Feeling so helpless with my flock

[Luv Ducks]

Um…okay?
I mean…you could find ones that aren’t, I’m sure.

If you order from Metzer Farms in California they have their own stock. I ordered two Mallard ducklings a year and a half ago and they are healthy and fine. I get two eggs a day still from them and it is December in Ohio. As far as I know they have their own animals there and do not use any other hatchery. Good luck.

 

[Happy hen lover]

Bot you've been through the mill! This is the hardest part about owning pets! I'm so sorry for this stuff you've been through. I'm glad you found some new healthy girls to give you some hope.

 

[kurby22]

I got our first 5 girls last spring from a hatchery. I was SO excited. I’ve always wanted chickens and fell in love immediately. The first year went perfectly; no illness, injury, loss. At around a year old one of our hens started laying only soft shell. Then we had a series of undetermined illnesses, just lethargy and weakness. Took them to the vet and bloodwork showed toxic changes but no answers. Then we lost one suddenly. Necropsy confirmed lymphoid leukosis, likely from the hatchery.

We have 6 hens now, 2 are new from this year (local farm). One of our original hens is on 2 heart meds twice a day due to a murmur (likely from leukosis). One has a deslorin implant because she was hurting herself laying soft shell. Another of the original remaining hens is very likely dying right next to me as I write this. She’s declining quickly, she has a vet appointment on Friday but she’s struggling. And the last one just laid a soft shell egg off the roost tonight.

I’m so exhausted. I do absolutely everything I can to keep them stress free and healthy. I’m meticulous in caring for them and I’m still losing them.

Edit: Should state that this isn't commentary on hatcheries, just details in my specific experience

I truly feel for you, my flock has Mycoplasma and Infectious Bronchitis and dry and wet pox. :-( I have lost three chickens in the month of December and one is currently in the ICU crate with severe wet pox and two outside have bubbles in their eyes from the MG. I’m so tired and sad…the last one died in my arms on Christmas Day and it was so hard and I’m just so sad. I have spent $100s of dollars on meds, vet visits, and vitamins, I make them special eggs with yogurt and vitamins, I clean their water all the time, and just bought MORE supplements today. I just feel like I’m never just enjoying them anymore, I’m always stressing about them and watching them struggle to live :-( It sounds like you are being the best chicken mom they could ever ask for and I’m sure they love you so very much!

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I truly feel for you, my flock has Mycoplasma and Infectious Bronchitis and dry and wet pox. :-( I have lost three chickens in the month of December and one is currently in the ICU crate with severe wet pox and two outside have bubbles in their eyes from the MG. I’m so tired and sad…the last one died in my arms on Christmas Day and it was so hard and I’m just so sad. I have spent $100s of dollars on meds, vet visits, and vitamins, I make them special eggs with yogurt and vitamins, I clean their water all the time, and just bought MORE supplements today. I just feel like I’m never just enjoying them anymore, I’m always stressing about them and watching them struggle to live :-( It sounds like you are being the best chicken mom they could ever ask for and I’m sure they love you so very much!

I’m so sorry you have gone through so much with your flock. I don’t wish the struggles on anyone ever, but it sometimes is nice to hear from people to know you’re not alone. It’s truly gut wrenching to deal with illness.

 

[Barb Root Hinkkanen]

Good luck to you and your lady.

I lost her today.

 

[Barb Root Hinkkanen]

I truly feel for you, my flock has Mycoplasma and Infectious Bronchitis and dry and wet pox. :-( I have lost three chickens in the month of December and one is currently in the ICU crate with severe wet pox and two outside have bubbles in their eyes from the MG. I’m so tired and sad…the last one died in my arms on Christmas Day and it was so hard and I’m just so sad. I have spent $100s of dollars on meds, vet visits, and vitamins, I make them special eggs with yogurt and vitamins, I clean their water all the time, and just bought MORE supplements today. I just feel like I’m never just enjoying them anymore, I’m always stressing about them and watching them struggle to live :-( It sounds like you are being the best chicken mom they could ever ask for and I’m sure they love you so very much!

I understand. I tried everything for Snickerdoodle. She was doing so much better then just turned so quickly. After six weeks, I really thought she was going to be okay… then today. I just held her and cuddled her until she was gone. She snuggled up under my chin. I’m so sad.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I lost her today.

I am so sorry. Losing a pet is so painful. It's extra hard when the grief comes all at once - you have hope but the loss surprises you. She was so lucky to have the love and care that you gave her.

 

[TJAnonymous]

There's always something special about your first flock... After not having chickens for nearly 7 years, I bought 6 Buff Orpington chicks back in 2018. They were very special to me... All named, color banded, and treated like royalty. Then in 2020 we moved to a new farm. Over the next 12 months, I lost FOUR of them.... 2 to illness (salpingitis and 1 unknown) and 2 to foxes. It has been heartbreaking for me and I still think of them often... I have 2 remaining of my original 6. Of course I now have almost 50 chickens in 2 coops so my chicken family has quite grown.... But those original 6 will always be so special!

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

There's always something special about your first flock... After not having chickens for nearly 7 years, I bought 6 Buff Orpington chicks back in 2018. They were very special to me... All named, color banded, and treated like royalty. Then in 2020 we moved to a new farm. Over the next 12 months, I lost FOUR of them.... 2 to illness (salpingitis and 1 unknown) and 2 to foxes. It has been heartbreaking for me and I still think of them often... I have 2 remaining of my original 6. Of course I now have almost 50 chickens in 2 coops so my chicken family has quite grown.... But those original 6 will always be so special!

I’m so sorry for your losses. This post is such great perspective. So much can happen even outside of illness like this. I’m grateful for the days I have with my first girls.

 

[kurby22]

I understand. I tried everything for Snickerdoodle. She was doing so much better then just turned so quickly. After six weeks, I really thought she was going to be okay… then today. I just held her and cuddled her until she was gone. She snuggled up under my chin. I’m so sad.

I’m so sorry you lost her It’s just so hard to get your hopes up and then it all goes downhill so fast. I held my rooster boy for a good half hour after he died petting him and crying. I felt so bad, I always feel like I didn’t do enough, and I really thought he would pull through. Then I lost another one 5 days later :-( Wet pox is a terrible virus and I hate it and what it does to chickens. Hugs to you and Snickerdoodle