hi I'm from the u.p. of michigan. after listening to my hubby for years about chickens I finally gave last spring. we got 12 leghorns (which luckily was all hens) from TSC and 2 Pekin ducks. With the understanding I was only taking care of the ducks, didn't want any part of wing flapping chickens. Welll a year later, the ducks were rehomed due to picking on the hen, no other place to put them over the winter. We never lost one single chick. During the early part of spring say March we lost 2 right in a row. I was able to nurse 2 other back but one never did lay again. Not sure what caused it. So I ordered 3 silkie chicks and 3 olive egger chicks, now this is the woman who wanted no part of chickens. When they finally arrived they had sent 9 chicks, 3 were dead already, 2 more died not long after. This should have been a sign. But I found a local gal selling silkies so I got 7 more. Well since mid summer I have lost 2 leghorn hens, my only olive egger pullet, and 1 silkie pullet. now I have another silkie pullet sick. I am trying everything I can think of. Nothing helps. I am so ready to call it quits!!!
Is this a normal part of raising chickens or am I doing something totally wrong? This is breaking my heart like it's my fault they are dying.