my new girl Buttercup savaged by 2 dogs

E

elmwood

New member
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
416
Reaction score
0
Location
Staffordshire
Hi,

I went out to offer some eggs to a recently bereaved neighbour, when I noticed her 2 dogs had disappeared. I ran in our garden to find both dogs mauling our newest little d'Anver, buttercup. All hell broke loose. One dog was in the enclosure and the other attacking her from outside the enclosure. It was horrific, and her timid sister thankfully was in the house. It all happened so quickly, whilst the lady was trying to control the dogs and put them back on leads, I closed up the new girls house ran to other 5, scooped them up and threw them in the summer coop, which I had only just cleaned out for them. I even managed to hook one of my pekins wings on the door. The dogs then dragged the neighbour across the floor, they are only medium sized terriers for gods sake. Finally I was able to prise the dogs jaw open to drop my poor Buttercup.......

Buttercup, has been buried by a kindly neighbour. After all the sobbing and upset, I have only just been able to go out to the girls. Fudge, Buttercups sister, seems ok for now. All week, they have been calling to each other and were so very close- I can't imagine her coping on her own. I am expecting the shock to bring on stress symptoms with all my precious girls.

I have never witnessed something so cruel. Mike returned home just as we managed to get the dogs out on the drive. He reckoned he would have really lost it with them. Why are dogs never on a lead!!!!

The neighbour has since been around to apologise- we have both learnt a horrible lesson today. I really don't know what to do now, we have only had them a week. Our other 5 girls have had a splendid first year with us, with no incidents. To think I was posting about our NEW neighbours cats been a threat!

Am truly upset, and still can't believe its happened.
 
Oh no EW--you must be SO upset . I have lost 2 L/F to different peoples dogs----both dogs that were used to their own chickens as well . Its so upsetting when you see it happening and have to take them from dogs mouth. Poor ,tiny Buttercup.---now Im nearly in tears too.She looks so adorable in that pic you posted. Ros :(
 
Oh Elmwood, I feel really upset for you; life can be very creul sometimes, especially as you bought the new girls to raise your spirits. As for your poor little girl which is on her own now, I know it is hard but the only thing I can think of is for you to get her another little companion as I don't think she could be integrated with the others on her own. Its a really shocking thing to have happened to you, wish there was something I could say/do to make it easier for you. :cry:
 
Oh My god.
My deepest sympathies to both you and Fudge, you've lost a baby she's lost her sister.
I hope there are no after shocks from your other girls as it must have been horrific.
Much as you probably don't want to think about it today I do think Claire is right, focus your attentions on keeping your little Fudge girl happy and go find her a playmate so she's not on her own.
Be strong.

Aileen x
 
Oh Elmwood this is truly the saddest news, you must be in complete shock. My sympathies are with you, a very, very sad accident. :( :(
 
Hi all,

Thankyou so much- you have all given me so much comfort. Mike had to read the post to me as I havn't been able to focus these past 24 hours.

Mikes remedy is for me to think about another new girlie, despite him being in pain with his back, we are both off to the Lichfield show in a little while ...... I just hope I hold up.......

Having just read about "Kiev" losing her brave battle, I am afraid I don't hold much hope.

Thankyou all once again, it really does mean so much to have like minded people truly understanding your pain.
 
I was so sad to read your post. I also lost my first girl so you have my full sympathy. My girls want to replace our chicken to but I think I'll let the dust settle a bit first. I hope you find your self a nice new girl today.
 
Sharron, How is little Fudge getting on? Have you managed to get her a little friend yet?
Hope you are coping OK after what happened.
Claire
 
Thankyou Lewis and CTB,

Am a little concerned about Fudge, She seems genuinely lonely. She has hardly made a single chicken noise since last Friday. Don't think she is drinking despite having several little ramekins dotted around and a large water container-have being adding vitamins since they arrived. She hasn;t been able to manage pellets as her beak overhung so I blitzed a load of pellets in the food processor. Yesterday I trimmed iher beak and she can now eat a lot more easily. We bring her in of an afternoon for a "get to know us session", she has a warm bowl of layers mash, laced with corn, and today she will be having a mealworm treat. I will also syringe some water into her beak just to be on the safe side.

She just seems to be sitting a lot in her house. She rarely ventures out. She doesn't particularly care for me, but as she was brought up by a man, she seems to have really taken to my partner. Maybe its the tone of voice?
My other girls show no intereest in her, nor she them. They are completey separate. I don't want to put her through anymore uncessessary trauma.

As regards a little friend, we remain hopeful that the man we had her from is trying to sort out another one for us. We hope to find out a little more by the weekend.

As for us, It still upsets me, as I keep coming across feathers, and the worst part was her looking up at me, which haunts me. The dogs havn't had their daily walk past our house, thankfully.

On a nicer note - her bed is a little box lined with a towel. At bedtime she perches on the edge, a little while later she will then snuggle up in the towel, and when its completely dark we literally tuck her up with a fleece throw. She stays there until morning, sometimes we have to untuck her......without her sister we don't want her to be cold and lonely!
 
Its so sad but I think if you manage to get her a mate she will probably be transformed. In the meantime you couldn't be doing any more for her; shes a very fortunate little girl to have you as a mum.
I'm not surprised the others take no notice of her as it seems to take ages before they accept new ones. Even when I introduced 4 newbies to the original 4 in the large run they remaind 2 seperate flocks for about 3 months. Now they are as one and mix all the time.
Only time will help you forget this horrible accident and of course concentrating on your lovely girls.
 
Oh Sharron, I'm so so sorry. I haven't looked at the forum for a week, and was horrified to read your post. It must have been awful to see Buttercup like that, and to be so afraid for the others too. I hope that with a bit of time since then that image is fading and you can remember the time she was with you, far too short I know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top