I dont think I am ever buying chicks again........

[sweeterdeeter42]

Does anybody else ever get this feeling? Its like an extreme high of the excitement of getting chicks, then after a few die, and they start to feather out and they arent quite what you were hoping for, an extreme low of never wanting to buy chicks again. I think I will stick with started chicks that are a couple months or so old from now on. That way I will know what I am getting. Looking back I went through this same thing in 4-H years ago. Just wondering if anyone else ever feels like this, or if I have the chicken version of postpartum depression.

 

[Josie]

...if I have the chicken version of postpartum depression.

I think this may be the perfect way of putting what you are feeling. Few people want more kids the week after they give birth.

I would wait a while before making public proclamations writing off chicks, it could be temporary, or it could be you getting wiser about what works for you. Time will tell. I can definitely relate with what you are feeling, especially after losing chicks or a bad hatch.​

 

[Mahonri]

I go through something like that when I candle and have to discard eggs or when I have quitters during lockdown/confinement.

but I'll live through it.

 

[wingsofglory]

Yes, I have felt that when they are getting their feathers, they look so unpromising and like they will never look like the pictures. I was thinking they must be the most poorly bred chicks ever. Then when they are four months old and all the feathers are in and glossy and they are looking fine and wellbred, I get encouraged again. Then at five months when the eggs come, all is forgiven.

 

[sunshyn225]

This is what I'm afraid of when mine grow up big enough to where I can tell what they are.

Hubster seems to think I have 6 roos out of the 8 chicks I have and if so, I'll be devastated. I guess if that's the case, it will be a lesson learned for me not to buy un-sexed chicks.

 

[zengrrl]

I felt this way when my first chick died at one week. I tried to nurse her back to health for 3 days but she still didn't pull through. Then my other chick has scissor beak and hell, I'm not sure if I'll have to "cull her" as I have no idea how I would do it other than a trip to the vet $$$. I didn't sign up for this I just wanted fresh eggs! Don't be discouraged though, nothing is ever as easy as you hope but it'll be worth it. Just a few bumps in the road.

 

[schellie69]

Last year I raised 4 chicks all the way to laying age no problem. I was so excited to it again this year. I just lost all 5 last Friday to my son's dog I thought the new coop where I had them was secure she found one weak spot and got them all. I have been very careful to make sure she is never outside unsupervised but just once my DD who is mentally challenged let her out then got busy helping with my grand daughter and the dog was left out. I had to go out of town Friday for to see a doctor so was not home when it happen found them after I got home. I am still not sure what I want to do, went to look at the new chicks at the farm store and that didn't even make me feel better. I guess we shall see.

 

[dianneS]

I get frustrated with hatching chicks or buying straight runs. If I buy extra to allow for loss, I end up with too many or I'm disappointed in how they turn out OR I end up with too many roosters!

If I buy just enough with a few extra in case of losses, I loose too many and always the ones I like the most! I had one silver sebright in my recent batch of bantams and was so excited to see her feather out. At about 4 weeks of age, she just died. I do still have a golden sebright, but I really liked that silver one. Now had I bought 4 or 5 or ten sebrights to allow for losses, they'd have all lived and probably more than half of them turned out to be roos!

I totally understand. Sometimes I think this is the last time I'm ever buying chicks again!

 

[JerseyHen]

I am feeling frustrated as well. My first shipment had a lot of DOA (17/25) so now I have to figure out how to incorporate different ages, temps, etc because they were supposed to reship yesterday. AND to top it off some of my chicks have a bit of red poo (lining, I think, but not sure) so on top of it all I have to figure out how to sequester the newbies until I am sure it isn't cocci. This is our first time with chicks and while I am not new to the world of animals and I know that it isn't always an easy thing, this is not what I had hoped for first time out... I still think they are adorable even with the gawky feathers and am entralled watching them develop (so at least I don't have that part going off as well).

 

[suzeqf]

i know the feeling but so far it hasn't hit me yet i love going into the shop every morning and being greeted by my big girls and i love watching them grow and develop and trying to guess if they are boys or girls and what will they look like when they get older yes it's sad when you have a loss and i'm sure i'll feel a little blue when all my babies are grown but then comes the excitment of who will lay first and do i let a broody hen hatch out her eggs and what will they be.