I am very sorry for your loss and for your daughter's trauma.
Pet ownership seems to be a great vehicle for teaching our children about nature and loss.
I'm sorry, too, for any trauma you may have had as a result of any less-than-diplomatic posts. Even though this tragic event happened, you are still the same knowledgeable, compassionate, responsible person you've always been.
Now Max, my dachshund of eight years, has become obsessed with the smaller pullets, which are kept in the coop. I have owned dachshunds for much of my adult life. All but one have been kind and gentle and shown restraint at my command when critters have gotten loose (guinea pigs, rats, mice, parakeets, finches). There was one who after six months could not stop barking at the birds and climbing the furniture trying to reach the cages - he was clearly mentally unsound and when he bit a child, completely unprovoked, I put him to sleep. Most dogs are not this insanely agitated and aggressive and don't need to be put down.
The first time a pullet got out of the coop, I found Max standing over the wings and claws but didn't know if he had commandeered the body from a cat or a band of killer chickens (I've heard full-grown chickens can kill small ones). I couldn't say for sure who had killed it. When I found Max over the second body, which was still warm and missing only the head, I knew for sure he was the culprit.
I took it away from him and put it in the trash bin (I'm not yet ready for the flesh-eating part of chicken farming).
Both times I was responsible for leaving the coop lid open. The first time, I thought the pullets were way too small to worry about one flying over the 3-1/2-foot fence (or flying at all, for that matter). The second time it was a hot day and I opened the lid for air circulation, figuring that since I'd clipped everyone's wings there was no need to worry.
Now the coop lid is NEVER left open. My Plan B for Max is that if he kills again (and I'm on guard to spare him the temptation), my 21-year-old daughter will take him into her home.
The big chickens (all heavy breeds) seem to be too big to interest Max. I have never had to rush out to intervene between Max, or Leroy my 4-year-old dachsie, or Pip my 9-month old chihuahua/toy fox terrier or her two siblings whom I foster, and my big chickens. My dogs like the cracked corn and there is sometimes a chicken-dog competition for corn with a pecking/snapping skirmish, but no harm done. It's just the sight of fast-moving little critters that get Max's hunting juices flowing.
Some of my happiest moments lately are when I'm tossing out scratch to my girls and my yard is full; ten hens, five dogs, and two cats all peacefully roaming the backyard on a lovely day.
I've had to forgive Max and forgive myself and move forward with the new information about my sweet boy's nature. You'll figure out how to cope with the new information by blocking access, rearranging cage placement (we always had to hang birdcages from the ceiling because of the cats, and the guinea pigs were always up high because even cool old Dino found those little guys irresistible). I feel that letting go of a family member (a pet) may be unnecessary for some people, and even if Max does kill again, I'm not sure I'd be willing to go back on the commitment I made when I took him into my home all those years ago.
All the best to you, Waibel Zoo. I hope you keep posting about tragedy, because you gave me a chance to talk about my recent problems by doing so.
I did hear that one post the same way you did (
). I've come to learn that some people have better internal editors than others when it comes to posting. (She did say that she's sorry for your loss and she didn't mean to come off so harshly.)
I hope you noticed all the supportive posts you received and felt the love there.
BYC forum is still good for sharing tragedy and joy and love.
Pet ownership seems to be a great vehicle for teaching our children about nature and loss.
I'm sorry, too, for any trauma you may have had as a result of any less-than-diplomatic posts. Even though this tragic event happened, you are still the same knowledgeable, compassionate, responsible person you've always been.
Now Max, my dachshund of eight years, has become obsessed with the smaller pullets, which are kept in the coop. I have owned dachshunds for much of my adult life. All but one have been kind and gentle and shown restraint at my command when critters have gotten loose (guinea pigs, rats, mice, parakeets, finches). There was one who after six months could not stop barking at the birds and climbing the furniture trying to reach the cages - he was clearly mentally unsound and when he bit a child, completely unprovoked, I put him to sleep. Most dogs are not this insanely agitated and aggressive and don't need to be put down.
The first time a pullet got out of the coop, I found Max standing over the wings and claws but didn't know if he had commandeered the body from a cat or a band of killer chickens (I've heard full-grown chickens can kill small ones). I couldn't say for sure who had killed it. When I found Max over the second body, which was still warm and missing only the head, I knew for sure he was the culprit.
Both times I was responsible for leaving the coop lid open. The first time, I thought the pullets were way too small to worry about one flying over the 3-1/2-foot fence (or flying at all, for that matter). The second time it was a hot day and I opened the lid for air circulation, figuring that since I'd clipped everyone's wings there was no need to worry.
Now the coop lid is NEVER left open. My Plan B for Max is that if he kills again (and I'm on guard to spare him the temptation), my 21-year-old daughter will take him into her home.
The big chickens (all heavy breeds) seem to be too big to interest Max. I have never had to rush out to intervene between Max, or Leroy my 4-year-old dachsie, or Pip my 9-month old chihuahua/toy fox terrier or her two siblings whom I foster, and my big chickens. My dogs like the cracked corn and there is sometimes a chicken-dog competition for corn with a pecking/snapping skirmish, but no harm done. It's just the sight of fast-moving little critters that get Max's hunting juices flowing.
Some of my happiest moments lately are when I'm tossing out scratch to my girls and my yard is full; ten hens, five dogs, and two cats all peacefully roaming the backyard on a lovely day.
I've had to forgive Max and forgive myself and move forward with the new information about my sweet boy's nature. You'll figure out how to cope with the new information by blocking access, rearranging cage placement (we always had to hang birdcages from the ceiling because of the cats, and the guinea pigs were always up high because even cool old Dino found those little guys irresistible). I feel that letting go of a family member (a pet) may be unnecessary for some people, and even if Max does kill again, I'm not sure I'd be willing to go back on the commitment I made when I took him into my home all those years ago.
All the best to you, Waibel Zoo. I hope you keep posting about tragedy, because you gave me a chance to talk about my recent problems by doing so.
I did hear that one post the same way you did (
I hope you noticed all the supportive posts you received and felt the love there.
