About to throw in the towel on the chickens

[Lorien]

I am so sad and discouraged. I love our flock and I really want to make something of this chicken lifestyle. But this may be the last straw, we have had such bad luck the last four years.

We had a raccoon get half our first flock. (upgrade coop security)
Then we lost a batch of chicks to a cat. (upgrade brooder security)
Then the next batch of chicks ran under the fence and got killed by our (bad) dog. (upgrade fence security)
Lost another batch of chicks to fowl pox.
Then we lost several chicks to a hawk.
Obtained livestock guardian dog in desperation.
Had a great six months, ordered cool breeder quality New Hamps and LOVED them.
Half ran away last week and most likely got killed without their guardian dog. I found some pieces of one of them.
Just lost another two to *#&%(#% fowl pox again this year.

My hubby is so ticked off, and I am so sad.

Seriously, when do I just give up?

Lorien

 

[OrpieLover31]

Aw, i'm so sorry! I felt the same way when I lost another chicken from somebodies dog. I was so sad and I honestly felt like giving up, but I didn't because it just didn't feel right to do that especially since we have spent so much time on them. We have lost maybe over 20 chickens this past year! We have had pesky raccoons come and take our most loves chickens, hawks swoop down and take my favorite chickens, peoples dogs come onto our property and attack and kill chickens, weasels sneaking into the chicks coop and killing almost all of them, coyotes running into our yard and stealing our chickens! I honestly didn't know if I should even have chickens anymore... but we recently built a chicken tractor so no more predators can take our chickens anymore, and it has actually worked! And we also put cement under all the chicken coops so no animals can dig up under! So far no chickens have been killed and I feel so much better! I hope you don't give up! Chickens are a lot of fun!

 

[Lorien]

Thanks Orpie! They are fun when they aren't being killed or dying. Maybe we should stick to feed store chicks. Hubs doesn't get so mad when they don't cost a bunch like these last ones. The full grown ones seem to finally be safe. The baby chicks are mostly safe. It is the half grown ones that are in trouble now. Maybe a tractor for them would work...I can't believe we bought a dog for our chickens. Sigh. You are right. I love em too much to quit. Thanks!

 

[jellybellyx6]

I know how you feel after last year when lost 150 chicken in one week we looked into what we could do to protect our chickens better. To first start it always a learning experience but we are now going to build runs that are totally enclosed. We are using welded wire and not chicken wire and the coops are going to be two feet off the ground. We also got three dogs and raised them over the winter. We kept the best one out of the three and though we know predators will still come and most likely take our chickens the damage most likely be less. Chickens are just easy targets and all you can do is your best to protect them.

 

[Lorien]

I guess I just have to accept that these things happen a lot with chickens. I don't have the money to keep sinking into building a NSA secure coop. Maybe if I build a totally enclosed grow out pen for them when they come out of the brooder they will have a better chance to at least get fully grown. Maybe I will just start a breeding project with the birds I have left. I am down to one new hampshire hen. Sigh. I don't handle disappointment well.

 

[Metella]

I also bought an all around farm dog breed - English Shepherd - to help guard my chickens but not be such a liability as some of the giants are.

Yes - the teen chickies are really in most danger as they roam farther and faster and still assume they are safe .... I lost some like many here. Very sad. And now I have hardware wire for the coop and very small run. I let them out to free range only when I am around, as that way I can rush out with the dog and help them.

They love to be out all day - but that is just too much for a body to watch - so sometime in the afternoon, I let them out for a romp and bug eating frenzy. Some days they are only out an hour - some days as much as 5 but I am always near or near an open window to hear any squawks. At the most I'll lose a few to hawks each year - can't hear those guys coming - but a rooster should give warning of that to the hens.

 

[4 the Birds]

The key word in your loss is "chicks". Chicks are vulnerable and very easy prey. I would keep them in a brooder until 7 to 8 weeks of age and then very limited access to free ranging until they get big. A secure run/coop will improve you odds.
All the hard work and attention will reward you with fresh eggs! Well worth the fight.