Covid-panic-induced chicken keeping?

[The Inspired Mom]

There's definitely a lot of new chicken keepers out there. I always try to convince people to get chickens so it doesn't bother me much. Lol. It only rained on my plans to get the cornish cross when they get marked down since they get sold out before then. I really do hope those are getting bought by knowledgeable people or that's going to lead to pain for the birds and heartache for the keepers. I did research before getting chickens but had no practical experience. I remember thinking all the chicks were dead when they passed out all over with their feet sticking up. Or wondering what is that big lump on their chest. I remember crying when my first one died because I couldn't figure out how to help it. So I won't begrudge newbies.

I’m a newbie but have wanted chickens for years & had chick 101 magazines from like 10 years ago when we almost started our chick family. So we know the commitment and work but super excited to have our first 10 however last night lost one almost cried. But it’s more of the investment & time I’ve already put into our new chick babies. You mention that thing on neck? The chick that died had that and pasty bum. The bum issue just showed yesterday and I tried to clean it but she didn’t even try to fluff her feathers even after, she was lifeless. So sad. Each day I check for pasty bum and just an hour ago we noticed a different looking like something stuck, I tried to clear it and this one is still active and fluffing. Praying it’s okay.

 

[Texas Transplant]

This actually makes me feel much better. I am so sorry for your trouble, but the fact that you started for similar reasons and came out the other end as a loving chicken keeper gives me hope

We planned on getting chickens next year, as we just bought our house at the end of February....I must admit we rushed the plan forward because of the pandemic. Fortunately, I'm relatively chicken keeping fluent The chicks are now 4 weeks old, doing great and have a beginner pen they spend time in on warm days. We're 2/3rd done with our coop and it should be ready for them in the next 2 weeks .....although, the weather is a bit cuckoo here, it can freeze into the beginning of June so, they'll probably move out of their brooder a bit later than most chicks. Lucky for the public, there's Back Yard Chickens as a great resource

 

[Mylied]

I’m a newbie but have wanted chickens for years & had chick 101 magazines from like 10 years ago when we almost started our chick family. So we know the commitment and work but super excited to have our first 10 however last night lost one almost cried. But it’s more of the investment & time I’ve already put into our new chick babies. You mention that thing on neck? The chick that died had that and pasty bum. The bum issue just showed yesterday and I tried to clean it but she didn’t even try to fluff her feathers even after, she was lifeless. So sad. Each day I check for pasty bum and just an hour ago we noticed a different looking like something stuck, I tried to clear it and this one is still active and fluffing. Praying it’s okay.

The lump I was talking about is the crop and is normal. You can post in the emergency section to get some advise on your sick chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My feed store is selling chicks appointment-only. Hubby tried to get an appointment and called 2 hrs after store opened and was told there was only a single slot left for this week - yeesh! He says he'll get up early next week to call for a slot for the next shipment.

So an update: Guess hubby wanted those chicks a lot more than I thought! He woke up early, two phones in hand, and started dialing the store as soon as it opened. He said he landed the 3rd appointment of the day. But he was still worried...

Hubby: So is there a limit to how many someone can buy?

Employee: No, you can buy as many as you want.

Hubby: But I'm the 3rd in line. What if the person before me buys all of the chicks first?!

Employee: Sir, we've never had anyone buy 600 chicks at once before...

 

[LizzzyJo]

So an update: Guess hubby wanted those chicks a lot more than I thought! He woke up early, two phones in hand, and started dialing the store as soon as it opened. He said he landed the 3rd appointment of the day. But he was still worried...

Hubby: So is there a limit to how many someone can buy?

Employee: No, you can buy as many as you want.

Hubby: But I'm the 3rd in line. What if the person before me buys all of the chicks first?!

Employee: Sir, we've never had anyone buy 600 chicks at once before...

Buy all of them and sell them at an inflated price! Wait... is that what war profiteering is? Uh oh. Don’t do it!

 

[The Inspired Mom]

The lump I was talking about is the crop and is normal. You can post in the emergency section to get some advise on your sick chicks.

Ohhh thank you for letting me know! I was scared it was bad.

 

[Mylied]

Ohhh thank you for letting me know! I was scared it was bad.

Everybody who doesn't know about it freaks out about it at first. It looks very weird.

 

[jsr5]

I swear when the shutdown happened people were pulling into my driveway and scoping out my chickens!!! I was afraid they were going to get stolen!

I know what ya mean I told my wife I may have to put my old army cot up out in the coop to gaurd my feather babies

 

[Joken]

We are guilty, although we have been contemplating the investment for a number of years. My wife is paranoid about this virus and playing very safe. She grew up on a farm with chickens and lambs in the house so it's nothing new. We have the acreage and time, to do what we want. I knew there was a run on chick supplies when I went to the feed store.

 

[jsr5]

Well I bought chicks starting late March right before the shutdown here and yes it was partly related to the situation. We had floated around the idea for the past year or two with hubby always shooting it down saying it costs too much and meat and eggs are cheap to buy. The circumstances jump started hubby into agreeing . Plus I and the kids have more time on our hands plus I raised birds my entire childhood and I was raised on a "farm" of sorts unlike hubby so we were pretty confident in the decision. One of our friends was like "you're probably going to lose some chicks we lost half of ours!" well no chicks have been lost yet!! So far our costs are at $125 for feed, feeders/waterers, storage and building supplies woohoo.

One of my acquaintances on FB is what I would call a city slicker moved to the country and now has tons of open acreage. Due to the shutdown and lack of work she decided to fill her extra time by getting a few baby ducks and baby goats at the same time a couple weeks ago and now they're housed in the same pen together outside and her work is starting back up so she is looking for a great pyreneese puppy dog to raise them and guard them while no one is home and she's away traveling for events. She's also one of those that you can't tell her what to do she's going to do what she wants when she wants and how. Like she does things then posts about it, if you try to give some pointers she gets mad because it's not what she wanted to hear. SMH. That kind of stuff makes me worry for the animals.

Only reason I don't have ducks yet is because ti be healthy and happy they need very different habitat needs. I hope they have what they need in the goat run. :{ I am building a series of three or four little ponds with a pump to pull bottom pool water up to top pool and let it all casde through a series of filters with lots of fine gravel on bottoms and sides etc etc. only then will I get my duckies I can hardly wait but I don't want to get them niow and them be miserable because of inadequate water needs and poor sanitation due to hasty habitat and such.