Sad job, had to be done.

[Chris Wilson]

I rescued a ring neck pheasant about 6 years ago, that had been attacked, probably by a fox and left without many feathers and blinded in one eye. He went in the big aviary with some peafowl and guinea fowl, plus some golden and Lady Amherst pheasants. He recovered well, and I found him a couple of lady friends, one a captive bred (bred for shooting, not by me... ) ring neck, and one a white ring neck, which I also found in the woods, dazed and immobile, maybe after an attack by a buzzard. White pheasants don't last long in the wild, as a rule. He had a good five years he'd never have enjoyed if I hadn't saved him, but yesterday he was looking a bit ropey and this morning he'd been attacked and left blinded in the other eye. Birds are very sadistic to other sick birds I am afraid. He could never have survived like that so I have just had to put him down, which is never a nice job. Hopefully he's enjoyed a longer life than he would probably have had in the wild, and he definitely wouldn't have lasted in the wild at all with one eye. He's brought us a lot of pleasure as he became quite tame and has introduced a lot of people to a close look at a bird that they usually either see from afar, or on their dinner table. He also learnt to be good friends with one of the Russian Terrier pups we kept from a litter some years back, and was quite fearless of him

[marbleapple]

Gutted for you pal.

[Chris Wilson]

As a proper countryman said to me some years ago, if you decide to have livestock you are going to have to expect to deal with deadstock, too. You get used to it I am afraid, it's part of keeping pets and giving sanctuary to the odd "lame duck".

[Abz]

You are a good man Chris, it must have been horrible to put him down, though it is for the best.

[JustGav]

Might 'only' be a common bird, but 5 years and a lovely story

[marbleapple]

Might 'only' be a common bird, but 5 years and a lovely story

 

Thats a very good way to put it.

[supramkivcork]

Well at least he had a decent last 5 years . I don't envy you in the slightest having to put him down

[Chris Wilson]

You are a good man Chris, it must have been horrible to put him down, though it is for the best.

 

Now make up your minds, Matt H says I am the biggest barsteward to walk the earth

[JustGav]

Now make up your minds, Matt H says I am the biggest barsteward to walk the earth

 

Yeah, but we all know MattH is........

[Abz]

Now make up your minds, Matt H says I am the biggest barsteward to walk the earth

Then I guess you have a split personality sir

[Swampy442]

Nice story Chris, youre place sounds like a right sanctuary Shame it had to be put down but it probably wouldnt have much of a life after

[Stonkin]

Nice story Chris, sounds like you 'took him under your wing' and gave the chap a good life he wouldnt have had otherwise

[Matt H]

Now make up your minds, Matt H says I am the biggest barsteward to walk the earth

 

I wouldn't got that far

 

I find it odd that you have so much compassion for an animal, yet you can be so cold when it comes to people.

[Charlotte]

I find it odd that you have so much compassion for an animal, yet you can be so cold when it comes to people.

 

It's an interesting point - I find a few people like that actually.

[Matt H]

It's an interesting point - I find a few people like that actually.

 

Umm, I usually find that a compassionate person generally shows that compassion in everything they do. Perhaps it's eccentricity that allows compassion to be vector quantity for some.

[Charlotte]

Umm, I usually find that a compassionate person generally shows that compassion in everything they do. Perhaps it's eccentricity that allows compassion to be vector quantity for some.

 

I have a friend who is a huge animal lover. But in the same breath she doesn't particularly care for humans. I don't get it.

[Swampy442]

I have a friend who is a huge animal lover. But in the same breath she doesn't particularly care for humans. I don't get it.

 

Maybe its because a vast majority of the human race are complete knobs?

[Charlotte]

Maybe its because a vast majority of the human race are complete knobs?

 

I could never not feel sorry for (for example a sick child) over a sick animal.

 

I don't think that makes sense but I know what I mean.

[Swampy442]

Good double negative there

[Matt H]

Good double negative there

 

Not strictly true.

[Chris Wilson]

I can get on with most animals, even ones that might want to do me some damage, given a chance, but some people, who are supposedly on another level intelligence wise, I could happily murder He's buried now, end of a brief era, funnily enough two young male ring necks are hanging about the aviary today, they've obviously got an eye on his women all ready!

[Matt H]

I can get on with most animals, even ones that might want to do me some damage, given a chance, but some people, who are supposedly on another level intelligence wise, I could happily murder

 

Is that because you don't hold animals responsible for what they do, but humans are always accountable?

[Chris Wilson]

In some ways, yes, but I also feel I am just one of those people with a low tolerance level for some traits in people, and am of an age where I can't be bothered trying very hard to accommodate them You're probably right and I'm just a bit of an old barsteward

[SupraStar 3000]

So Chris.

Are you a pleasant pheasant plucker?

 

Oh, Sorry about the bird.

[Matt H]

This is touching slightly on one of my most pondered thoughts.

 

Is anyone ever fully responsible for their own actions? Are we all not just simply a product of our inherited genes and environmental inputs? With that said, is it ever 100% an individual's fault for something they do - can an individual ever be held fully accountable for their actions? Is this theory accepted to a point where its ok as long as these actions don't cause any harm "it's not his fault, it's just the way he is". Then once that line has been broke, they jump to being accountable?

 

Please ignore me btw