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Completely Gutted

3 replies

CuddyMum · 18/10/2014 12:05

We were looking after my friends terriers. For some reason, one of my girls mustn't have put herself to bed and appeared in the garden when I let everyone out for a wee in the morning. Needlesstosay, they ripped my girl apart. I couldn't pull them off. My own dogs looked on and the other three chickens will have heard for sure. I was so sure everyone was safely locked up in the coop and run especially as we had terriers coming over (my dogs are fine). I'm devastated. My gang are only still young and haven't even started laying yet. I've spoken to my local breeder and we are going to introduce another young pair tomorrow evening. I can only hope the others will not suffer from shock and that this will be a distraction for them. My teenage daughter is so upset and I can only blame myself. Sad

OP posts:
LoveVintage · 18/10/2014 12:16

Sympathies OP. I am looking after my friends chickens this week. They got three last year who hadn't started laying. They have a terrier. Not too long after they got the chickens, the terrier managed in very similar circumstances to get hold of one of them and killed it. They were advised to get another right away which they did. The new three settled in fine together, and get on great.

Don't blame yourself, most dogs and especially terrier would go for chickens given half the chance. Doesn't make it any less distressing to deal with though.

I love looking after my friends "ladies", love the way they come bustling up to me when I go to feed them. And the eggs are amazing. Am trying to persuade dh that we need chooks in our lives.

CuddyMum · 18/10/2014 12:32

Thank you LoveVintage. I'm feeling quite traumatised for my poor girl. What a horrible way to go. I would have been upset had a fox got her but looking after someone else's dogs was my choice so I feel very much to blame. I feel bad that I didn't check everyone was tucked up in their Eglu last night but they always put themselves to bed and of course, my dogs wouldn't have hurt her. It was so violent.

OP posts:
LoveVintage · 18/10/2014 16:37

No wonder you're traumatised, it must have been awful. My friends felt the same. But don't beat yourself up - it happened, but you didn't intend for it to and there's nothing you can do to change what happened. I suppose all you can do is to take any steps you can to ensure it can't happen again, eg put up fencing etc. And enjoy your girliess - wait till they start laying, the eggs are amazing!

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