And now there are three... :-(

[christa7032]

Hi Everyone,
I am a somewhat new chicken owner. I proudly brought home my 3 Buff Orpingtons and 3 Americaunas in May and have nurtured and played with them. I was determined to be an owner who never lost a chicken and would have my girls well into old age... Well that is getting to be pretty far from reality. I have lost 3 in the last 3 weeks, 2 of which were this week. One of my girls ended up being a rooster and he fought with one of the girls and killed her a few weeks ago, then he was killed 2 days ago by a neighbor's dog (I am not sure how it happened since he is bigger than the dog!) and today I came home to my favorite girl lying dead in her run! I don't know what happened to her but I had them out yesterday and she may have eaten something she shouldn't have. I want to go buy some more chicks this week but I am afraid after this recent run that I may not be able to keep them. I guess I am just getting discouraged. I am just pretty depressed after so many losses so close together. I am also afraid I will never actually see an egg at the rate I am going. Has anyone else had any similar experiences? They say bad things happen in 3s so I hope I am done and the rest of my girls will be spared.

 

[CityChook]

I'm sorry you're having a tough time. hugs

 

[pringle]

Yes that has happened to me and the worst thing is to buy new chicks so soon.Just work on the 3 you have.If you get new chicks yuo will be focused on them as well and both ages will suffer.Just try to keep the ones you have.Uve learned from your mistakes,dont buy any more roos just females,supervise your chickens or make a run and clean up your yard.You can always buy chicks next spring and help the chickens you have.

 

[jacyjones]

It is always hard when you lose birds but it is part of owning chickens. Whether it is predators or sickness, you will lose some and I am afraid you just have to harden yourself to it. I would think about getting in some point of lay now and keeping them in quarantine for a while, that way they will be a similar age to your other 3 and then you will have a little flock. Try your best to keep predators out and enjoy keeping them for the time that you have them!!

 

[stephhassler]

I think sometimes bad things come in groups too. I had never lost a chicken before this summer. And this summer I lost several within a short period of time. Things have settled down now and hopefully for the better. Keep trying, your luck is bound to change.

 

[damselfish]

I'd consider just running with what you have for now or at least not new chicks maybe point of lay as jacyjones suggested.

Don't get too discouraged, though. Just learn from whatever happened and move on. Wow, your rooster killed one of the girls...pretty extreme.

Good luck with whatever you decide and sorry about your chickens. We all lose some and it's always sad.

 

[christa7032]

Thanks for the support everyone. My girls have a pretty strong run so they should be safe and I am not going to let them out in the yard for awhile after I clean it up to make sure everything is safe, and I will probably only do it for short periods while I am out with them. I tried to get older chickens that are either already laying or the same age as my girls but the only age I can find are day old chicks. As far as the time to care for them goes, I am a stay at home mom and I have quite a bit of time on my hands and this time next year I will be too busy to take care of two separate sets of chickens since I am pregnant and will have had my baby by spring so I am worried that if I don't get a few more now that I won't be able to.
I was also shocked when my roo killed one of the girls, but unfortunately that is why he was out and away from the girls when the dog got him. Normally he stayed in the fenced in part of the yard but that day he figured out how to go over the fence (though he still should have been safe since we still had almost five acres for him to run around on if that dog hadn't gotten in. I am not sure what to do about the chicks, but like I said I think it is sort of now or never and I don't think my 3 will produce enough eggs for my family. I am open to suggestions though. Thanks everyone.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If you're sure your coop/run is secure then I don't see any problem getting more. With a new baby coming, you certainly won't have time later. I just wouldn't let them out of their coop/run.

I raised my babies in an Xtra large plastic dog crate. I rigged the light to my DH's dolley. (only metal Item I could find to hold it) I zippy tied the brooder lamp to it and put it in front of the metal door. It kept the chicks plenty warm. (didn't want it near the plastic so it wouldn't melt)

You could even keep the dog crate in with the existing 3. Then hopefully they'd be used to each other when the time comes to integrate.

Good luck, and I'm sorry.

 

[AHappychick]

I lost my first 5 chickens in one night (predator) and had to start all over, they were just weeks away from laying, it was very depressing, but I got more it gets easier....