CatieB Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) My first chicken has died. I know you shouldn't have a favourite but Missie was and I think I may have contibuted so need to learn from this, my 6 year old son is devastated:( Last night we got home at dusk and it was odd that only two girls were together. All three are normally together. We searched unsuccessfully for Missie. When I then went out a few minutes later to collect the eggs and lock up I found Missie in the nesting box of the Cube. I assumed she had gone to bed there which they do occassionally so I pushed her in the main area. This morning when DS went to let them out he came in and said mummy missie looks like a chicken in in the oven?? (I have to add this as its the only cute thing that makes me feel a little better) I went out to find that she was injured on her back area, near her tail with feathers missing about the size of my hand. There was also a small wound with some blood on it but nothing major. She obviously wasnt right but was eating and the other girls, as I watched, let her eat etc. As I was on the way to work I took the decision to leave them locked in the cube run today so that if something had got her they would be safe. I'm sure I can hear you all shouting that I've been such a fool. I came home to find her dead in the run with that area of her missing. I assume eaten by the two other girls??? What would the right thing have been to do? I feel such an idiot as the pressures of life took priority and I clearly made a series of duff decisions. For future reference how should I treat a wound. Any suggestions as to likely cause, would they just start to pick on one or did it only happen as she was injured by something. We got them altogether and if anything she was the dominant one. So more likely she was attacked by something. Surely if it was a fox it would of been more successful as nothing to disturb it here. My fear is that my new, very lively spritely kitten Inca has done it as she has just started going out and is getting more adventurous. My other 3 cats seem to ignore the girls. I now have a funeral to plan so that my son can say goodbye. editted as I spelt things wrong including her name...sorry Missie Edited January 14, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sageandonion Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I have no advice to give as we've only had our girls since the weekend, but just wanted to say I'm very sorry about Missie and hugs for your little boy. Our kids are already attached to our hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 How absolutely horrible for you! It's probably no comfort but I don't think I'd have done anything different from you. Hindsight is always a good thing. Perhaps Missie was attacked somehow by something yesterday - cat or perhaps even a rat. I have read that if a chicken has blood on her then the others will go for her. That is what might then have happened today, but of course one can't be certain. As I say, I really don't think I'd have thought of that at the time, if I had been in your place. Perhaps some more experienced Omleteers will know more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 Thanks for the posts. We do have lots of rats around here at the moment (we live on the river and the suger beet has been harvested taking away their food source) but the girls were free ranging yesterday. Does anyone know if a rat can get a free chicken?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 She may have been ill and the others could sense this and pecked her because she was weak and injured her. Hopefully she died peacefully and the others just acted as chickens do once she had died. I Had a very young pekin die last year and when i found her, her sister was standing on her body Very sorry for you and your son Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I'm very sorry to hear about Missie. It's very upsetting for you all, but don't blame yourself. I'm afraid that chickens will go for blood, so the best thing to if such a situation arises again (which hopefully it won't) is to separate the injured bird from the others, clean the wound and apply veterinary wound powder/similar - or take the bird to the vet if necessary - and keep her separate until the wound has healed if you can. Purple spray is good too. As to how Missie got the original injury, are there any signs of a predator having tunnelled into the run? It is unlikely that the other hens would have attacked her for no apparent reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I would have done the same - lets face it in this day and age if you take time off work for your kids you get agro so for a pet - well. I would probably tried getting to vets but as so many vets are not that in the know re chucks it prob would have been a pointless exercise. So sorry - and for your little man too - kids do forget quickly and he will remember the nice bits re having Missie. Love Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Such a shame. You weren't to know how things would turn out. For future reference, it might be best to separate any hen that you suspect is ill, until you can assess it fully, and if necessary have it seen by a vet. In answer to your question about treating wounds. Veterinary Wound Powder is useful, available at most pet shops, and Gentian violet (Purple) spray. Available online and at equestrian shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Don't feel bad, hindsight is a wonderful thing but not available to us when we're making decisions. As Ali has said, 'I'm not coming in, the chicken is sick' isn't going to go down well with most bosses, and we have to live in a real world where work and pressures of life come first. I would probably have done the same in your circumstances, you waited to see if the others were pecking her and they weren't, so you did what you had to do. I reckon the original injury could have been something else - fox, or maybe just s"Ooops, word censored!"ing under a bit of fence or bush or something. It probably is likely that the other hens, once they saw blood, went for it because they can't help themselves. It's worth getting some wound powder just in case of anything future, and if you don't have one I'd invest in a cheap cat-basket or even keep a large cardboard box stored somewhere, so you have somewhere to put a sick chicken if need be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I can't really add anything but wanted to say how sorry I am that you've lost Missie. Try not to be too hard on yourself, these things happen. *hugs* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteGermanShepherd Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I'm so sorry to hear about Missie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 So sorry to hear this sad news. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grageomat Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 poor missie i am sorry to hear this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 That is sad, I'm so sorry . Don't blame yourself, I'm sure all of us would have done the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Nothing to add but so sorry to hear your sad news. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calamity Jane Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 What a horrid thing to happen, so sorry. I haven't had my three that long so don't know how I would have acted. Don't beat yourself up about it, I'm sure Missie had a lovely life with you. jane x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
