The Poultry Keeper

Gina · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 471 Location: Kent

I have been really stupid today and it has cost the life of one of my chicks Crying or Very sad

I let me chicks out for a little run on the grass....they stay close to the house and I kept an eye on them. I then got sidetracked by something and left them for about 20mins...when I came back one had been taken (I know, after all I said about magpies). I am so cross with myself. I have found the chick in the garden with it's head missing and am thinking it might of been a cat?

Please don't judge me I am normally really careful. Just can't believe I have been so stupid. What doesn't help is that I took some of the chicks into my son's school yesterday and this one was one of them - it doesn't have a name so they are thinking of names for this one and one other, and want me to take them back in a couple of weeks to see how they have grown. Crying or Very sad

NannyP · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject:

Oh Gina, I'm so sorry and do understand how easy it is to get distracted. I've been getting the chicks and Mum out after work, and realised I cannot then do anything and have been getting paranoid about getting distracted. It must be horrible and you don't need to add to your guilt by blaming yourself.
Crying or Very sad

There is nothing else i can say to make it okay.
Embarassed

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

oh Gina, how sad. I think I would have preferred not to have found it. It was heartbreaking when my chickens disappeared whilst I was away (someone else was looking after them for me), just feathers everywhere in piles ~ I hated that clearing up I couldn't see the feathers for tears.
Do you have another that looks almost the same that you could take into school ?
And nobody will be judging you I'm sure ~ things happen, we can't control everything. Don't be too sad, be happy it was only one of them. take care

Gina · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 471 Location: Kent

Thankyou for your kind words.....my OH has kindly sorted out him/her for me so I don't have to face it.

Unfortunatly the chick was my only frizzle so cannot change it for another for the kids...think I will speak to the teacher and see what they want to say.

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Gina...I am so sorry. Crying or Very sad

Knobby · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:33 pm Post subject:

Oh Gina....thats sad.....dont go putting the blame on yourself.....its just one of those things !

Lisa · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:38 pm Post subject:

Aw, how sad Crying or Very sad

Poor you too Crying or Very sad

Hugs,
Lis

mojo · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject: gina

tell the kids the truth(modify)that frizzy died but that you brought a friend they must learn the world is harsh but love cures all.mojo

CP · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject:

That's so sad Gina. Crying or Very sad

Think I agree with Mojo & tell the truth but modified.

debcat · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

So sorry Gina, don't blame yourself,
I lost one of my 10 week olds last year to gulls. They even take new born lambs.
I agree with Mojo, Kids have to face death sooner or later. I would talk to the teacher first then take the original one and a friend for them to name

Fangs · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject:

im so soz gina. i lost a chick last year to a cat. It wasnt very pleasant, and it must be worse for u with it being one children are naming and all. its usually best to tell them sumthnig that makes it sound as if the chick has gone somewhere better. like its gone to chicken heaven where there is lots of corn, and it is always sunny or sutmhing, if they r y5 or y6 thoghu better 2 tell them the truth. I lost 1 of the chicks that the children saw hatch out last year, it was named Snowy despite being blue lol. it had bad legs and hung on until about 8 weeks old, then I found it dead 1 morning. spung the kids a story about chicken heaven and all that. it worked, and they seemed okay about it, thanl goodnessly lol.
Fangs

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Yes, I think you have to be honest, but sometimes you have to be a little conservative with the truth. Small children whilst having to learn that life has a death don't need for us to dwell on the detail of it, especially if it is a little gory. For them they usually accept it is something that has happened, now what shall we play... (this obviously depends on their ages).

Gina · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 471 Location: Kent

Thankyou everyone....so far I have told my own children that the chick died but have not given details. Through the whole process of incubation I have made my children aware that sometimes the chicks are not strong enough to survive and I have made this an extention of this. They seem O.K. Middle one was worried it was his favourite one but luckly it wasn't.

The children at school will find out because middle son will tell them!....but I will send a note in to the teacher and take a different one in in a couple of weeks...we will hopefully have another hatch by then so could take in a smaller/cuter one aswell.

Thanks again. Smile

pollypekin · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 183 Location: Kent

Oh Gina, I am so sorry to hear about your little Frizzle Crying or Very sad

sending you hugs, sally xx

Jamie · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Devon.

Gina that is really sad but we all mistakes. No one will judge you. Sometime we know what we are ment to do but do the oppisite and regret it. I should not worry. Good luck with the rest of the chicks.
Kindest regards.
Jamie.