HELP aggressive chicken

[Julia W]

Yesterday I had to say goodbye to Gertie. She was a little devil really but I did love her. She had spent the last few days sitting in the nesting box, head bowed and wouldn't eat or drink. I took her out and put her in the run to try and encourage her to eat some tit-bits I'd just put in there but immediately two of my other girls ran over and just pecked at her and she ran and took cover. I put her back and tried again later but the same thing happened. Now I'm afraid I can't do the deed myself so we called on a friend of ours who was used to all this and he did it quickly and humanely. (Had it not been Saturday afternoon I would have taken her to the vet but to make her wait until Monday seemed so cruel). Nevertheless, it was horrible to say goodbye to her. As I said she was quite a character and so bold. I was digging in the run a while ago trying to level the ground where they'd dug their various dust baths, you get he idea, and she was on the end of my spade with every dig trying to catch the big juicy worms I'd unearthed, I had to be very careful I didn't actually hurt her with the spaded, she was that close, hence I didn't do a very good job. She was a little devil too because when I went in to collect the eggs each morning she would stand behind me and peck at my leg. I learnt to keep moving all the time so she couldn't do it as it could be quite painful. I shall miss you Gertie my sweet girl.

[zakjon-98]

Sorry to hear this RIP Gertie

[Lavenders_Blue]

Very sorry to hear about Gertie, it sounds like she was quite a character.

[Julia W]

Thank you so much. I still feel sad for her but I'm sure my other girls will help me feel better very soon. It's never easy losing a pet but the rewards we get from having them certainly make it all worth while

[HennyPenny59]

Rest in Peace little Gertie xx

[Julia W]

Thank you. It's never easy lsoing a pet and I know a lot of people (those who don't keep chickens) would say 'oh, it's only a chicken' but they should realise how hard it is to lose any pet as they become members of the family. It's nice to be amongst people who care for living creatures whatever they may be. I know she was 'only a chicken' but she was my chicken.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Makes you cross doesn't it - so called 'friends' (mostly male) always ask if I eat the hens when they die. It's done to wind me up as they know I am vegetarian. I get less and less tolerant of the 'do you eat them' question, especially as each person always thinks they are the first to ask it, and I have to say my reply gets less polite each time I am asked. It wasn't funny the first time I heard it and it's certainly not funny for the 50th time

[Mrs_B]

So sorry to hear about Gertie

 

I lost one of my girls recently, so I sympathise with how it feels to lose a pet. A chicken certainly isn't just a chicken. Some people are unfortunately ignorant. I have had a member of my family tell my OH why I had my hen cremated when I could have done the job myself by using our oven and cooking her. I mean, really?! You wonder why people (friends/family mostly!) don't stop and think what they're saying.

 

Keep your chin up - hugs! x

[Julia W]

Hi Lavendar Blue and Mrs B,

 

Thank you both for your comments.

 

I've had a few of those comments about eating my chickens and you're right, it's not funny the first time nor the 50th time.

 

Some years ago I had to take a chicken to the vet because I thought there was something wrong and people just laughed at me as if it was ludicrous to take a chicken to the vet. As it turned out she had an egg stuck, she wasn't egg bound I don't think but the vet was able to get it out and she was fine, now had I left her who knows what might have happened, I just wasn't prepared to risk it. Now, I keep quiet obout my chickens rather than be ridiculed. I put it down to their ignorance. I used to breed guinea pigs and the same sort of thing would happen, I was forever being told that guinea pigs were a delicacy in some country. I learnt then not to say too much. Only my family know that Gertie has gone and fortunately they were fairly sympathetic, they know what my girls mean to me.

 

Once again, thank you to you all for your kind thoughts and comments.

[WitchHazel]

so sorry to hear about Gertie.

[mollyripkim]

So sorry to hear about Gertie, she sounded such a lovely character. Totally empathise with what everyone has said, they are not just a chicken but a much loved part of the family. I had a rubbish day today but it cheered me up no end to spend an hour with them, just pottering around tidying up their run. Non chicken people just do not understand what lovely little personalities they are and I'm sure you will miss her.

Sending hugs.

[Julia W]

Thanks WitchHazel and Mollyripkim,

 

I agree about when you have a rubbish day, a little time spent with my girls really helps. They're so funny sometimes and they make me laugh. I bet if you gave a couple of chickens to someone who really didn't want them and thought they were a waste of time and set them up with a run and a coop for say a couple of months, they wouldn't want to give them back. People just don't know what they're missing.

[Lavenders_Blue]

People just don't know what they're missing.

 

I agree, they all have their own little personalities (or in some cases quite big personalities!) and I shed tears for each and every one that passes. They really are charming little animals and so much more than 'just a hen'.