I accidentally killed one of my hens today :(

[Aunt Angus]

I'm so sorry for your loss... It's heartbreaking...

But I agree with the others who said you didn't kill her. Chickens can aspirate - it's true - but she was clearly already sick. She may have had infections or heart problems or other organ failure or the other billion afflictions that happen very easily to chickens. Chickens are so good at hiding illness and injury until it's too late. You obviously loved her and gave her a great 5 years. That's old age by most chicken standards. Please show yourself the same care and compassion you give your flock.

 

[pawprint2104]

I tip my chickens to check them for health and mites. They lay gently in my lap (right side up and upside down) for several minutes at a time, as I check their overall health, their wings, legs, and vent. I monitor them through the process; never had them die during their examination.

But, one. My beautiful Easter Egger two years ago, but she had tremendous fluid accumulation in her body. Vet taught me how to properly drain it to relieve her discomfort. We knew it was only a matter of time. She had extreme underlying health issues. I was actually comforted knowing that she died in my arms.

I don't think you did anything wrong.

 

[pekincochin12]

It’s not your fault. That chicken had something else wrong with it. Tilting a chicken like that didn’t kill it. I routinely tilt birds upside down to check for mites and lice. I’m talking hundreds of birds and I’ve never had a bird die from it.

If you tilt a chicken forwards (not necessarily upside down), they can aspirate and choke.

 

[Aunt Angus]

If you tilt a chicken forwards (not necessarily upside down), they can aspirate and choke.

True, but this bird had other issues. It's def best not to tilt them too much, but this hen was clearly sick. What's done is done. We can all learn from it, but we can also express condolences and compassion. We are all just guessing what happened anyway because no necropsy occurred.

 

[pekincochin12]

True, but this bird had other issues. It's def best not to tilt them too much, but this hen was clearly sick. What's done is done. We can all learn from it, but we can also express condolences and compassion. We are all just guessing what happened anyway because no necropsy occurred.

My comment was in response to someone saying that they have never had issues tilting chickens, not to the OP's original post. It was not meant to come off as rude, so I apologize if it read that way to you. I was trying to prevent misinformation from being spread and potentially causing harm to the hens of those who don't know this. Someone could read that comment and birds could be harmed as a result. There are ways to move them, and I don't want something to be misinterpreted.

 

[OlympicChick]

I agree with the others in that it was totally not your fault and that she had underlying problems. I'm sorry for your loss . I had a tragic incident with my children's guinea pigs 8 years ago and I gave two of them mouth to mouth as well, but they still didn't make it. You just do the best you can and know that you did all you could.

 

[Katiekelley2371]

I'm am so sorry to read about your post. I want to "Thank you" for sharing your story because we can all learn from this.
Sorry about your loss.

Thanks you! We definitely learned from this experience...a.) don’t hold a chicken to forward because it can press their windpipe shut and b.) listen to what your chicken is trying to tell you ...we just didn’t even realize at the time the difference between her being distressed from being held and her being distressed because she couldn’t breath and or could have had a heart attack. She was about 5 and thinking back her mother actually mysteriously died while laying on her nest so maybe it was genetics

 

[Katiekelley2371]

I'm so sorry for your loss... It's heartbreaking...

But I agree with the others who said you didn't kill her. Chickens can aspirate - it's true - but she was clearly already sick. She may have had infections or heart problems or other organ failure or the other billion afflictions that happen very easily to chickens. Chickens are so good at hiding illness and injury until it's too late. You obviously loved her and gave her a great 5 years. That's old age by most chicken standards. Please show yourself the same care and compassion you give your flock.

Thank you so much! I love all of my chickens so much, probably more than I should. It was just such an odd situation that’s hard to explain because my mom was the one holding her I mean I’m only 19. I was trying to tell her that my hen was making an odd noice and face but by the time we had noticed this it was too late

 

[Katiekelley2371]

My comment was in response to someone saying that they have never had issues tilting chickens, not to the OP's original post. It was not meant to come off as rude, so I apologize if it read that way to you. I was trying to prevent misinformation from being spread and potentially causing harm to the hens of those who don't know this. Someone could read that comment and birds could be harmed as a result. There are ways to move them, and I don't want something to be misinterpreted.

I googled it and I saw exactly what you are talking about. I have learned from this and I agree that you should correct misinformation because I never want this to happen to anyone else’s chickens. It was a mistake and I wish I could go back in time and pay closer attention to how my hen felt. My mom was the one holding her, I am 19, and I said that something seemed off but by the time we realized something was wrong it was too late. I just can’t get it out of my head the noise she made and her eyes closing and knowing it was our fault if I had been holding her instead of my mom it may have been preventing because my mom is not as knowledgeable of chickens she was just trying to help

 

[Katiekelley2371]

I agree with the others in that it was totally not your fault and that she had underlying problems. I'm sorry for your loss . I had a tragic incident with my children's guinea pigs 8 years ago and I gave two of them mouth to mouth as well, but they still didn't make it. You just do the best you can and know that you did all you could.

It is such a bad feeling for sure especially knowing it was an accident and I never thought i would see my mom giving my chicken mouth to mouth...I have had Guinea pigs before and I know how easily it is to do something wrong because they have a lot of particular things that can harm them