Is it cruel to separate a pair of chickens raised together? I'm sad.

[Happy Chooks]

I should add that I've faced this as well. For the NYD hatch, I hatched 4 welsummer chicks. (1 cockeral, 3 pullets) One of the pullets looks promising for breeding, and I debated with myself whether to keep her and get rid of the others, or not. A friend of ours wanted some girls, so we had homes for them. I went back and forth on whether to keep her or not. Our friend didn't want the cockeral, so I had the choice of integrating him with her. In the end, I decided to give her away with the other 2 girls - the boy will be going to the feed store - I will not integrate him by himself, he'll get the crud beat out of him by my hens.

 

[WanderingHen]

It kind of depends on how deep the bond goes, I lost a really nice bantam cochin after her buddy, a standard brahma hen, got killed by a predator. She just up and went off her feed. Tried everything, but within a month she had wasted away and died.

I've had other pairs that I broken up, just took forever and a day to do it.

 

[CCourson05]

For the circumstances, I agree. This was best. If you ever hear that the roo dies, you could ask for Ginger back. Just a suggestion.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

The woman who took them lived a good 45 minutes away and she was in the area today so she dropped by and picked them up. I feel like they will have a good home and now that they are gone, I know I did the right thing for all of us. I would have loved to keep Ginger, but I would have been stressed to high heaven worrying about her and I really didn't want to risk her suffering without him. Alls well that ends well.

 

[dkvart1]

letting go of what you love is the hardest act of love. Well done.

 

[chicky_mommy]

Quote:
Maybe, if you are missing your Ginger you should email the woman and see if she can send you some pictures from time to time. When it comes time to cut my flock down I know I'm gonna ask their new owner to send me pictures.

 

[my3chickens]

I think you made the best decision, for them to sleep together separately from the others, they obviously had a special bond. Putting the feelings of others before your own, even if they are chickens & roosters, is difficult but you obviously have a kind heart

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

This is Ginger. Tiny little thing. I almost wonder if she was part bantam or something. Isn't she cute? Thanks to everyone for helping me decide what was best for the chickens.

 

[hlf1996]

Good choice, even though I know it must have been hard

But im sure the 2 are as happy as can be.. and a up side is you could still go and see her

and maybe if she has babies you could pick one out! sorry for you having to make such a hard choice, Hannah

 

[CCourson05]

Aw! She is so cute! She will be alright.