the aggressor away and 'shame' them by isolation. By taking away the 'weak link' and then bringing it back, you are putting the flock on defense mode. "Oh, you want to come into OUR Yard, eh?"
Remember, chickens are not smart creatures, they operate pretty much on instinct. Your roo may have had a reason to do what he did, and if it is just that one girl he is bothering, then I don't see that as a total flaw to his character. If he abuses more than one girl and is mean to people, well that right there is grounds for instant beheading.


I just put down a Blue Ameraucana roo a couple of weeks ago. He was abusive to everyone in the chicken yard! I have a Dark Cornish roo (see avatar) whom I love and admire his beauty. He is THE top rooster here and he has even bumped up against me a few times, but I quickly remind him who is boss and we move on. He is good to all the other chickens and I never see him be rude to any hen. They are males protecting their territory. So, you need to ask, is the roo a bad seed and needs to go, or is he feeling he had need to protect his flock, even if it was from one of his own? it is hard to tell. He is beautiful, but you CAN always find another beautiful rooster too.

Oh, and the 'find a vet' idea...good luck! How much is that hen really worth to you, because you are probably going to spend an arm and a leg to see a vet for her. I take the practical approach to these sorts of things. I know of NO chicken worth $150-200 unless they poop gold and lay it too.