Guest Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 following on from something claret and craftyhoneypie have said.... my mum said something this evening which upset me, although I'm sure it was unintentional! Little Lottie (Shalott) has been ill for about a week or so with suspected peritonitis. She went to the vets last week to have a soft egg removed, has been on baytril for a week but although she's improved considerably, she's still poorly. Ian took her back today and I was fearing the worst so made him take some sultanas with him and told him to cuddle her and give her some sultanasa and make sure if the deed had to be done, that it was as painless as possible! Luckily the vet is hopeful and has given us more baytril and she's to go back for another check up next week. Anyway, I couldn't go with ian as I had to take mum to the hospital to see dad. I was telling her the tale in the car and got to the bit about the possibility of her being put to sleep etc and mum said "don't they just wring their necks?"!!!!!! Mum's always had cats, can you imagine if I'd said that to her about her cat! I know she wasn't being mean she is just another person who doesn't see chickens as 'pets', despite the fact she's seen our girls and knows how much I love them. Someone should write a book of witty chicken retorts so we've always got a smart answer to hand when people say these things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 thanks Laura I think the vet is rather taken with her now too as the last visit plus baytril was £21, this time it was £4.87! Ian said to the receptionist "are you sure that's right as we've got medication too?" and she said it was definitely correct! I think they've got a soft spot for her because she's an ex batt (as well as being a little cutie ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I totally understand how you feel, Poet. One of my Silkies, Squib, has been broody twice in the last few weeks and has had to have spells in the broody cage. OH was telling his Mum this and she suggested getting some eggs to hatch. OH knows I wouldn't consider this as I wouldn't be able to keep or "dispose" of any cockrels. MIL said she could quite happily do the deed and eat the boys! I know I'm a soft veggie, but I couldn't allow that to happen to Squib's "babies". No hope for me, is there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I've had insensitive comments from my mother (that won't surprise some of you ) along the lines of "when are they going in the pot?" and also about our adorable new hamster being a lovely snack for our dog Riley . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 In my experience a lot of the comments like that that I have had seem to be a generation thing. People of my fathers & in laws age seem to think its the norm to dispatch a hen in this way, & they would wouldn't they really, as that is how it was when they were brought up? In fact many of them cannot see why I consider my hens pets rather than practical animals to keep us in eggs. I just shrug it off & am content in the knowledge that the next generation, my childrens generation, will think about this & many other things in an entirely different way,thanks to us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 When I took one of our girls to the vets in a cat carrier a woman was asking what was in the box, when I told her she burst out laughing and said she leaves her sick hens out for the fox I guess it takes all sorts Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 All of my family had chickens in the garden during the war - then it was a case of keeping them for eggs and then killing them for meat, so I am sure it is just a generartion and 'utility bird' thing and not seeing them as pets. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I know where you're coming from. When Lulu died, members of my husband's family said "Did you eat her?". Bizarre. I have constant jibes when they come round about 'going in the pot' if they stop laying. They think it's funny. I just ask them if they'd consider eating their pets when they've passed away; they all seem to think of chooks as functional farmyard animals. I think everyone thinks I'm a bit mad how much I dote on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 When I took one of our girls to the vets in a cat carrier a woman was asking what was in the box, when I told her she burst out laughing and said she leaves her sick hens out for the fox I guess it takes all sorts Karen x how cruel!!!! Wonder what she was actually doing at the vets and whatever pet she had with her, would she leave it out for the foxes I wonder!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 When I took one of our girls to the vets in a cat carrier a woman was asking what was in the box, when I told her she burst out laughing and said she leaves her sick hens out for the fox That's awful! She needs reporting! Imagine the stress on the poor hen even when its ill! And the mess? That has really shocked me. We have killed 2 of our cocks and eaten them but we did it in the most humane way that was not distressing for the bird. We also had a chicken expert on hand too. Sorry, I dont see my hens as pets but wouldnt purposefully be cruel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 That's awful! She needs reporting! Imagine the stress on the poor hen even when its ill! And the mess? That has really shocked me..... Sorry, I dont see my hens as pets but wouldnt purposefully be cruel. well said, hope I never encounter anyone so heartless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 H'mmm. I do think that I'm pretty fond of mine, but it's about me rather than them.... I couldn't eat one of mine, but eat others - so long as its" no-one we know" and free-range/organic. I'm sure for lots of people seeing chickens as pets is odd, particularly when I still eat chicken. I'm staggered that anyone woud suggest eating any animal that's died from an illness: this is incredibly likely to make you very ill. I don't think there's any culture in the world that does this! Old animals, or animals killed in an accident, sure, but not one thats died through illness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 When I took one of our girls to the vets in a cat carrier a woman was asking what was in the box, when I told her she burst out laughing and said she leaves her sick hens out for the fox I guess it takes all sorts Karen x Don't the Inuit people do that with their elderly, sick relatives? Leave them out for the polar bears that is, not the fox? Or was that in the past? Maybe I've been watching too many films................... Apologies to any local Eskimos - no offence intended. I had people laugh at me too when I took one of my girls to the vets. No creature should be allowed to suffer regardless of what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 OH's family think I'm some hardened country girl (OK so I'm from the countryside but why they think that makes me immune to feelings towards animals I don't know ) and asked me what I would do with the chickens when they stop laying. I think they were surprised when I said I would keep them, they expected me to say I would just kill them and get some more. They also asked if I could ever kill one to eat. I usually come out with a joke response but I replied that if I had bought and raised them for the purpose of eating - and had the right training in how to dispatch them properly - then yes, I could probably kill one and eat it. Not sure whether this met with approval or not - don't much care either way! I think the questioning stems from a couple of years ago when I killed our pet hamster. It was in severe pain, half of it was paralysed and it would have (IMO) been far too cruel to leave it overnight and then take it to the vet if it was still alive in the morning. I hated doing it and it really upset me but the number of comments and questions I got that made me out to be a heartless, evil owner upset me more. I spent a good few weeks having to justify my actions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 oh lorna, you did an incredibly brave thing IMO. You couldn't have left the poor little thing to suffer for so long and it's unlikely the vet would have been able to do anything anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Thanks Poet. Although it was awful, I would do the same again (although pray I don't have to) so I know in my own mind that I did the right thing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Don't the Inuit people do that with their elderly, sick relatives? Leave them out for the polar bears that is, not the fox? Or was that in the past? Maybe I've been watching too many films................... Apologies to any local Eskimos - no offence intended. HAHAHAHAHA! Thats hilarious! 'You can sleep out here tonight Granny!' It is actually quite awful if its true! I also love the fact that you apologised to 'local' eskimos? Where do you live exactly??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Don't the Inuit people do that with their elderly, sick relatives? Leave them out for the polar bears that is, not the fox? Or was that in the past? Maybe I've been watching too many films................... Apologies to any local Eskimos - no offence intended. HAHAHAHAHA! Thats hilarious! 'You can sleep out here tonight Granny!' It is actually quite awful if its true! I also love the fact that you apologised to 'local' eskimos? Where do you live exactly??? I'm sure they did Mrs A - I have a book, granted it's an old book, on the Inuit people called "Season of the Eskimo" and it's in that. I've even got a photo of a wee huddled figure sitting out in the wilderness just waiting. I live in Norfolk - there are so many nationalities living around us nowadays it wouldn't surprise me if there was an odd Eskimo or two. (no emphasis on odd intended) !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Sorry to hear about your hamster Lorna You did the only thing you could in the circumstances to stop the poor little one suffering! My daughters hamster, Twiglet, was in the same state - we believe he fell in his cage and was paralysed from the waist down. Luckily it was on a Saturday morning so we went to the vet, Twiglet was given antibiotics and pain killers but the vet told me on the quiet that he did not hold out much hope however anything was possible. The vet said that hamsters are very fragile and can often hurt themselves by falling in their cages. My daughter had to go out as she had a school sports match and she didn't want to let the team down at the last minute. I was left on Twiglet watch. Twiggy held on until my DD got home at 5.50pm and died peacefully in her arms 5 mins later. this was my DDs first pet and she was heartbroken. Twiglet laid in state for 24 hours wrapped in a pink towel in a shoe box with his favourite toy by my DDs bed and then we persuaded her to bury him in the garden. He was only 10 months old but my DD had him out of his cage with her from the moment she got home from school, he would sleep in her pocket while she did her homework and sit on her lap while she watched telly - they were a funny pair! He even had a little lead to explore the garden with her on warm days and he came to visit our hairdresser once(at their request). He left us with many memories that make me smile Since then the children have had two rats, not as fragile as hamster and fabulous pets. For those of you who said 'YUK!' it did take me a while to get used to their tails but they were lovely little characters and very clever. Cocoa (again my daughters' rat) developed a cancererous tumour, which they are apparently prone to. Cocoa herself cost £6.50 - her operation and after care was £150 and many people said we were mad to pay for this but my DD at least got 4 more months before Cocoa left us followed a few months later by my DSs rat Marmite. Both now reside beneath my pink azalea bush again leaving us with many happy memories. I would definitely take an ill animal to a vets if at all possible. I have taken at least two wild birds I found apparently injured to the vets and successfully released both. The only animal I find hard to have sympathy for are 'slugs!!' I hope that does not make me a bad person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 People in the waiting room at the vets made little mutterings when we took Baby. . Somebody in our vet's waiting room annoyed my husband on Monday. He took Ella in because she has sterile peronitis and some idiot pipped up and said "oh gawd, I would eat that hen for me dinner.....mmm". hubby said he just gave him a dirty look - how would he like it if hubby turned around and said "I'd eat your cat?"! Ella does cause quite a commotion at the vets though (dont think they see many chooks), he took some raisins and some children were feeding her in the waiting room, OH said she was like the queen when she came out the consultation room - with her head held high in the air staring at everyone down through her beak! Poet your bill was cheap! on Monday we paid £43 pounds, £28 pounds of that was 14 days worth of baytril Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm sure they did Mrs A - I have a book, granted it's an old book, on the Inuit people called "Season of the Eskimo" and it's in that. I've even got a photo of a wee huddled figure sitting out in the wilderness just waiting. I live in Norfolk - there are so many nationalities living around us nowadays it wouldn't surprise me if there was an odd Eskimo or two. (no emphasis on odd intended) !! Okay you are painting a pretty bleak picture now. I feel sort of guilty for laughing. That is very random though! Wish there were more polar bears at 9.30am when all the old bugars are making my bus late for work! Damn free bus pass! But i digress... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Do you think it's the size of a chicken as well as the "farmyard" rather than "pet" perception that makes people think like that ? "Ooops, word censored!"ody bats an eyelid when a sheep or pig or cow has a vet treating it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I'm sure they did Mrs A - I have a book, granted it's an old book, on the Inuit people called "Season of the Eskimo" and it's in that. I've even got a photo of a wee huddled figure sitting out in the wilderness just waiting. I live in Norfolk - there are so many nationalities living around us nowadays it wouldn't surprise me if there was an odd Eskimo or two. (no emphasis on odd intended) !! Okay you are painting a pretty bleak picture now. I feel sort of guilty for laughing. That is very random though! Wish there were more polar bears at 9.30am when all the old bugars are making my bus late for work! Damn free bus pass! But i digress... I've heard of this too, but it was my understanding that they fall asleep and die of hypothermia, rather than get eaten by polar bears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Many years ago when I first took Pong to the vet, it was the actual vet who tool one look and said "it's a chicken, why on earth are you bothering?". I looked her straight in the eye and replied "If I'd bought one of my cats in here I don't think you would have said that would you?!" I promptly left to find another vet. She later tried to charge me for a consultation fee - I told her to sing for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Many years ago when I first took Pong to the vet, it was the actual vet who tool one look and said "it's a chicken, why on earth are you bothering?". I looked her straight in the eye and replied "If I'd bought one of my cats in here I don't think you would have said that would you?!" I promptly left to find another vet. She later tried to charge me for a consultation fee - I told her to sing for it! good for you! (awful response from a vet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
