how to cope w/ chick mortality?

[JacinLarkwell]

The more it happens, the better you usually deal with it. I try not to pick my keepers until they're old and out of the danger zone (6 monthish). Easy when it's a broody mama, but when they're your babies, it's still hard to not get attached

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Set aside some wallowing time - eat a treat while looking through any photos you took and just BE SAD. Then set aside some time to think about how well she was cared for during the time you had her and how nice and comfy she was up til the end. Do that for each, and then try to focus on the fact they had good, but short, lives. I find taking specific "sad time" and then after that trying to be philosophical about it helps. But you gotta take the sad time for yourself.

 

[ackie]

i would just order 10%+ of what you want so that if some turn out to be roosters or die, you’re still good. i am going to order meat birds from the hatchery and am going to get 20% more than i need. having chicks die is just a part of the deal and you have to factor that into the process. if the rest are fine, i highly doubt it was anything you did.

I'm thinking I might need to edit my chick order for a backup male...

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm thinking I might need to edit my chick order for a backup male...

When ordering males, I only need one of each breed, but I get two that way worst scenario one dies, but scenerio, I get to pick the better of the two to keep

 

[chaoticandrew]

Thank you all for your kind words. I know I am quite sensitive to be raising birds! I just love them so much....

 

[CSolis]

Thank you all for your kind words. I know I am quite sensitive to be raising birds! I just love them so much....

I've been in a stew for the last 24 hours over eggs that haven't hatched. Today is day 22, and until a few moments ago, none of them were pipping.. Now I see one working on it and I'm in tears of relief.. A lot of us are so attached to our babies it is incredible. At least you care!

 

[chaoticandrew]

We know from the start that it can and will happen, but that does not prevent the hurt we feel when it actually happens.
I am sorry for your losses and I hope that you may find comfort in the thought, that at least they were cared for and loved.

Sometimes there is just nothing one can do to prevent this.

thank you. it's nice to know i'm not the only one and yeah, i guess they were cared for and loved, however short that time was...

 

[CSolis]

I had a young blue copper marans who I found laying cold in the pen and covered with ants. I brought her in, warmed her up in my lap with my body heat. She revived and I was thrilled.. then two weeks later I heard a rumble back in the brooder room and went to check. She was DOA. I had to accept the fact that she wasn't meant to be and had a weak heart.
Then in the first batch of chicks I hatched with my incubator, the little ones were doing great in the 4th week. I went in to check food and water and found one dead. Another heartbreak.. (That was the first time I used bedding pellets in the brooder and it must have gotten a crop full, at least it's the only thing I can come up with). Then out go the chicks at 6 weeks, and not knowing to stay away from the sides of the pen, a possum killed one. Three weeks later and another possum strike. None of those deaths were easy to take, but I began to consider what would have happened in the wild, and survival rate is still much better with my chicks than babes in the wild. Everything has its time and purpose, then it is gone.

 

[Chookchicken]

I lost my beloved chick April 2 weeks ago. She had a bad leg and as much is I knew it was coming it doesn’t make it any easier. I tend to just spend a few days grieving and relaxing whilst I come acceptance. It’s never gets easier no matter what you do. I am very sorry this happened, and I’m wishing all your other chicks the best of luck, and health. RIP little ones

 

[Carson213]

if you get your chicks from a hatchery...they’re pretty well sexed. in my experience, it’s less than 5% of the time that you would get a male unless you wanted one. i’d be happy with one per 15 hens...just as crowd control

on another note...if you pick them up from the hatchery right when they hatch...they will imprint on you. i think my chickens literally think i am their mom. sounds crazy...but i’m like the pied piper even with the rooster.