Went to put my 4 chickens up for the night, they had pretty much put themselves to bed already, so I raked half the coop and put in their night water, a small metallic bowl that I have put in there every night since they started in that coop. Since they're basically on top of where I would normally put it, I put it in its old spot by the door. "They're basically sleeping, they won't even drink it until morning."
I go inside and can't find a cat, and I go back out to whistle for her. I don't know if my appearance from the house, the whistle, or it was just timing, but I hear my birds start up like they're under attack. I'm hearing clawing at the door panic. As I rush in, I'm looking for broken mesh, somewhere a dog or racoons broke in, and I fling the top up to see 3 chickens basically stomping the 4th, laying right in front of the door, her head in the water bowl. At the angle it was at, there wasn't even much water left.
I immediate push past them to pull her up, she's still warm, eyes are closed, and not knowing what else to do, I try to give her CPR. Eventually I run her inside for help, to get someone else to web search while I continue efforts and her eyes pop open for a brief second. I move to the bathroom sink to try any, but all I think I did was push (a lot) of water and feed out of her crop. Tasted gross.
I put their big water in there so they have something, and I'm afraid they'll drown in that.
I can't tell if this was murder, suicide, or they're just jerks going after a bug that wanted the water.
Harrowing experience, and now I know I need to know chicken CPR.
Helpful advice welcome.
If your goal is to make me feel bad, just don't. Trust me, I feel bad enough.
I go inside and can't find a cat, and I go back out to whistle for her. I don't know if my appearance from the house, the whistle, or it was just timing, but I hear my birds start up like they're under attack. I'm hearing clawing at the door panic. As I rush in, I'm looking for broken mesh, somewhere a dog or racoons broke in, and I fling the top up to see 3 chickens basically stomping the 4th, laying right in front of the door, her head in the water bowl. At the angle it was at, there wasn't even much water left.
I immediate push past them to pull her up, she's still warm, eyes are closed, and not knowing what else to do, I try to give her CPR. Eventually I run her inside for help, to get someone else to web search while I continue efforts and her eyes pop open for a brief second. I move to the bathroom sink to try any, but all I think I did was push (a lot) of water and feed out of her crop. Tasted gross.
I put their big water in there so they have something, and I'm afraid they'll drown in that.
I can't tell if this was murder, suicide, or they're just jerks going after a bug that wanted the water.
Harrowing experience, and now I know I need to know chicken CPR.
Helpful advice welcome.
If your goal is to make me feel bad, just don't. Trust me, I feel bad enough.
