Morning. I really really really, messed up bad last night. As a result one of my quail is dead, and one is injured, though she will make it I think. I hope. I'm coming to the forum for support, as DH doesn't really understand why I am so upset and I am hoping some other members on here will get it. I don't really know what I need, I just know this is really hard.
Last night I was moving the quail to their outdoor pen. I KNOW these little guys pop or fly because they do it all the time in front of me so I always keep a screen over their brooder. The brooder is 3 feet off the ground, with 2+ foot walls to keep them safe from our cat and 2 dogs. While I was transferring their feeder to the outdoor pen, I had the screen off ...it was not off for even 2 minutes, but when I came in the house, Sarge, my jack min-pin mix had one little baby, my oldest , "Corporal", broken in his mouth, and the cat had the other. She was playing with it. I threw the screen back on to protect the three that were still in the brooder and got both birds away. The oldest i could not do anything for. I cleaned up some of the blood and put her in my shirt against my skin while i cleaned the other baby. The back of her head was open and bleeding. I got the bleeding to stop, and used hydrogen peroxide and then neosporin and isolated her from the others. This morning she is scabbing over and appears to be in good shape. Thank God (thank you Lord). My other little gal, who had been born with a turned foot, and yet kept up with the other guys/gals just fine, and was the only one we had named yet, died in my bra. And I lost it. I cried for a very long time. Okay, I sobbed. It took DH a lot to convince me she was really dead, and would not wake up in a few minutes. See I know this is my fault as I am the human and I am responsible for these little lives. I left the screen off. I never even worried about it. Never ever crossed my mind to worry about it. I killed my quail. I have never had a problem with the culling of animals I intend as food. I can take great care of them and love them till they go, because I KNOW they are bound for the freezer and I respect the process. These guys were my first quail, and the family quickly decided they were not to be culled. They would be "pets" and we would raise their offspring for food. But these guys were supposed to live spoiled happy lives. And momma messed up.
We buried him in our backyard. DD picked flowers. DH who thinks I am an alien life form, for being so upset, was sweet enough to say a prayer for Corporal, and I cried some more. Nothing I've raised has ever died because of my irresponsibility.
I am not looking for anyone to tell me its okay..i know its not. I mean I wouldn't leave my children unattended as babies in a room with 2 dogs and a cat. But I didn't even consider the quails safety when I walked outside, in that moment.
Prayers please for my baby that is healing. I think its time to name her.
-Jessa
Last night I was moving the quail to their outdoor pen. I KNOW these little guys pop or fly because they do it all the time in front of me so I always keep a screen over their brooder. The brooder is 3 feet off the ground, with 2+ foot walls to keep them safe from our cat and 2 dogs. While I was transferring their feeder to the outdoor pen, I had the screen off ...it was not off for even 2 minutes, but when I came in the house, Sarge, my jack min-pin mix had one little baby, my oldest , "Corporal", broken in his mouth, and the cat had the other. She was playing with it. I threw the screen back on to protect the three that were still in the brooder and got both birds away. The oldest i could not do anything for. I cleaned up some of the blood and put her in my shirt against my skin while i cleaned the other baby. The back of her head was open and bleeding. I got the bleeding to stop, and used hydrogen peroxide and then neosporin and isolated her from the others. This morning she is scabbing over and appears to be in good shape. Thank God (thank you Lord). My other little gal, who had been born with a turned foot, and yet kept up with the other guys/gals just fine, and was the only one we had named yet, died in my bra. And I lost it. I cried for a very long time. Okay, I sobbed. It took DH a lot to convince me she was really dead, and would not wake up in a few minutes. See I know this is my fault as I am the human and I am responsible for these little lives. I left the screen off. I never even worried about it. Never ever crossed my mind to worry about it. I killed my quail. I have never had a problem with the culling of animals I intend as food. I can take great care of them and love them till they go, because I KNOW they are bound for the freezer and I respect the process. These guys were my first quail, and the family quickly decided they were not to be culled. They would be "pets" and we would raise their offspring for food. But these guys were supposed to live spoiled happy lives. And momma messed up.
We buried him in our backyard. DD picked flowers. DH who thinks I am an alien life form, for being so upset, was sweet enough to say a prayer for Corporal, and I cried some more. Nothing I've raised has ever died because of my irresponsibility.
I am not looking for anyone to tell me its okay..i know its not. I mean I wouldn't leave my children unattended as babies in a room with 2 dogs and a cat. But I didn't even consider the quails safety when I walked outside, in that moment.
Prayers please for my baby that is healing. I think its time to name her.
-Jessa
