How valuable is a chicken's life?

[hellsbellsdownunder]

We have 2 pet chickens, Babs and Ginger and have had them for about 18months. Ginger has always been more friendly and tame than Babs. Over the last few weeks Babs has been attacking Ginger very viciously and we have taken advice from a variety of sources about how to sort the problems. We have tried everything and now have come to the end of our tether. Ginger is very traumatised and dh and I have decided that Babs has got to go. We have considered rehoming her but don't think that is likely as she hasn't laid for months and when she does the eggs are really tiny and I think she would be aggressive with any established flock.

So ........let's say I let my neighbour kill her, as he says he is happy to do........ what then do I tell dd (age 13)???

We go on hols for a week starting this weekend - so Babs could 'die of natural causes' whilst we are away. Or is 13 old enough to cope with the truth of a difficult decision.???? (I know I'm a crap mother for not knowing my daughter well enough to answer this)

None of us can bear to see Ginger continue to suffer, but next week when we are away there will be noone monitoring them constantly as we do now to keep them apart.

Any advice MNers????

I know it's probably the cowards way out but I'd let the neighbour do the deed and tell DD that Babs died whilst you were away.

I'd never have forgiven my mum if I thought that she'd let our pet be killed... natural causes would be my choice.

I would be the daft softie who insisted DH built another pen to put Babs in to keep them apart.

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Oops no you won't have time for that before you go away. Errr..

Just wouldn;t be able to lie like that tho, I'm afraid.

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Yup, Frayedknot here too!

Separating them would be a great solution except that we only have one fox-proof roosting box.

We have been improvising with a cardboard box inside the fox-proof run for the second one but it is really hard work catching Babs and getting her into the box overnight and then I get up at first light to let them both out, keeping them apart (or together but monitoring them according to how they are behaving). It would not be fair to expect their mindees to cope with this - they and we - are fed up with the whole saga!

I think you should sit down with your daughter and explain the options tbh. Basically be honest, she is 13, not 3. Ask her opinion as to what you should do. She is not a baby (BTW I would do this with my dd who is only 6)

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i would tell your dd the truth, and i only say this because when i was 12 we had a pet rabbit and it kept being aggressive towards my mum when she was cleaned out. anyway we went out for the day with mum and when we got home my s-dad told us the she had died of old age and he had buried her in the garden, for tea that nite belive it or not we had rabbit stew. it took a couple of years for me to relise, but i still havent forgiven my mum or s-dad for killing my rabbit and cooking her.
p.s she didnt die of old age at all

crunchie and socci - thanks! - that's exactly what dh and I decided too. I don't want to lie to a 13 yr old (think its different when they are tinies).

Not preaching or anything i know you're in a tough situation and are handeling the best you can...but is there not any hope of rehoming the chicken? (i'm being silly probably but have always had a soft spot for animals- chickens included )
If not be honest with your daughter if she finds out any other way she'll be very hurt and more upset possibly.

(BTW i know you said you didn't think there was any hope, but just wondered if you could try for a very short while)

yes serendipity - think this is worth pursuing too. I'm sure dd will help us explore all the options - she'll be phoning round all her friends this evening I expect. And ds (18) will also be home from boarding school this evening so his views (and friends for possible rehoming) will be helpful too.
Thanks EVERYONE for your replies.