tanyag Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 We got our initial four chickens in February and added two more at the end of March. One of the newbies was much younger than she should have been - sold as POL, but obviously (now I know) about 14 weeks. She was always picked on, but seemed to have settled in ok after a couple of weeks. She was eating and drinking ok, but was still small and barely had a line of white ridges on her head let alone any hint of red. We came down this morning and she was very close to dead - looked as though she had been attacked, lying flat out with her legs behind her. The girls are all in an enclosed walk in run, so no chance of fox attack. I can only think that one of the others took a dislike and killed her. My son who is only 7, was really upset. I quickly got dressed and prepared to finish her myself, but by the time I got back to her, her head was under her wing and she had stopped breathing. The other five are big healthy chooks in comparison to her, and they all seem fine today. I even got 5 eggs, so no tears from them. My poor son on the other hand is distressed, as she was his favourite. Just bad luck? or anything I could have done? Thanks Tanya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I'm so sorry to hear that . Your poor son . It doesn't sound like there was much you could have done as you were sold them as POL and couldn't have known differently. I hope he gets over it soon and can enjoy the rest of your girls (it's difficult when they behave horribly like that though ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 I'm so sorry to hear this, and hope your son has got over the upset. I don't think there was anything you could have done - usually there's some warning if a hen is being badly bullied rather than just bottom of the pecking order, but once they draw blood it can spur them on to peck even more. it can happen quite quickly. It's not likely to happen again, if your other five are settled together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 If she was small she could have had a hidden health problem and died of natural causes. So sorry, big hugs for your son. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanyag Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 thanks everyone, another experience chalked up in chicken keeping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Sorry for your loss x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Sorry for your loss It's always horrid to lose one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
