I'm just sick, the dog ate my 2 chicks.

[Aunt Angus]

I accidentally killed a hen when picked her up incorrectly while she had a sour crop. I knew she had a full crop, but when I picked her up, she vomited, aspirated, and died within seconds. I knew better.

I also lost a weak chick this year when I went to a work function and had to leave her in the brooder. I'm a teacher and the student activities director at the high school where I work. It was prom night - I was in charge of the prom. I couldn't really miss it, but I knew that the chick would die without care. I went to the prom and had a great time. When I got home, she'd died. I felt so guilty. I could have saved her.

I think most of us have made similar mistakes. It's hard not to blame ourselves, but all we can do is learn from it and try to do better next time. But that's easier said than done, for sure.

 

[McChooky]

Fell asleep one time cuddling a baby chick on the pillow beside me while watching tv ( I was like 12 or 13 at the time)Found it flatter than a pancake the next morning where I had fallen asleep and rolled over on top of it. Some things you never forgive yourself for.

 

[DebbieMarler]

My Great Pyrenees-Husky mix killed two of my pullets that made the fatal error of squeezing under the fence into our backyard. That was 2 yrs ago. I was really diligent about making sure they couldn't get under the fence afterwards. Then she matured and lost interest in them completely and I let my guard down. In the past 6 months, I noticed chicks in the backyard at least a half dozen times and my dog didn't care a whit. Never even got up to take a step in their direction. I felt comfortable thinking my problems were past....until a month ago when our 7 month old Yorkie-Australian Shepherd mix had killed a chick that got through the fence.

I felt SO GUILTY and mad at myself because I should have KNOWN BETTER... Yeah, many of us have made stupid, preventable mistakes by being complacent.

That's how I feel

 

[DebbieMarler]

I am so sorry. How old were your chicks? What kind of dog do you have?

2 days old, the dog is a border collie.

 

[HollyBerrie]

My dog sniffs the chicks, especially their butts. They're 9-10 weeks old. He's gotten a peck on the nose when he tried to sniff one's beak.

 

[Battlepants]

It's a hard lesson to learn, but sometimes reality just needs to slap us down to educate us. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and you are learning from this experience to make sure that it doesn't happen again. This is really all that can be done and I feel like you are going to be just fine with this next batch.

On a side note, you mentioned 22 eggs in the incubator, so it sounds to me like you are going with a decently sized operation here. Would it be worth it to set up a permanent brooder in the garage, for example? Something made of plywood and hardware cloth is going to stand the tests of many MANY generations of chicks and can be designed to be near impenetrable to any non-humans, while taking all the stink of chick-raising out to the garage. This would also give you a dedicated hospital for your chickens, should the need happen.

 

[Let There Be Light]

Well I came home from work to find nothing in the brooder. The border collie Got in the house, my grandson left the door open on accident. I guess I didn't deserve them, so much for being a chicken mom. I've got 22 in the incubator, it won't happen twice. I'm58, I should know better than To leave them unguarded in a cardboard box hoping To leave them unguarded in a cardboard box hoping a door would keep them safe.

Aww, so sad! Don't blame yourself for it. Almost every chicken mom has experienced something like that.

 

[DebbieMarler]

It's a hard lesson to learn, but sometimes reality just needs to slap us down to educate us. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and you are learning from this experience to make sure that it doesn't happen again. This is really all that can be done and I feel like you are going to be just fine with this next batch.

On a side note, you mentioned 22 eggs in the incubator, so it sounds to me like you are going with a decently sized operation here. Would it be worth it to set up a permanent brooder in the garage, for example? Something made of plywood and hardware cloth is going to stand the tests of many MANY generations of chicks and can be designed to be near impenetrable to any non-humans, while taking all the stink of chick-raising out to the garage. This would also give you a dedicated hospital for your chickens, should the need happen.

Yes, that is the plan now. Lumber and wire.

 

[samanthaoverton]

A Yorkie Australian shepherd mix? How is that even possible. I'd say it was the Yorkie side that did it. They're were trained to kill mice. What an odd cross of dog. I know random. Sorry.

My Great Pyrenees-Husky mix killed two of my pullets that made the fatal error of squeezing under the fence into our backyard. That was 2 yrs ago. I was really diligent about making sure they couldn't get under the fence afterwards. Then she matured and lost interest in them completely and I let my guard down. In the past 6 months, I noticed chicks in the backyard at least a half dozen times and my dog didn't care a whit. Never even got up to take a step in their direction. I felt comfortable thinking my problems were past....until a month ago when our 7 month old Yorkie-Australian Shepherd mix had killed a chick that got through the fence.

I felt SO GUILTY and mad at myself because I should have KNOWN BETTER... Yeah, many of us have made stupid, preventable mistakes by being complacent.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Sorry about your chicks, I had a blue heeler one time and 2 chicks in a box. The blue heeler pulled one out, and licked it to death. (We found the chick not chewed just wet.) When it died she felt so bad she didn't want to get near the other chick, and she never went near a chicken again.