In the wild few living creatures survive an attack that leaves open wounds or broken bones. Wounded means weaker and weaker seldom flourishes. But our human instincts are to save a bird or save an animal that has been or is being attacked. Then our instincts are to then nurse them back to health.
I try very hard to read the little creature and observe their behaviour then intentionally decide if they even want me to nurse them or whether they will accept my offer to keep them alive.
This wee hen did great for 24 hours after a possum tried to eat her alive before Boo and I intervened but then yesterday afternoon she began her decline. Her little comb and gills have begun to yellow – a sure indication of imminent demise. By last night she was no longer eating or drinking or standing.
I have covered her to keep the flies off. She was sleeping in the warm next to her fellow chickens last night.
If she rallies this morning and tells me she wants to live I will continue with her treatments but she might say no. She might tell me it is time. And I will obey her.
Laying napkins on her back reminded me of when I nursed Wai back to health. Do you remember? He came to the farm rotting from terrible burns that wee pig. The smell was appalling. The vet shook his head. But he never gave up snapping and growling at me during our debriding sessions. He never reached that point when the light left his eyes.
Every little life, short or long has a story and value. I respect that.
Humans never cease to amaze me with our fierce will to live until the last breath. How we will upturn our entire lives to comfort and care for our people and our animal companions. How we will fight for the little lives around us. How we stand up for those wounded by life’s shots until they are recovered. Then help them walk away. How we take our hits, bend to our recovery and walk or crawl back into life.
How we will fight lions for our children.
Have a lovely day.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
30 responses to “Let the animal decide”
If we surround ourselves with living creatures and are responsible for their welfare, then we are also responsible for giving mercy when they ask for or need it. And mercy it is, however hard it feels to us. I hope Miss Chicken does go gentle into that good night. Raging against the night is for humans, who believe they still have so much to do. Animals know when their course is run. Thank you for listening to them, and doing as tney ask.
It is a responsibility we cannot take lightly. So right!
The will to live—very mysterious. I’ve had premature foals that refuse to die, even though their bones are still soft, and birds that have died for no perceivable reason. The—sometimes grim—beauty of nature.
It IS sometimes actually often-times grim but we still embrace it. Trying to make sense of it. That prem goal makes me so sad!
What a lovely essay C. How we value life of all kinds, and also how we must embrace the time to let go. Such important decisions on both sides.
Yes! Thank you Deb. Have a lovely day!
It’s torture for me to watch an animal die. I can’t stop it, sometimes, but I can be present, when I see them giving up.
It is a kind of torture. And being present helps.
It helps me, anyway. Dying is a lonely experience, maybe for us all. To witness the dying process is maybe an interactive process, a link between life and death. How many people have your heard of who seem to wait for a loved one to arrive before they breathe their last?
Very often. But from the other side. Sometimes they even speak to them. It is extraordinary to witness.
They live in memory. I still think about Mr. Flowers. What a character he was.
Yes. His loss is great! Though he would have hated these dumb turkeys!
I remember Wai and that huge hard struggle. I also have had to practice Mercy for a animal….it’s hard but it is their choice.
It is hard. You are so right. Farmers go through it a bit too often.
I know it’s very sad
The poor thing is probably in shock.
Yes. And my ministrations are not helping that shock.
“How we take our hits, bend to our recovery and walk or crawl back into life.”
Celi Gunther
I will carry this line forward with me … in my journal of “Meaningful Quotes”.
Thank you! (Maybe I could write it more eloquently but you get the drift).
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love love!
Wise words about both animals and people. It’s hard to let go and we’re conditioned to help and try to make things better. Sometimes we can’t.
You are so right. We have to know when we can’t.
I have no animals to care for living as I do close to town, but I do have a shared cat. Shared with my daughter and I care for him as he is getting old. I love this this post Cecilia and the comment that we will fight lions for our children resonates – ring/sings to me. Keep caring for your farm animals, and I will care forFlashcat the very elderly cat who lives with us.
Flashcat. What a fantastic name!
We had a little pet chicken when I was a kid. It would come to the trough joining the cats and dogs during feeding time. One day, a dog objected to the chicken being there and bit it on the head making it blind. Mom wrapped it’s head and helped it heal. It lived quite a long time after that injury.
Wonderful post. I have the same philosophy about death.
I so agree. I have a niece whose dog was just diagnosed with cancer. She and her family are understandably sad. I gently told her, as one who has gone too far in trying to save a pet, to take her cue from the dog. If he eats and drinks and poops and greets his humans happily all is good. When that stops, it’s time and he knows it. Don’t prolong it no matter how difficult it is to let him go. As I told her, unlike people, pets only break your heart once.
Good morning Ceci……….THIS is an “Amazing Post”
“Nuff said.”
Jo
Good morning Jo! And thank you!