Just lost our 1st chick! :0( - What did we do wrong?

[ChickenKelly]

We just lost an 11 week old chick last night. Having only (4) this is a huge loss for us. Not sure what went wrong. Friday night she started drooping, Saturday she was really fluffed out and hunched over, we took her to the vet they said she had some bacteria (Clostridium) and gave her antibotics, yet she died last night. The vet kinda chaulked it up as a weak chick? Really no rhyme or reason...

Not sure what we could have done. We are at a complete sad loss! Worried about our remaining 3 babies and really just don't know what to do.

How do you get over the sadness and start to refocus on the fun they have brought to our lives? We never anticiapted being so shaken up about loosing a chick.

Please help.

 

[lilys chickens]

We know how you feel. We had 6 (mixed breeds) 8 months old and our White Orbington (Snowball) died yesterday. She was weak and not eating or drinking on Sat and by Sunday she was dead. We are heart broken. She was the one with the most personality and liked to be picked up and stroked. We don't know what happened either. We did not take her to a vet. Happened so quickly. She just started laying too. Only change in daily habit was changing food from started to mixing in layer food. We are having a really hard time with her death. My daughter won't go to the coop. Having only 6 one is a big loss as well. Wish you luck with your chicks.

 

[ChickenKelly]

It helps to know we are not alone with the sadness, yet I am really nervous about rasing chickens and even doubting my ability. I didn't know my new babies would be so fragile and didn't prepare myself for this kind of loss.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The pain will be there as you think of the lost ones, but it does help to buy more and just keep going.

I am sorry for your losses (Kelly and Lily). I try to buy more chicks than I need due to hawk losses and chick mortality (I usually lose one or two out of 25 for unknown reasons), but not everyone has the space (I use a shed after the brooder) to do this.


Your survivors will take over the coop and be lively and cheerful, keeping the place running for you.

(So there is nothing you could have done IMO.)

 

[lilys chickens]

It helps to know we are not alone with the sadness, yet I am really nervous about rasing chickens and even doubting my ability. I didn't know my new babies would be so fragile and didn't prepare myself for this kind of loss.

We are new as well and were nervous but for the last 4 months it has been really easy and enjoyable. Each chicken has their own personality and they enjoy following us around. Now having experiencing the loss of Snowball, we are so worried. We thought they would be with us for years. Time I think will help as in any death. good luck