I just culled Ginger- First time, just need to share

[ZooMummzy]

I'm crying as I type this and feeling really horrible. One because Ginger, my little baby chick from the thread "I'm soooooo divorced" didn't make it but also because I didn't have the guts to do it earlier and she suffered for too long. I didn't realize how hard it would be to do something like this even if it is the right thing. I also hate myself right now for not being able to do something quicker like break her neck. My husband wouldn't do it for me but suggested putting her in a sealed baggy since she was barely breathing anyway. As her legs got stiffer, I did it because I couldn't stand her suffering anymore. I held it down tight around her till she took her last breath. It was awful.

I know people will say I should have done something else, part of raising chickens etc etc but this was so hard to do and it was my first time and I didn't have any support. I also know it's impractical to even say but I never want to do something like this again.

Rest in peace my little Ginger

 

[WingingIt]

Oh, I'm sorry.

 

[MSHEN]

That's tough and my heart goes out to you....

 

[TheDuckCrew]

i'm so sorry. you did the best you could for her in the time you had her, she got to know love and a good life. you did everything you could.

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Its hard, but you did what you could.

 

[ginbart]

You have a lot of support, we are here for you.

I read your other thread and I know one thing you did the best job you could. You loved her and took the time to take care of her. She is not suffering any longer.

 

[Homesteading_Bound]

Yes we are....

 

[Bil]

Sorry to hear that. I have one chick that just hatched that I'm afraid I will have to do the same thing. Not looking forward to that!

Bil

 

[chickenannie]

So sorry to hear about having to cull Ginger, but now she is free of her misery. It is very hard to do - not something we realize we may have to do when we get chickens.
I had to cull a hen yesterday -- I'd taken care of her inside for 2.5 months and though she had improved her health, her legs just didn't work anymore and she was completely dependent on me to even stand up and get anywhere. I had hope for her for so long and then I finally realized she was never going to be able to walk again. What kind of life is that for a chicken? I tried making her all kinds of contraptions to help her walk and they didn't help. I put it off for a whole week and then yesterday I held her for an hour trying to get up the courage to do it. I wanted her to be happy and calm and for it to be over very quickly, and then it was. I buried her out under a tree, and although I miss her and I feel very sad, I know she is glad she doesn't have to suffer anymore.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Thank you for all your kindness and support. It is funny but this is the first place I came after I did it. I needed to be among kindred spirits I guess who understood. My husband is not a bad person, he just doesn't deal with these things well. And for all his "big talk", there is no way he could ever cull an animal. He won't even go to the vet with me when our cats and dogs need to be euthanized.

You are very right chickenannie, this is not something I even thought I would have to do when I got chickens last spring. I thought the same about ever losing a chicken or a chick. I lost a hen a couple months ago and this is the second chick to die this week. I know these thoughts are very naive of me, but I always thought "oh that won't be me". Well, it was me and I know it will be me again as long as I have chickens. I just pray that I can find the strength to do it next time. It is such a horrible feeling to wrestle with what you know is right but not being able to muster the strength to do it. I seriously, and crazily, thought about running her to my vet's, knowing she would do it for me, but at the same time, I knew this was something I had to face.

I am feeling better and more at peace with my decision. I am glad she is no longer in pain. I know if there is a chicken heaven, she is there being the chick with little Katie (chick I lost on Wednesday), both being the chicks they never really got to be here on earth

To keep my mind occupied even more, my new coop is here and we are going to be busily preparing it for my 10 hens, 6 teenage chickens and the 8 banty babies in the brooder. Try saying that three times fast

Thank you again for being here during the good times and the difficult times. What a great place and great group of people!