Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Beekissed]

Excellent post! I agree.

 

[fisherlady]

When my dog of 15 yrs began to fail due to heart issues my son came home just to be able to visit her... she had been his faithful playmate throughout his growing up years and he loved her without reserve.... but he never asked me to not take her to the vet on the day we scheduled. He didn't ask for more time though I know he would have given anything to avoid it... I thank God he didn't because it was breaking my heart also... but he understood it was the right thing to do for her.
I like to think that was because I had taught him over the years that an animal's welfare was top priority and as a rule us humans tend to be selfish and avoid the harsh decisions until we can't avoid it anymore or the decision is taken out of our hands.

wlhtx... I don't envy you the decision you are dealing with, I understand his reluctance to let go of his favorite hen! Perhaps as you pass the next few weeks he will begin to understand the reasoning. I understand your dilemma and can't offer much beyond and internet hug and a hope it works out for your and your boy.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I'm dreading this particular cull because these birds have been with me so very long and have laid their hearts out season in and season out. Calm and true every day of their lives..it is never easy to part with old livestock. But..I'm not looking for an easy life at the expense of my good old birds, so it must come. It will be a heart ache, as it has for old and good birds in the past, but it is a part of this thing we call good stewardship and I cannot duck that bullet. I love these birds too much...yes, I said LOVE. Crusty ol' Bee loves her chickens with a deep and abiding affection.

I will not have them suffer.

I agree with you. I didn't think that one chicken I was commenting on was in a situation where it's health is an issue.

 

[Kassaundra]

I agree that ending any (pet or otherwise) animal's suffering is the kind, humane and descent thing to do. I think ending a working animal's life for old age and inability to work isn't a bad thing, it is a good business descision, and makes room for productive animals, can save that specific animal from injury, and predation. I don't euthanize my pets just b/c they are old and may or may not be hurting, I require proof either from my eyes observing the pet or the vet telling me xyz is wrong w/o hope. I would put an older hen that my child was attatched to emotionally (if they just form one attatchment and not feel that way about all the chickens) in the pet category, myself. I would need clear indication that the animal IS in pain or their quality of life was impeded before culling that child's pet. jmho

 

[wlhtx]

No, her health is not currently in serious decline. But my fear is that she is heading that way... I don't want her to suffer either, and I do want my son to learn - what I think - is an important lesson on stewardship. She is his pet, but she is also a chicken... I do not want to force him into watching her be killed if he doesn't want to, but I do want him to understand that she is going to probably die soon (I didn't even realize that chickens could live this long until we were given this flock) and - for now - she can still serve a purpose.

To be honest, when we first got the chickens, we (husband and I) had every intention of just letting her live out a life of retirement on our farm. But I've since changed my opinion on that. I wouldn't want to just be left alone to wither and die, and I don't want her to suffer that fate either. Though my husband grew up on the property we now live on, my son was born and raised in Dallas. As a 4 yr old, I watched him start growing into a kid that wanted to stay inside and play video games all day. That was not play with us, so we moved back to my husband's childhood home where he now spends his days playing outside, fishing, and chasing chickens. I want my kids to be exposed to a more practical life where they learn that they will have to work for things they want - that life isn't just going to hand it to you if you pout or throw a fit. And, in an odd way, getting him to a place where he is okay with us killing this old bird is a part of that lesson...

It's also a step for me. I've never killed anything larger than a spider. While I'm okay with the idea of culling this bird (and in truth believe that it is the right thing to do), it's going to take a major toll on me. But it just comes with the territory of chicken ownership, right?

 

[wlhtx]

In contrary regarding pets, we also have a 11 yr old boxer who is also nearing her end. She has arthritis, hardly any teeth, and is much slower than she used to be. BUT before I agree to put her down, she will have to show me some sort of very obvious indication that she is ready to go. I'm not going to put her down just because she's an old girl. She still gets a major kick out of chasing goats, so as long as she can still enjoy life then she gets to live a life of ease.

 

[Beekissed]

Walking slower than normal is an indication of pain...it indicates possible arthritis in the joints, if it's in an older bird. Difficulty mounting or dismounting from the roost is another. Chickens don't often make sounds of pain like a dog or cat would when in pain, they just move slower, lay down more, show less mobility altogether. Often, waiting for more obvious proof of pain in a chicken can mean that the bird has been hurting all along but it finally got to excruciating...they simply do not cry out, whimper or vocalize pain like other mammals do.

How much pain is too much pain when an animal doesn't count the days of life?...only we do. Each day to an animal is the only day they've lived..they don't remember yesterday and they don't plan for tomorrow. They don't mark passage of time and years lived, they just live for today. If every day is a pain day, then every day they exist is not a good one.

If they live two days of a good life, or 10 years of a good life, it's all the same to an animal as they do not live by calendar or watch. But every day in pain is like a lifetime to them..because every day is the only day they live in. Should they have to be screaming in pain before they get mercy or compassion?

 

[jajeanpierre]

Walking slower than normal is an indication of pain...it indicates possible arthritis in the joints, if it's in an older bird. Difficulty mounting or dismounting from the roost is another. Chickens don't often make sounds of pain like a dog or cat would when in pain, they just move slower, lay down more, show less mobility altogether. Often, waiting for more obvious proof of pain in a chicken can mean that the bird has been hurting all along but it finally got to excruciating...they simply do not cry out, whimper or vocalize pain like other mammals do.

How much pain is too much pain when an animal doesn't count the days of life?...only we do. Each day to an animal is the only day they've lived..they don't remember yesterday and they don't plan for tomorrow. They don't mark passage of time and years lived, they just live for today. If every day is a pain day, then every day they exist is not a good one.

If they live two days of a good life, or 10 years of a good life, it's all the same to an animal as they do not live by calendar or watch. But every day in pain is like a lifetime to them..because every day is the only day they live in. Should they have to be screaming in pain before they get mercy or compassion?

Wait a minute! I walk more slowly and I have trouble doing things and yes, I am in constant pain. That doesn't mean I don't enjoy life. Let's put it in perspective, if you asked the chicken if it wanted to keep puttering around, what would be her answer? Pain is a fact of life, even a very healthy life. Now, if this chicken is fluffed up, not moving around and not eating, well, that's a different story. My understanding is that the chicken was getting around just fine and there was no pressing reason to end her life. Sometimes people are incredibly quick to euthanize animals, yet will prolong the suffering of their dying family members. I've never understood that dichotomy in the same person. Pets and people get old and getting old is uncomfortable. It's part of life. If this chicken is a pet, which I think the little boy thinks it is, then it is not unreasonable to let it live until there are signs it is not well and won't be well. I have parrots, so I understand how they do not make it obvious--unlike husbands!!!--when they are ill, but if you are observant you'll know.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that this particular chicken has never laid an egg, so egg binding is not an issue. Is egg binding an issue with older hens?

 

[ronott1]

Wait a minute!  I walk more slowly and I have trouble doing things and yes, I am in constant pain.  That doesn't mean I don't enjoy life.  Let's put it in perspective, if you asked the chicken if it wanted to keep puttering around, what would be her answer?  Pain is a fact of life, even a very healthy life.  Now, if this chicken is fluffed up,  not moving around and not eating, well, that's a different story.  My understanding is that the chicken was getting around just fine and there was no pressing reason to end her life.  Sometimes people are incredibly quick to euthanize animals, yet will prolong the suffering of their dying family members.  I've never understood that dichotomy in the same person.  Pets and people get old and getting old is uncomfortable.  It's part of life.  If this chicken is a pet, which I think the little boy thinks it is, then it is not unreasonable to let it live until there are signs it is not well and won't be well.  I have parrots, so I understand how they do not make it obvious--unlike husbands!!!--when they are ill, but if you are observant you'll know.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that this particular chicken has never laid an egg, so egg binding is not an issue.  Is egg binding an issue with older hens?

Birds fake health to not look like easy prey to predators. It they look sick they are very sick indeed.

Me, I cry if the floor is too cold...

 

[wlhtx]

No egg binding here. I truly think she just ran out of eggs. Almost 2 yrs (with us) and no eggs (don't know how long she went at her old location without laying), but no health issues other than a runny butt (I think her vent is loose like Bee's girls - it's not gleet) and slow movements. She still jumps up about 3 ft to the roost every night, rooster mounts her, she even has a very healthy looking comb, and is an active forager. I just don't want to "waste" her by letting her decline so much that we wind up not being able to eat her. (The husband is super squeamish about eating anything he suspects is even a tad bit ill, so if she gets sick then she'll go to waste.)

Please don't think I'm going to massacre my kid's pet while he looks on, sobbing. I'm not a masochistic terror of a parent, but in observing my flock I know that her time is coming soon. If my son isn't quite ready for it in 4-5 weeks, maybe we'll just process the roosters - BUT it needs to happen at some point fairly soon.