I am SO ready to quit!! :(

[Anny]

I'm so sorry for you loss. Don't give up, those evil chicken eater can be hard to get around, but I'm sure you'll out smart them in no time.

 

[AllChookUp]

Hi, Stacey.

I have read a lot this year about all your misfortunes. I know I can't REALLY help you, but please know that I'm pulling for you.

Please hang in there. You will be rewarded with good things.

Take care, and keep us posted.

Ron

 

[Buster]

So sorry to hear this Blisschick. I hope things get better for you. NEVER GIVE UP!!!

 

[BethinIrving]

I'm so sorry you have having such painful experiences. Just a few days ago I lost a goose to a neighbor's dog that came over the fence.

My flock is not a large one, and each of the rascals have a name and definately have individual personalities. They are part of the family. It hurts to loose one.

I live in a heavily wooded area and there are not only wild natural predators, but also prowling housecats at night.

My hens would always stay very quiet, but the geese would make all kinds of noise if anything was out there. Many a night I have gone out there to find a Great Horned Owl, a prowling cat, a possum or raccoon. I get 'em with a strong squirt from the waterhose to run them off.

When the Owl kept coming back, I set out burning incence. Bingo. He decided he didn't want any of that. Several nights later I spotted him attacking a squirrel's nest.

In my trek through flock watching, I've discovered there is a pattern to all animal behavior, including the predator behavior. They will arrive at approximately the same time, lurk around and stalk in the same areas. So, I waited with the water hose and was able to run them off.

The coccidosis that struck your flock is why I feed my flock medicated feed mixed with the corn. I'd let the land where the birds were, sit a year before putting any more birds out there. But, I'm overly cautious. Wild birds, rabbits and even humans can catch coccidosis. For me and mine, I opt for the antibiotics over the consequences of that disease. I have to wonder if a lot of the human TB that was so rampant back in the old days was coccidosis.

Of course, antibiotics aren't for all diseases and some folks wouldn't use them at all.

 

[chickenzoo]

So sorry Blisschick, seems we both are in the same boat, I believe this is the worst year I have ever had, with everything not just my many losses of my birds. It's been hard and I felt like giving up my birds too, but even one brings joy so I continue. I lost a baby serama today, a sick roo from the cold night we just had and my favorite lady A pheasant, who was friendly, slipped pass the door and flew off in my neighbors yard somewhere.

I hit myself in the mouth with a pair of pliers and loosened one of my front teeth I think, alass life goes on.

And that was just this morning, can't wait to see what the rest of the day will bring!

But it will get better, it must, at least this year is almost over...

 

[Blisschick]

Thanks everyone for the encouragment, sympathy, pity, etc. I know how to throw one heck of a pity party, huh?

The coccidosis was a fluke. I feed all my chicks, regardless of breed or species, medicated starter. I don't have the luxury of a large area, so I have to take care with what I have. I haven't had a problem with it before, and since that outbreak, I haven't used the area they were in. It was a portable pen and I pretty much have abandoned it. I have no idea what was killing off my poults. I had the new ones I bought isolated from the ones that I hatched, and yet they still died from the same thing. I highly suspect it was the game breeder starter I was using. I won't be using it again.

Whatever predator is coming, it hasn't been consistent. I've tried that, and it has struck anywhere between right after sundown until just before dawn. I told my husband I want security lights in back when he gets his building put in and electricity up. Maybe sudden and unexpected lighting will discourage it. I think after the fit I threw this morning, he'll humor me.

Finding the poor roo this morning wasn't the end of my wonderful Monday morning. I had a doctor's appointment, and she got stuck in traffic, so was 30 mins. late. (She's a good doctor though, and I had a nice appointment.

)Then I find out that my Care Credit card has been cancelled for no apparent reason, since it's been paid off and never had a late payment on it, and I needed it to get my dental implant. I've also had to wait on a customer here at my husband's shop that hasn't shown up when she told me she'd be here "shortly". I'm leaving at 2 pm like I'm supposed to, so she'd better hurry up and get here.

I honestly have been trying to make lemonade with my lemons today, but these are some darned sour lemons!

I think I'm going to go home and plant some land mines around my shed.

 

[mainchick]

land mines! sounds cool. I want to see 'em!
Just a question though, you don't happen to live by any cranky neighbors do you? Or some obnoxious teens?
take care, when your husband gets things going with his job it'll help out. Keep your small flock, don't expand yet and when you get things all situated get going again!! good luck!!

 

[Mrs MIA]

I'm sure there are lots of people who would be sad to see you give up. I hope you are blessed with the means and ability to put up a fence to keep the birds safe from further harm soon! One thing to keep in mind about the medicated feed... we assume that the meds in it are to keep them safe from Cocci, but in reality, there are some that just contain meds to improve the vitality of the chicks and don't do a darn thing to prevent Cocci. I found that out the hard way this year, too. Find one that has Amprolium (Amp) in the ingredient list.

My condolences on your losses...

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

So sorry for your losses. It can be so hard. When we lost two of our young pullets from heat stroke and then one almost died when it got its leg caught in a rat trap a week later we felt the same way. We were just so hurt / bothered we wanted the feelings to go away.


You've got a lot of friends here that care about you and want to support you. It is ultimately a thing that only time can fix, so hang in there!

 

[Zookeeper9000]

It's Monday that is what everyone has said to me today. What do you want from a Monday.

Well I want that Monday to contain itself to one day a week. Not 7.

Sorry sure hope you hang in there.