New here- have 4 chicks and I'm in way over my head

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greateggspectations

In the Brooder
Apr 15, 2022
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We have 4 2-week old chickens; this is our first experience with them. We have a Buff Orpington, RIR, Easter Egger, and a Golden Sex Link. And while we thought we wouldn't get attached, here we are. We lost our littlest chick yesterday and it completely devastated us. We still don't know how or why except that she only grew slightly in the 2 weeks we had her, despite her eating and drinking like the others.

I joined BYC because neither my husband or I have any experience with chickens. We finally got chickens because I love the idea of a pet that also benefits us- eggs, bug control, composting, etc. I also hope to get our coop set up such that we could leave on vacation for a week and they would be self-sufficient (except for a neighbor collecting eggs of course).

But honestly I'm a little scared. It seems like it's so easy to lose them- predators, parasites, mites, infections, etc. that I'm starting to wonder if we are really cut out for having chickens. I also don't want something to happen to them because of our negligence or stupidity.

Please tell me the joys of having chickens. Hold my chicken-noobie hand and tell me this will be a good experience.


 
Babies of any kind can be delicate and it is scary to be responsible for them. Losing one is hard and makes you question yourself, but you have gotten this far with the others so you are likely doing fine. Sometimes they just don't thrive. It sounds like you already care about them, because you worry which is a sign of caring. As they grow, they will be stronger and show you their personalities and fun side. Hang in there, chickens can be fun too! We are here to help also. I knew nothing when I got mine, but I've learned so much from all the folks here.
 
Hello, and welcome to BYC! I'm so glad you decided to join our friendly and helpful community ☺️
Chickens are fun and are funny! They reach have their own individual personalities. 🥰
Don't worry, you'll do just fine. Post any questions you have and we'll do our best to help you out.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.

I'm so sorry you lost the chick. Sadly, some chicks hatch with unseen defects and just don't make it.

I have my coop and run set up for maximum ease of care so it's pretty easy for someone to do chores for me. I hire my nephew to tend the flock for me. The way I know he does a good job is that egg production doesn't drop at all.
I wouldn't leave them without someone to care for them.
 
:welcome

Hello, it's nice to have you here with us!

Sorry for your loss, some chicks just don't thrive and that's no reflection on the owner. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just ask questions...there are a lot of knowledgeable people here to help you out. Raising a flock can be so rewarding! Chickens are interesting and there's always something new to learn.

Best wishes!
 
Novices and experts alike lose chicks sometimes. If the others are doing fine and she just wasn't growing, the problem likely had nothing to do with you. While it was unsettling and sad, it shouldn't stop you from going forth and enjoying chickens.

However, at some point, negligence and stupidity can be a factor in losses; it eventually happens to just about everyone. I once forgot to close a coop door and lost three of my four original hens to a mink attack. I was sure I was the worst chicken owner EVER. I didn't think I deserved to have chickens.

Let's just say, that was many, many chickens (ducks and geese) ago. I've lost some more along the way, but I've also spent endless hours admiring my beautiful birds, their incredible eggs and their endless entertaining antics.

This is a great group for beginners because someone here will almost always have dealt with the same challenges as you and will be more than happy to help you. It's also a great community that will celebrate your successes with you.

Welcome to BYC; let us help whenever and however we can!
 
I am a new chicken Mom too, so I completely feel your pain. We have six 8 week old girls and three 7 month old girls that we got when they were 4 months old. We have lost one pullet and 2 baby chicks in our 3 months having chickens and I admit it has been tough. When we got our first girls, the guy we got them from said one thing to understand is that chickens die easily. And I guess that is true and I hate that. But I can tell you that this baby stage is WAY harder than the big girl stage so just keep pressing on. :) It gets easier. I didn't even want chickens, this is my husband's deal and when I went out and found they laid their first egg I was elated... And then I realized that maybe I was enjoying this chicken mama thing more than I was admitting. :) We are planning a vacation in June and by that point our little ones should be fully integrated and daily care is pretty much open the coop door, put out food and water in the morning and then close the door and pick up the food and water at night. So I feel comfortable leaving them. Give it some time!
 

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