I killed my flock :’(

[Snowingamanda]

I killed my whole flock. I had them locked in a coop and I did not check in the morning to see that they have been let out, and by the time I discovered the mistake at 4:30 pm the California sun had killed them. I didn’t lock them, I was too tired yesterday after replanting a huge tree, and with electric fence, thoughts they’d be okay. So I knew they were out, but so happened that my daughter went and locked them last night and it didn’t occur to me to check or even ask today! I lost a couple of chickens to heat before so I was paranoid about it. I have 5 or 6 water stations, including an automatic waterer. But the coop is too small and Each time I tried to put water there they knocked it down so I didn’t. And now all 5 of my beautiful, gentle babies died! They laid beautiful blue and brown shades eggs. And they even laid one before dying of heat stroke. I can’t look at it. I had a chicken or two die before from heat or predators, and always enhanced safety and moved on, but today I just can’t. I’ve cried for hours and even kids could t comfort me. Now I calmed down but I can’t eat or even get up. I just don’t know how to go on now. They all died suffering, and all my joy and pride left with them. If anyone was in this situation before, how did you move on?

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

I am so sorry I can't imagine your pain think of how happy their lives were though? They were loved

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Oh, goodness.
It isn't your fault. It isn't. Please don't blame yourself for it. I've blamed myself for my baby Easter Egger dying from a heart attack while I wasn't home, for my Plymouth Rock getting flystrike and I realized to late.
It's not worth it. Because it isn't your fault. It was a misunderstanding, a mistake.
I'm so utterly sorry you lost your feather babies, but please don't blame yourself.

 

[MROO]

Talk to your daughter. I can guarantee you that she feels like she caused both their deaths and your trauma. It's NOT HER FAULT and it's NOT YOUR FAULT! You both did what you thought was the right thing, but the actions clashed. It was a fluke. As hard as they are to handle, accidents happen. Grieve together, forgive each other and forgive yourselves, but keep moving.

 

[MROO]

YOU didn't kill your flock. The HEAT did it. Correct the mistake for your next flock ... and then treat yourself to some cute, fluffy little peeps!

 

[Steven Bussell]

May I ask where about in Ca.. I'm here in Nor Bay
I'm so sorry for your loss. As said please tell your daughter it's not her fault. I would be proud that she did exactly what need to be done without having to be asked.
Before you start over you may want to improve your ventilation.

 

[Snowingamanda]

May I ask where about in Ca.. I'm here in Nor Bay
I'm so sorry for your loss. As said please tell your daughter it's not her fault. I would be proud that she did exactly what need to be done without having to be asked.
Before you start over you may want to improve your ventilation.

Thank you for your kind support. Yes, I rolen my daughter that she did everything right. It’s on the adult to check for details... but I will talk to her and my other 2 kids again when I feel like I can give them support. They tried to rescusitate our babies
We are in Davis, it’s close to Sacramento. The coop is well ventilated, but in the direct sunlight... we don’t have space to move the coop but my husband said he’ll try to engineer an automatic door opener if we have another flock. Again, thank you for your kindness!

 

[Snowingamanda]

Thank you all for your kindness and support! I knew you would understand! It hurts so much I can’t share with people in person, and your support means the world to me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

SO very sorry to hear about what happened! If you decide to try with chickens again, may I make a couple of suggestions? An auto door is a great idea, but don't rely on it because they can fail - mine randomly glitched one morning and didn't open. Make it part of your routine (or your kids routine) to check in on the chickens both morning and evening. My auto door was set to open at 7:50 AM but I caught the problem by 8:30 when I woke up and let the dogs out and didn't see the chickens outside.

 

[Snowingamanda]

An auto door is a great idea, but don't rely on it because they can fail - mine randomly glitched one morning and didn't open.

Thank you, I had no idea! Yes, I was thinking, if only I put an alarm clock or a calendar reminder before it happened!! So, thank you for letting me know that it’s a good idea even with the door opener. I also wonder if turning the coop so the wall will face the sun and the wire mesh face away from the sun and maybe somehow installing another automatic waterer would work... I thought the heavy duty sun shade I had over the wire mesh was enough :’(