My 'best friend' caused much pain today

[Hutsonchicks]

It's been an emotional two weeks. My 7 lady white leghorns started laying two weeks ago at about 16 weeks old. I was so excited! We went out of town and the neighbors were watching our dogs- little terrier mixes. One of our ladies was killed by something and i was thinking it was our dog but wasn't 100% positive. I was hoping it wasn't. My neighbors felt bad about what happened and bought us two new young pullets.

Today, my son says, "Daddy, the back door is open." I went running out and my heart was pounding. It only took a second to see what had happened. The two young pullets didnt have a chance. One hen was under a powerwheel. It can't move its head but is still breathing. I think its neck is broken. Another has a bite mark on it's back but it is eating/drinking. I think its just in shock. The other 4 seem fine. I think I need to put the injured one out of it's misery and wife wants to pray for a miracle. I hate for it to suffer.

I was going to get a new coop tomorrow with a long run. I ordered it a month ago but it got delayed a few days. Thought i had it all under control. Now there will be a few less ladies to enjoy it. I wonder if one hen was trying to protect the babies.

My 'best friend' caused me a lot of pain today.

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

The hen with the bite will hopefully make a full recovery. We had a leghorn that had a broken-neck from being hit by a car. We had to kill her. It was really sad, the first chicken we had truly killed ourselves.