Emotional Rollercoaster

[Ruckusred]

My husband and I decided to start a backyard flock this year (we just got married and moved into a new house this past October.) This was to be my project, and I settled on getting 6 Cream Legbar chicks from Greenfire Farms. I promptly bought feed, grit, waterers, feeder, and began researching different brooders and coops. I got a Brinsea warmer, and got everything set up in anticipation of their arrival. Then a snowstorm. Shipment delayed - of course! Don’t ship them in that weather.
Rescheduled shipment date comes, and another snowstorm. Since the last time I called Greenfire, and emailed, I got no response, just a form email saying the shipment was rescheduled, I assumed they’d delay again. Disappointed but I wanted the chicks to be safe. I was surprised, then, when I got a tracking number saying they would be here the next morning.
They were not, in fact, and did not come in for another 2 days. I had ordered 6, 11 were shipped, and 9 arrived.
Cue the death song.
Over the next few hours and days, 3 more perished, and I’m not sure exactly why. I had also gotten 5 bantams from Tractor Supply when I thought my original 6 were going to die in transit, and all of those died.
Out of the 11+5, I have 6. And today a chick appears on her way out with a large mass on her left lower side.

This is terrible.

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Welcome to BYC!!! I'm sorry for your losses

 

[Ruckusred]

Yup, all the ones from TSC dropped within 48 hours. Feed was milled within the past 3 weeks. Brooder is about 90 degrees.

 

[TomZilla43]

. Well dang what a tough start to chicken keeping. So sorry for your losses, but so glad you could join us. Hope that things take a turn for the best with your remaining chicks.

 

[ronott1]

My husband and I decided to start a backyard flock this year (we just got married and moved into a new house this past October.) This was to be my project, and I settled on getting 6 Cream Legbar chicks from Greenfire Farms. I promptly bought feed, grit, waterers, feeder, and began researching different brooders and coops. I got a Brinsea warmer, and got everything set up in anticipation of their arrival. Then a snowstorm. Shipment delayed - of course! Don’t ship them in that weather.
Rescheduled shipment date comes, and another snowstorm. Since the last time I called Greenfire, and emailed, I got no response, just a form email saying the shipment was rescheduled, I assumed they’d delay again. Disappointed but I wanted the chicks to be safe. I was surprised, then, when I got a tracking number saying they would be here the next morning.
They were not, in fact, and did not come in for another 2 days. I had ordered 6, 11 were shipped, and 9 arrived.
Cue the death song.
Over the next few hours and days, 3 more perished, and I’m not sure exactly why. I had also gotten 5 bantams from Tractor Supply when I thought my original 6 were going to die in transit, and all of those died.
Out of the 11+5, I have 6. And today a chick appears on her way out with a large mass on her left lower side.

This is terrible.

I am sorry you had to go through that!

Shipping stress causes organ damage--usually kidney. It takes up to three days for them to build up uric acid to toxic levels.

Since the kidneys are dead, there is not much you can do

 

[drumstick diva]

So very sorry for your losses, mixups like this happen often even to experienced Chicken folk. Recently a BYCER's order got sent to the Bermuda triangle or somewhere similar, came back days later and all but one of the chicks had perished.When she went to the post office to pick them up - the clerk was holding his nose . She said you could smell the dead chicks as soon as you walked in the door.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are glad you joined our flock.
Jump right in and make yourself at home.

I am so sorry for your losses...the tractor supply ones have passed too correct?
Have you checked the date on your feed bag?
What is the temp in your brooder?

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Official BYC Coop Page Contest - Fall-Winter 2017

The 9th Annual BYC Easter Hatchalong!
Awesome contests going on here: Hatch-A-Longs

 

[Joeschooks]

Hello and I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your chicks

 

[Teila]

G'Day from down under Ruckusred Welcome!

 

[N F C]

I'm so sorry that was your first experience with chicks. I hope it won't discourage you from enjoying the chicks you do have or from getting more in the future.

Don't know if it helps or not, but my first time getting chicks went badly too (4 out of 7 died in the first 2 weeks of having them). The remaining 3 were terrific girls and I was so lucky to have them.

Make yourself at home here and if there's anything we can do to help, just post. There are a lot of knowledgeable and friendly members here to help each other out.