What provisions have you made for your flock in the event of your death?

[CluckyCharms]

I will probably get a lot of flack for this but you asked:

"Has anyone given any thought to, and provided for, what should be done with your flock if you are badly injured and can't come home to tend to them, or what should be done with them should you die?"

I have made it very clear to my husband and our friends already that if I were to meet an untimely demise I would want our chickens to be butchered and enjoyed as a meal...no ifs ands or buts about it. My flock=my responsibility and if I'm not here to see 100% to their well being then they need to be dinner. Hubby's not into chickens at all...just the eggs and I would never expect him to keep up with them if I were gone; that is unfair and wrong.

My husband and I are the same way about our dogs - whom we love dearly. We have a notarized statement saying they are to be humanely euthanized by their own veterinarian if we should perish. No ifs ands or buts.

We believe if you have a pet or livestock of any sort those are your responsibility and nobody elses. Besides, I would never want my animals anywhere that I wasn't personally being made aware of their treatment; no way.

 

[cary 1973]

I have one life ins policy for my animals and who takes them for there food and health expense if anything where to happen to my while my parents are still alive they will take on the responiblity along with my teenage daughter all my pets are part of all our family. if my mother and fater are gone everything of mine goes to her and if she is under 18 there person I am leaving her too also loves animals and enjoys coming here to hang out so I feel comfertable that my babie swill be taken good care of till there time to join me. (

this does not have to take effect anytime soon)

 

[azygous]

I appreciate hearing how you all plan to handle this situation. I agree that butchering the chickens would be far preferable to turning them loose to fend for themselves in the forest. Or even taking a chance on having them go to some farm where they might be mistreated or not properly cared for.

A very tiny voice is already warning me that humane butchering may be the fate of my chickens. I could make arrangements for them to be crated up and driven to the game and meat butcher who would do it properly.

If it comes to that, after I have exhausted other possibilities, that is what I will do. After all, I'll be dead, too.

 

[Smoochie]

I appreciate hearing how you all plan to handle this situation. I agree that butchering the chickens would be far preferable to turning them loose to fend for themselves in the forest. Or even taking a chance on having them go to some farm where they might be mistreated or not properly cared for. 

A very tiny voice is already warning me that humane butchering may be the fate of my chickens. I could make arrangements for them to be crated up and driven to the game and meat butcher who would do it properly
If it comes to that, after I have exhausted other possibilities, that is what I will do. After all, I'll be dead, too.

I wouldn't go this route.... Sounds like you love your chickens and that shouldn't be the option you are satisfied with. You need to get our there and network for those chickens and put out the effort to find someone to help you out. If you lived near me I would guarantee your chickens lived out the rest of there lives spoiled. How far do you live from the west coast of Canada??

 

[azygous]

Thanks, Smoochie. You're right. Having the flock butchered wouldn't be me. Bless you for saying you'd be willing to adopt my flock when I die. But I live way down in the southern, far, low end of the Rockies from you. Practically a whole country away!

Yes, the idea of doing some leg work now, while I can still walk and talk and think, is what I need to do. I sent this thread to a couple close friends who are the hubs if social activity. They're going to put out feelers. And I'll be talking to the local feed stores and getting names of chicken owners in the area if I can. Maybe start to make some new friends and visit them for the future well-being of my flock.

And yes, I love these little guys. They're more than just chickens to me. Each has their own personality and emotional needs. You wouldn't believe the lengths I go to to assure their well-being.

 

[Smoochie]

I wouldn't have recommended it if I haven't just started networking myself in the local chicken community. I have met two lovely ladies that we keep in touch over the phone regularly. We have long chats about what to do with our extra roosters and what were going to hatch in the spring and I am so glad I put myself out there now. I met them a several hours away at a local poultry club sanctioned show.

You are dong a great thing by planning ahead just in case the unforeseen happens. That's too bad you live so far away.. Washington.. California.. I would have driven down there, gotten the vet health certificates and brought them home with me in a heartbeat.

 

[fishnet1971]

It's kinda funny to have started this post as I have thought about this same exact question the last few months. I have discussed this with my Mom who likes the girls and 'Bird and had chickens when us kids were growing up. My DH is not 'fond' of my girls and I know he would not care for them should I pass. She has agreed to take them over should anything happen to me. I was really concerned with this for almost a year until I had the guts to ask her about it feeling that she would think I was being stupid to wonder about something like that.

I had that same concern with my cat that I had for almost 21 years. She passed away 2 years ago and it broke my heart. I had her creamated so that I may have her with me always. When I pass she will be at my side as well.

 

[canesisters]

Years ago I was part of a rescue squad who did a lot of work on a busy highway. It wasn't a common topic of conversation, but they did encourage new members to consider that the work we did could be quite dangerous and to consider these sorts of things.

I made it known to my family that my old horses were to be put down. I'm the only one in the family interested in them or with any knowledge of caring for them so it would be kinder to put them down than to let them fall into accidental neglect from well meaning but un-knowledgeable family. My cats and dogs - who were considered 'children' throughout the family would be taken by family members.

One of the old horses is still with me, dogs and cats have come and gone but that plan still stands. There are 2 families at church who have chickens as pets and one family who raises them for eggs/meat. They have all agreed to place my chickens if something should happen to me. If the pet chicken owners have room, they will take in who they can. Any others will go to the other family who will care for the hens until they stop laying well.
Of course, BYC is new to me since that plan was set up so I might ask to have someone post on here that my little flock is up for adoption if they can be taken as a whole.

 

[fishnet1971]

that is a great idea cane. I like the idea of finding a family on here that would treat my girls as one of their own.

 

[wsmith]

My wife and I talked about this very thing recently. Our plan is this: We raise Dominiques. The national club members would be willing to take the birds, as would some local folks. We are taken care of. It is a good thing to talk about and plan for.