Single hen

[FlyingRamses]

One of my new Bantams escaped from her run into the big hens run and they attacked her horribly whilst we were at work.

 

My step daughter found her cowering in the big girls egg laying area all the skin had been pecked off the back of her head and neck and her skull was showing.

 

She was brought inside immediately and was happily having hugs, eating grapes, drinking and eating food but must have been in pain. I took her to the vet and he recommended she be put down.

 

We are absolutely devastated, she was such a cutie with a little quiff or a hairdoo!! I just need to share this as it is making me rediculously miserable, I hate to think of her suffering.

 

I know this is just how nature works but I just wish it had not happened, it makes me think I just shouldn't have hens.

 

Thanks if you have read this!

[Falkor]

I am so sorry for your loss. I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you shouldn`t have hens, I felt the same way yesterday after finding Stella dead in the Eglu.

 

You did your best for her and took sought advice from the vet which is exactly what we all would of done.

 

Sleep well little banty.

 

Hugs x

[dancing cloud]

So sorry to hear about your little bantie and very sorry for your step-daughter to have found her like that

 

You really mustn't blame yourself though, you did everything you could - sometimes nature does seem very cruel.

 

Lots of ((hugs)) to you all.

[Karen & co.]

I'm so sorry to hear about your little one

 

Karen x

[quickcluck]

That's absolutely dreadful for you!!!! I can't imagine how horrid it must have been......

 

It seems we are all suffering a bit with the bullying and questioning ourselves at the moment...

 

Thankfully the folks on here keep us going.....

[Chickvic]

Sorry to hear about your bantam (((hugs)))

[Cooks]

so sorry

[Cinnamon]

I too am very sorry to hear this.

 

Sadly chickens have a pack mentality sometimes, & when something even as small as a

Bantam threatens them they will do something horrid like this. Not your fault at all

 

I would never try to mix Bantams with big hens as I know how tiny & vunerable mine are compared to my big girls.Accidents do happen though, & I am so sorry it has happened to you.

[Willow]

How awful for you and SD but you did everything you could.

[Groovychook]

Oh poor you... what a horrendous thing to happen.

 

Thinking of you. xx

[Redwing]

I am very sorry

[kayandrob]

Awww I'm so sorry this has happened and I would feel the same too but you can't blame yourself and you def deserve to own chickens, big hugs xxxx

[WitchHazel]

Sorry to hear about your poor little bantie.

[kathyschix]

So sorry for your loss.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

So sorry to hear this . Don't blame yourself .

[Egluntyne]

Sad news.

[mostin]

So sorry to hear that, nature is very cruel at times. Don't give up on your girls, the good times will out-weigh the bad.

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear your sad news

 

Chrissie

[FlyingRamses]

Thanks all for your kind comments and thoughts, it is appreciated. Have been feeling pretty miserable all day and office colleagues spent the day telling me that at least I have chicken for dinner and various other wise cracks. Best to laugh along which I did but there was a temptation to just weep!!! I guess unless you have had chickens as pets, you can't possibly understand!

 

I think I made things double worse by taking Poppy one of our first hens to a local farm this morning. We have had constant problems with her pecking and drawing blood on the other hens, as well as stripping their bottom feathers.

 

I need to try and resolve this quickly and she is now living with about 50 other hens of mixed breeds. I just hope she finds somewhere to lay her lovely eggs and sleep at night, I feel really awful now but know it is best for the rest of the gang! Last I saw of her she was wandering away with a little grey bundle of fluff (no idea what breed) following her!

 

Will be trying to gently introduce the other three banties to the other hens in the garden over the coming weekends, will let you know how I get on.

 

Thanks again for all your kind thoughts.

 

Simon

[flowerangelk8x]

so sorry to hear your news.

try not to blame yourself. (((((hugs)))))

[Janty]

Sorry to hear about your girl.

 

Best of luck with the introductions,

 

Jan

[cluckbok]

Oh so sorry how awful for you I think it's horrible when people make jokes when something sad has happened, they just don't understand do they?!

 

I hope your introductions go smoothly.

[sophiex]

nature is a horrible thing somtimes!

but just think that you stopped her from

being in pain and i am sure that she is thankful

for that. i dont think that you should give up with

hens though. they seem to be great company.

be happy she would want you to be! x

[FlyingRamses]

Thanks again all for your kind words.

 

I am really looking forward to getting the girls out in the garden together at the weekend, fully supervised of course!!

 

We will go to the farm in Kent to try and see Poppy although it will be difficult as there are about 100 there and several just like her!! still miss her a lot but at least the other girls are not being relentlessly pecked!!

 

I keep wondering if I could have helped the little bantie to recover but as far as I can see from my research, she would have been in bad shape with such a chunk of skin missing. I hope my mind will stop its relentless 'what ifs' soon!!

 

Will keep posting on here as things develop and hopefully I end up with one happy flock of girlies!!