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

[BarefootMom]

If I did--I wouldn't have over 100 chicks in the brooder. I don't like buying them from the BINS at chick days unless it is from a hatchery that already ahve them sexed. Out of the 135 that I started out with only 4 have died so it isn't that depressing.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

I will most likely get more baby chicks, but I wish I had stuck to my original plan of waiting to the end of March to get any chicks. None of my chicks died, and they are all healthy, but it was certainly very difficult to get them to this point too early in the season. We had an exceptionally cold and wet March, after the warm and sunny day when I "impulse bought" my first six chicks.

I was only partially prepared when I walked into TSC on the first day of Chick Days and couldn't resist the bin of Australorp pullets that had just been set up. I spent a couple of hours shopping at the co-op, Lowe's and TSC to get ready BEFORE buying the chicks, but I still had to go home and throw together a temporary brooder in my kitchen so I could get the chicks out of the box. After that, it seemed I was hanging on by my fingernails just to keep ahead of the game.

I seldom impulse buy anything, and know that this is best in my case. I certainly learned a lot, and my chicks didn't suffer from my decision, but it would have been better all around if I had waited. I was raised on a farm with chickens, so I know they don't stay cute little fuzz balls long, so that had nothing to do with my case of buyers remorse.

 

[chicmom]

Oh boy.....The first time I incubated, I had a chick die (it looked perfect) and I was really bummed.....This spring I bought some chicks from TSC and two little bantams died......I do know the feeling you're describing...

As far as the feathering out, not looking to be what you want, I haven' had that feeling. That's the exciting part to me...watching them change and grow.

BUT, if they're not exactly what I want, I sell them! Craig's List is wonderful for that! I have limited space, so it's important for me to have the breeds that I like. That goes for personality too...any mean hens or roos have to go!

Sorry for your disappointment, but sell them, research, and get the breeds you want!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I like the bird raising part. And we eat excess roosters, so for us that is not a problem.

My depression comes when I hatched or bought too many un-sexed chicks and end up with more hens in the fall than I really need. I always feel guilty culling a "working girl" and fall is not a great time to sell point-of-lay pullets. So I end up keeping them, and as the recent magazine article says "if you have too much poop, you have too many poopers". Costs of feed and bedding add up. I can sometimes sell these 1yr hens in the spring, but I have a lot of money in them by then. It would be much better if I could be hard-hearted in the fall and ruthlessly reduce the size of the flock.

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

Quote:
I read on here that if they havent been exposed to adult chickens that they cant have cocci. IDK if that is 100% but I did read it on here, so it might be something to look into.

 

[schellie69]

I posted earlier about the 5 I lost just left tractor supply with 7 new babies 3 are straight run bantams now if they turn out to be roosters either I will sell on CL or local paper or we will eat them. The other 4 are sexed pullets 2 SLW and 2 EE's I love watching the chicks feather out that is the best part. I am so excited now to have new fluffy butts.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Quote:
Sorry about your recent loss! I am glad that you are wanting to start again. Chicks need good homes with someone who knows how to care for them.

 

[JerseyHen]

Quote:
I read on here that if they havent been exposed to adult chickens that they cant have cocci. IDK if that is 100% but I did read it on here, so it might be something to look into.

I thought it could be carried by any number of wild birds and in the dirt that gets tracked into the brooder area. I do take them out of the brooder when I am cleaning it and they peck all over the floor, but I am hoping that the exposure was too limited and they are all doing really well (at least, I think they are).

My reshipment from Welp arrived this morning! 20/20 all peeping and healthy and beautiful. Yeah!!!

 

[sweeterdeeter42]

Quote:
Are you going to make chicken nuggets? lol. The bantams that I got at Tractor Supply the first time all turned out to be sebrights except 2. Im glad you got some fluffies, hopefully they will help you with the loss of your other 5.

And Jerseyhen, idk, I just read it on here and thought I'd offer the info up for you if you wanted to look into it. But I think that cocci is like liquid blood that pools around the poop or is on the poop, and lining looks like actual pink tissue in or on the poop. did you look at the poop chart? I found a link to it on here somewhere too.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

I think that you have raised a good point on this thread. It has helped me consider why so many of us (myself included) keep going back for more baby chicks. We don't want the good times to end! While I am not disappointed in my older chickens, each stage of growth offers new challenges. I just tried to integrate two flocks and finally gave up after 5 days. Nobody was happy, me most of all.

From this forum, I have learned to wait until they are older. Chickens are a lot of work. The dust, the poop, the pecking, the . . . I could go on and on. But, what keeps most of us going is the feeling that we are doing right by raising chickens who are well cared for and also the absolute relaxation that occurs when you hang with a flock at peace.