Do you ever feel like calling it quits on chicken-keeping?

[debilorrah]

We have been through massacres, illnesses, sudden deaths, lameness, etc. We have just accepted that such losses come with raising poultry and water fowl. It is not fun, it is heartbreaking, but I feel that getting rid of the birds would be MORE heartbreaking.

 

[RHRanch]

We have been through massacres, illnesses, sudden deaths, lameness, etc. We have just accepted that such losses come with raising poultry and water fowl. It is not fun, it is heartbreaking, but I feel that getting rid of the birds would be MORE heartbreaking.

x2 it kind of is part of the whole poultry experience... they are birds, birds can be delicate and so many things can happen. I am always learning and growing and getting better as a poultry keeper - As heartbreaking as such losses are, I learn from the experience and do better next time. Also, I have just learned to accept that a lot of things are very much out of my control and I can't always prevent sudden deaths, etc.

 

[tamtam84]

yomama - "But when it comes to chickens, some of the things like guessing whether it is internal laying, or maybe something else going on inside, drives me nuts. It makes me feel helpless and somewhat inadequate." I totally feel the same way! Internal laying is the bane of my existence right now. I want to do something, but I know in the end it won't matter and Buttercup will pass anyway. I'm now struggling with whether I should let her go on or think of euthanasia. It's hard.

GardenerGal - "I've held off on getting a puppy because I know I'll be devastated when it dies in about 14 years!" I absolutely understand that feeling! When my childhood cat died when I was in college I didn't want my family to get another cat. Eventually we did, but it took a while and was very hard. But of course everyone has to decide that for herself.

debiraymond - "I feel that getting rid of the birds would be MORE heartbreaking." I agree with this, it's just hard when you're coming off of loss and facing more. I know I would never ever ever get rid of them, but I have to be honest in that I have thought it would be easier without them. But then I realize it would be easier on me, not them. They deserve to feel love from me because I've gotten so much from them. Even when it is hard on us humans at times.

RHRanch - "I have just learned to accept that a lot of things are very much out of my control and I can't always prevent sudden deaths, etc." I'm still trying to accept this! I thought I had, but I'm still trying. I know deep down this is the natural order of things. Animals live and they also die. I'm trying to accept the fact that sometimes (and in most cases with chickens) there is nothing I can do if they get sick and I have to accept it and take comfort in the fact that I provided them with the best life possible.

 

[sumi]

August 2010 I lost my "mommy" hen to a dog who's owner was more interested in drinking than looking after his dog. He left her without food for 3 days. I cannot blame the dog for killing my hen, but I don't think I will ever forgive her owner. I still can't visit the spot where she died without feeling like someone kicked me in the gut.
December 2010 a predator killed 2 chicks I was raising and 5 of one of my broody hen's chicks. In one week.
Last year August I lost the most amazing little thing. She wouldn't grow and died aged only 5 months. I would happily have given her a year of my own life, just to have her and love her in my life longer.
Last year December we hatched out 35 chicks in a incubator and under 3 hens. Through a combination of pests, predators, bad moms and a horrible accident which I still cannot talk about or deal with, we lost 15 of them. It got so bad I didn't want to hatch more chicks.
January this year a predator got into my chick pen. Killed 5 very special little chickens.
And that's not half of them.
And I still keep chickens. Though, to be honest, it scares me. It really does. Knowing how much losing them hurts. I'll probably never get over all the losses and I'll probably never stop crying, but I still love them.
I will always have chickens. 'Cause when it's bad, it's awful, but when it's good it's amazing. Having a chick hatch in your hand and seeing the love in that little face when they run into the house, jump on your lap and settle down with that happy little cheeps... or watching a hen lay an egg, giving you the stink eye, 'cause you're watching... looking up and seeing my favourite roo standing next to my bed, checking on me, 'cause he knows I'm not feeling so great... right now, I'm so sad, remembering the sad things and one of my young pullets, who normally won't let me near her is standing right here, next to me, doing that questioning little clucks like she's asking "are you o.k?"

I'm in it for the good times. It's worth it.

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

Anything that involves the heart is a risk. You have to decide for yourself if something you love is worth that risk.

 

[tamtam84]

Sumi - Very well said. The fact that you say you will always have chickens after so much heartbreak and loss is encouraging. It scares me to think that loss and sadness is inevitable, but it's worth it to feel the love of my girls. They do more for my soul than anything else I can think of. So sorry for all your loss. Thank you for sharing the stories of your sweet animals.

Chic-n-farmer - Thanks for the hugs It is always a risk to love. But I know in the end it's so much better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all!

 

[sumi]

It's a bittersweet thing. But the sweet makes it worthwhile. I have a hen sitting on eggs now and I'm already worried about the chicks! But I love my chicks and I'm looking forward to the hatch. Our last 3 hen hatches went well, so I'm feeling vaguely positive.
You're so right about chickens being good for the soul. My chickens made me a better person. They opened my eyes and made me care, not just about chickens, but other animals too.

Hang in there. And remember we're here for the good times and the bad.

 

[SillyChicken]

if you quit because you're afraid of loosing something, you'll end up with nothing......


and that's no where near as fun as watching your chickens run to you for treats.... i think it's worth the risk.

 

[arkansaschicks]

I really understand your frustration!!! I am probably the worst crazy in love with her chickens person out there!! I got my first 6 chickens 3 1/2 years ago because my 12 yr old daughter wanted chickens. I fell head over heels in love with these birds!! I never knew a THING about chickens. Then I went to our state fair and bought 6 6 month old girls of all different breeds. The next year I got 9 2 day old chicks. About 2 months later one of my hens went broody. I let her sit on 12 eggs and I got 3 chicks. I didn't know what I was doing, I most likely candled them too many times being the anxious mom to be. From those 3 chicks I was hooked! There is nothing more wonderful them watching the chicks hatch and seeing momma hen take care of them and teach them to dirt bath and to roost. If you have not experienced momma raising chicks you need to. You will be really attached then!! Then the next spring /summer I let 3 hens sit on eggs. I ended up with 29 wonderful girls and too many boys At this point after 2 years I had never lost a chicken. Everyone I talked to acted like that was the most unbelievable thing. Everyone loses chickens!!

Then my first experience came. I came home from church and a hawk had brutally gotten a hold of one of my very first hens. I was devastated! I cried forever over Lilly and everyone thought I was crazy! The loss made me see I had a problem that I needed to fix so I got netting and covered as much of their 1/2 acre yard that I could. I haven't had a problem since. The next one came 6 months later I think due to heat. That made me see that there were a lot of things that I needed to do to keep my chickens healthy during our hot Arkansas summers. So far I had not had any health issues. So I still thought I was doing pretty good. Then came Mattie with the swollen abdomen and trouble breathing so I take her to the vet and he drains a little fluid and tells me she has a tumor. He says leave her a few hours and he would drain some more. Well then I get the call that he was draining her and she died on the table. Well that first health issue put me in a tail spin! I was not liking this "losing chicken thing one bit " It is very hard when the chickens have become like your children and you have to sit back with your hands tied and watch them die. Then the next one went down hill and died in less than 6 hours. She had a heart attack and died in my arms. I think she had some bacterial infection. I learned from that experience I needed an arsenal of medical supplies on hand. So now I'm prepared for health issues to the best of my ability.

I think raising chickens needs to be looked at as a live and learn experience and an acceptance that there are things we just simply can not change. I love my girls very much! I let them out every morning and I lock them up tighter than a drum every night. My chickens have heat and air in their coop. I have a chicken fund that enables them to be rushed to the vet the minute one gets sick. I have a lounge chair in their yard and I read books with them snuggled all over me for hours. I make them scrambled eggs,oatmeal and cut up fruit for them. I truly treat them like they are my children! I even say prayers with them when I lock them up every night. Thank you God for giving us one more day of health and safety. So no one could hate losing chickens more than me! I can't imagine not having chickens! Yes it is PAINFUL and it does not get easier the more you lose. What I do is I just weigh the joy they bring me vs the heartache of losing them. The joy and the memories of the wonderful personalities of the ones I have lost wins out EVERY time. Don't stop doing what you are doing I know you would miss them if you did not have them! Just keep pressing forward and you won't look back and regret a minute of it! I promise!!

 

[tamtam84]

arkansaschicks - You sound like the best chicken mom EVER! It's great to know there are crazy chicken ladies out there like myself Thanks for sharing your personal stories with loss. Luckily, I have never lost one of mine to a predator. From day one I was pretty insane about making sure their living area was like Fort Knox! And now that we're out in the woods, we have a great pyr/sheepdog mix guardian dog in their run with them to give me extra peace of mind. I knew I'd never be able to sleep at night unless I had a big dog watching over them. And she has been great. I kind of feel like it's only a matter of time and I may lose some to predators, but at least I'll know I did everything in my power to keep them safe.

The ones I've lost have all been due to illness. It's terribly difficult, but I think it would be worse to lose one to a predator. It's so great that you've used your painful experiences as learning tools. As hard as it is, I always try to think of a way to get something good out of bad situations. It just does get harder as time goes on, and it has been especially rough with Buttercup. I'm so happy that you and others have given me amazing moral support and helped me to realize even though it's hard, I can never give up on my chickens.

Thank you all!!!