Looking for some encouragement

[AzDuck]

Hi BYC,

I have been a member here since I got my ducks in April. I want to start by saying that this site has been so helpful, and many times has been my saving grace. Although I have always had chickens, these April ducklings are my first experience with ducks. They have become my whole life. I spend my free time with them, I talk to them like they are my kids, have security cameras all over, and genuinely love them with my entire being.

My problem is that I suffer from a lot of anxiety and have for most of my life. I have now become completely obsessed with something happening to my ducks. I watch them so closely that I am constantly finding things that I think may be wrong with them. I then Google myself into actual panic attacks thinking that I may lose one of them or have to take them to the vet. I also get very nervous that we don’t have any avian vets within 100+ miles of me. We lost a duckling 2 days after they arrived (for an unknown reason) and I cried for days.

I just want to feel like a good duck mom. In my heart, I know that my ducks have a good life, a very safe house, treats, and love, but I can’t shake the terrible feeling of possibly letting them down. Has anyone on BYC suffered with feelings like this and actually overcome them?

There are some days I just wish someone who worried less could have my ducks because I’m so scared, but they are also such a great source of happiness for me that I couldn’t imagine my life without them.

Thank you guys I know a lot of you really really love your birds, and I’m hoping I can find someone to relate.
& sorry for pouring my heart out, it’s just been one of those weeks.
*these are the babies earlier this summer*

 

[sourland]

 

[AzDuck]

Hugs right back

 

[deidreg]

@AzDuck, thanks for being brave and giving voice to something many of us experience, but may not want to admit. I suspect even more people are experiencing rising anxiety since the start of the pandemic. So much is not in my control and I grasp onto things I think I can control. Like my flock. It gives me some sense of feeling grounded--most of the time.

Just know you are doing a great job with your birds and you're not alone.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Great encouragement from the post above @deidreg. I have anxiety, and anxiety about my chickens, I just try to go with the flow and keep them as safe as possible...and when things are beyond my control, learn to live with it. Love them and do your best.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

You are still a new poultry parent. It will calm in time. Especially with new chicks and first flock it's tough.
I was most eased when my hen went broody. I didn't want new chicks but decided to let her go and observe. She did absolutely everything and didn't need any of my help. The only time things went wrong is when I tried to help. She didn't set up heat lamp, she didn't check them for pasty butt, she didn't worry when the chicks fell asleep looking like they were dead. Only here did it sink in that birds have been raising chicks without human technology for a very long time. And if this is true they will probably be just fine without us babying them. If they were so delicate they probably wouldn't have survived to now.

 

[Xouie]

I can’t say “I know how you feel”, but I can tell you what I see. Healthy beautiful babies. They are doing great — YOU are doing great with them. When you start to feel the strong anxiety, take a deep breath and take a look at them. Send out a post, reach out. We’re here; you’re part of our flock too.

 

[AzDuck]

@AzDuck, thanks for being brave and giving voice to something many of us experience, but may not want to admit. I suspect even more people are experiencing rising anxiety since the start of the pandemic. So much is not in my control and I grasp onto things I think I can control. Like my flock. It gives me some sense of feeling grounded--most of the time.

Just know you are doing a great job with your birds and you're not alone.

Thank you I am so grateful for your input.

 

[AzDuck]

You are still a new poultry parent. It will calm in time. Especially with new chicks and first flock it's tough.
I was most eased when my hen went broody. I didn't want new chicks but decided to let her go and observe. She did absolutely everything and didn't need any of my help. The only time things went wrong is when I tried to help. She didn't set up heat lamp, she didn't check them for pasty butt, she didn't worry when the chicks fell asleep looking like they were dead. Only here did it sink in that birds have been raising chicks without human technology for a very long time. And if this is true they will probably be just fine without us babying them. If they were so delicate they probably wouldn't have survived to now.

That’s what I try and tell myself, over and over. I hear that ducks are very hardy and I need to remember that. And of course chickens too!

There are ducks out there in worse conditions that are doing okay as well. I need to not look at all the worst case things on Google/FB.
Thank you

 

[AzDuck]

Great encouragement from the post above @deidreg. I have anxiety, and anxiety about my chickens, I just try to go with the flow and keep them as safe as possible...and when things are beyond my control, learn to live with it. Love them and do your best.

It’s the learning to live with it that I just have to accept. I know it will take time, but I’m definitely going to try and continue to do my very best for them Thank you.