Disheartened first time chicken owner

[aimz127]

Hi all, I've made a few posts on BYC, but am still fairly new to chickens. This is a bit of a vent post.

Lately, it feels like everything that could go wrong with my small flock has. In the last month, I lost 3 of my 8 pullets (1 unknown cause, one crop issue, and the third was coccidia). I've treated for lice, two rounds of coccidia, wormed everyone, etc and have one pullet that seems to still be recovering from coccidia (underweight, but eating well). The rooster has scaly leg mites, but he's a sweet Brahma and tolerating treatment for that.

I think a primary cause was the heat and neverending rain we had for a few weeks. It's still raining a lot, but temps have started to dip. The ducklings are loving it, but me and the chickens not so much.

Today one of my silkies almost laid her first egg, but it was a lash egg with no shell so she prolapsed her vent trying to push it out. I popped the egg, pulled it out and cleaned her up so hopefully everything stays in as it should, but I'll keep an extra eye on her. Feels like icing on a really crappy cake.

I love having animals on the property and am learning a lot in the process, but man is the school of hard knocks coming in hot for the 6 months I've had chickens. For everyone that has helped with the various issues encountered so far, I greatly appreciate you all

 

[3KillerBs]

I'm sorry you've had such a rough time with this.

 

[alwaystj9]

Hang in there, it gets better!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Sometimes its hard until you figure it out. Sometimes its hard even when you think you have it all figured out. But it sounds like youve had more than your share of issues. I went through a patch like this recently with coccidiosis and was ready to throw in the towel and start over but chickens can be very resilient and might surprise you-and you sound like you're very resilient yourself! I haven't had to deal with all those issues and I've had chickens for ten years!

 

[kurby22]

Sometimes it really can feel like a never ending slog of issues and stress. You’ve got this!

 

[Folly's place]

This hasn't been the best summer ever, for sure. Heat, mosquitoes from hell, and too much rain, all in southern Michigan. Small stuff, compared to the drought and fires out west though. I keep reminding myself that it's great to live here...
You have had a rough start with your birds, but the lice or mites will happen, unless they are indoors all the time. And the wet soil helped coccidiosis to be more of a problem than usual this year too.
It can be a steep learning curve, sure was our first year with chickens here!
Mary

 

[Oldegarlicshnapp]

Hi all, I've made a few posts on BYC, but am still fairly new to chickens. This is a bit of a vent post.

Lately, it feels like everything that could go wrong with my small flock has. In the last month, I lost 3 of my 8 pullets (1 unknown cause, one crop issue, and the third was coccidia). I've treated for lice, two rounds of coccidia, wormed everyone, etc and have one pullet that seems to still be recovering from coccidia (underweight, but eating well). The rooster has scaly leg mites, but he's a sweet Brahma and tolerating treatment for that.

I think a primary cause was the heat and neverending rain we had for a few weeks. It's still raining a lot, but temps have started to dip. The ducklings are loving it, but me and the chickens not so much.

Today one of my silkies almost laid her first egg, but it was a lash egg with no shell so she prolapsed her vent trying to push it out. I popped the egg, pulled it out and cleaned her up so hopefully everything stays in as it should, but I'll keep an extra eye on her. Feels like icing on a really crappy cake.

I love having animals on the property and am learning a lot in the process, but man is the school of hard knocks coming in hot for the 6 months I've had chickens. For everyone that has helped with the various issues encountered so far, I greatly appreciate you all

Insect problems like lice and mites need a good cleaning of their environment firstly. Diatomaceous earth is used as an organic treatment for lice. But if it’s pretty bad, you may want to resort to a chemical pesticide and hose the area down.
If the insects are weakening them or stressing them out (like with your hens egg issues), their immune system should get a boost. I add garlic and Cuban oregano to my water cause that’s what I’ve got on hand. An occasional yogurt treat, a little apple cider vinegar in the water sometimes, etc. Gut boosting health. Although you could medicate them regularly, I recommend it if you can’t use herbs. Don’t use Ginger. You can give them ginger in powder form once a month maximum: it’s great but it can kill them in excess.
Whenever I have eggs I put them into the oven when I’m preheating. Then I crush them up and feed them to my hen. There’s calcium in that and it helps them grind up food. Hardened material in the feed strengthens their intestines. Korean natural farmers use rice husks for that purpose!
I also bathe my hen in turmeric, a little eucalyptus oil for lice, and some diatomaceous earth. It’s a mission though and I suggest doing that in a sink since chickens seem to be more afraid in giant showers or bath settings. They tend to run from a spray bottle too, so I just bathe mine.

So basically: clean the area and build their immune system. A weakened immune system and insects/bacteria/parasites/or disease feeding on them will stress them out. That’ll affect your eggs. At the same time though my hen’s first egg was a little wonky in shape and had a dot of blood. It’s hard for their first time regardless.

Wish you the best of luck!!

 

[Boise-girls]

You poor thing! I'm impressed by your competence, though, dealing with all that! If you can handle all of the problems you've had so far, you can handle anything!

 

[One Lucky Momma]

In a very short time you’ve endured more challenges than some flocks will in years. What a learning curve.

Somewhere there’s a Certificate of Accomplishment with you name on it in fancy writing.

I hope this is the start of an extended breathing spell you can use to think back and feel good about how you’ve pulled you and your flock through a very hard time.

 

[SusanMc]

Hang in there, Sometimes I feel that way, but so far have survived my share of chicken tragedies. Maybe change the narrative, I do that when things get tough…like focus on making treats or researching a Chicken “toy”. Anyways, good luck and you have my suppor, and I’m sure many others if you need a leg up.