CWitty
In the Brooder
- Apr 20, 2015
- 11
- 0
- 24
Hi backyard friends... I am so heartbroken and really in shock. We've had a rough couple of weeks with our pet-family members, I guess I can say. I've had my four Buff Orps since day 1 and they are now about 7 months. Our amazingly gentle sweet collie loved them and would never think of messing with them. We took our dog to the beach over Labor Day, and as we were out to dinner he got out during a storm and was hit and killed. My kids and I were so sad with the sudden loss, we jumped too quickly and got a puppy. She has been very good, really quick to learn and the only problem has been her puppy biting/nipping that she seems to be getting better with. Yesterday, while we were out, she was in the backyard with the hens. My husband came home yesterday to find the puppy (now 14 weeks old) pinning one of the chickens. We've seen her chase and pin them, but never anything more. As my husband walked over, he saw a horrific scene. My hen had half of her side gone, the wing muscle destroyed and the wing bone totally exposed. OMG... I can't believe this happened... He took our 5 year old out to dinner so she wouldn't know what happened or see me upset. I was left with my favorite hen, petting her, telling her how very sorry I was, while feeding her meal worms. My other girls were around me sensing what happened and probably traumatized by witnessing it all. I held her and cried and cried.... And just telling her sorry over and over. My brother in law came over with a pellet gun, and finally (and very quickly) she was gone. I don't know what to do. These are my pets. They each have a name and a personality, and the loss is very difficult... especially the circumstances. My puppy is my pet too and a member of our family. Then part of me wonders what if I could have saved her? I've read since it happened people keeping the wound clean and the hen making a full recovery. Obviously what's done is done and I can't go back. I'm left with so many questions... What came over my dog?? Why would my hen literally sit there letting the dog eat her?? Could I have saved her?? UGH.... Did I do the right thing??