One of my first-ever chicks was killed by a predator last night. Two days before, I lost two chicks in hatching. I love the chicks I have left, and all I do now is worry about what can go wrong next. I check the babies for pasty butt twice a day. I fret over their food and water intake. I have my remaining six-week-old BR in the house with me, because no pen is safe enough. This was supposed to be fun.
You gotta relax!! Yes, it's hard to loose the little ones. That's why I don't want to deal with it...and the fact that it's also hard to rehome all the roos. Things happen, and we don't understand why. Now, you have to let go. They need to go out and eat some grass and feel the warmth on their bodies. And....of course the favorite thing of all....dust bathe! It's all good in the end. Just make sure you have a safe place to put them in. It'll be fun again.
Yes, you need to sit back, watch your chick and relax! Unfortunately losing animals is part of having animals. We need to do our very best to keep them safe and take good care of them and then ... enjoy them! We woke up to find one of our five week old chicks (my daughter's favorite) dead. No reason ... she was in the brooder box, everything was fine. Then, a few weeks later, I lost my favorite chick to my own dog (whom I love) - it was totally my fault and I learned a lesson real quickly. That was 14 months ago ... we've not lost anybody since then and we are really loving having our chickens. I was even brave enough to order more chicks this year and they have all done great and are outside in the coop/run loving life. I'm sitting here listening to two of my hens proclaiming to the world that they just gave me an egg! I love it. Don't quit, don't give up. Let your chicks be chicks and do all the things that chickens love to do and ENJOY!
relax --dont stress I know it is hard to lose them to for whatever reasons - I had a hen get killed just before she was old enough to start laying - and I have had my fair share of failed/bad hatches where i only got a few babies to hatch and I have had 2 batches in a row where none hatched -- but I still put eggs in the bator and watch over them from hatch to lay - you will lose chickens to illness injury or some animals killing them - you mourn for the ones you lost but than you look at the ones that still need you and in the end it will balance itself out all you can do is build them a safe run/coop and let them go outside and do what chickens do best - watch over them and hope for the best.
Quote: I don't know who told you it was supposed to be all fun, but raising chickens is often dirty, time- consuming and sad. Fun is just a byproduct of raising any animal! The rest can be stressful if you let it. The trick is to put things in proportion....if the stress level is greater than the pleasure derived (from ANY activity) then it is probably time to stop doing it. Life is much too short to intentionally waste time on things that make you feel bad!
If you can, try to take a deep breath and calm down a bit. :aww Make sure they are in a predator safe pen... or as safe as is possible, and then you will need to let them go... They need to experience life and you can't protect them from everything. Life happens... and you'll be amazed by the ones who make it through. This said, I totally understand your stress. Mine are almost 3 months old and I'm all stressed over integrating them with the bigger chickens. Each stage has its issues... Like raising children! Thank goodness for this forum - we do understand.
Quote:That's alot like my experience: You fret when you hear them peep. You fret when you hear them stop peeping. You are thrilled when they make a big poopy. Just when you think everything is fine, the spector of the big bad wolf raises its ugly head (for me a racoon strutting by in broad daylight a few feet away from us). I lost quite a few of one breed. The remaining ones are going strong. I had been wondering the same as you- when does this get to be relaxing. I commented to my husband this morning that time has finally arrived. It will be fun and relaxing for you soon.
I know its hard...I went through the same thing. Even had something break a hole in the side of my coop and have a buffet on my flock. I was about to give up, but im so happy I didnt. It turned out the coop had a soft spot, so re-sided the coop, bought a trap, and brought some babies home. Its hard, but we all loose some, no matter how hard we try. I send you lots of hugs though!!!!
BTDT...It sucks Splort with a silly straw...but I wouldn't trade being a chicken mommy for anything. Sorry for your loss.
