chick died

[bj taylor]

sorry monty. that's lousy.
i lost ten half grown chickens that i had raised from day old. i was in a hurry to get to mom's & didn't latch the gate. my year old german shepherd pup played with them to death. four survived. i was sick about it. i was angry at myself for such a mistake, and i was angry at her. i didn't punish her or anything (it really wasn't her fault), but i couldn't stand her for a few days. i wouldn't talk or interact w/her. after that, she never looked at those chickens again. in fact when we give the two dogs a bone, she has to keep moving because the chickens try to take her bone away from her. now, the male, he's not as tolerant. when they come to get his bone, he growls at them & they promptly leave.

on a happier note, i'm getting a new chicken tomorrow. she's been living by herself (her flockmates were all killed by coyotes). she's a buff orpington. it sounds like she's a broody hen. i can't wait to bring her home.

 

[MontyJ]

Thanks folks.

So sorry about the dead chicks. It is to be expected sometimes, but to contribute to the demise of one of your animals gives you that twist in your guts and makes you feel even worse. Sorry about your chickies.

That's exactly right. It doesn't bother me that the meatie died. I did all I could for it. It also won't bother me to harvest the meaties. That's their purpose. What bothered me was the accidental nature of it. I mean really? Crushing it under the waterer? How stupid can I be?

I'll shoot a groundhog or rabbit out of the garden in a heartbeat. I won't think twice about it. However, if I see a groundhog in the road, I'll brake for it. There is just no purpose in taking the life.

On a happier note, the latest crop of Cornish X should be on sale at TSC today

 

[Nyboy]

Sorry Monty, what happen to you has happen to a lot of people I remember reading a whole thread on it at BYC.

 

[ducks4you]

So sorry.
We like to think these birds are tough but ALL birds are a little bit fragile. My first birds were parakeets, way back in the 1970's, and I own over 20 chickens now. The little ones sometimes either don't make it, or get hurt and then pass on. One of my hens went broody last year. She hatched out 3 chicks/8 eggs. My dog, "Rose" picked up one in her mouth and injured it. Not badly, but it died shortly afterwards. It doesn't take much. They hardly weigh anything, as chicks, and all birds have hollow bones.