Omg you are scaring me

[cafarmgirl]

Chicks and chickens are fairly easy to keep. My current flock of 9 is over two years old now, I didn't loose any as chicks, no illnesses, no losses to predators.

Chicks need to be kept warm, clean, safe and fed and, barring the occasional chick that is simply non viable for whatever reason you will generally have a high success rate.

Adult birds need a safe coop/run and good nutrition. Obviously free roaming birds are at very high risk of predation, a choice you will have to make.

But don't be overwhelmed. Lot's of people keep chickens for years, myself included, with very few problems. And of course when/if you do encounter a problem you have all of us here to help!

 

[Judy]

Think how few serious problems are brought up as new topics in a day, compared to around 100,000 members, plus all the people who read but don't join, plus who knows how many more who have chickens and have never been motivated to find a forum like BYC. It's wise to be prepared for the possibility of illness or sudden death, of course. But really, most of them do just fine. I've had this flock for a few years, and this is about my 4th flock. I've seen a few minor injuries and an occasional unexplained death, but no other illness.

New chicks are vulnerable for a few days, especially after shipping, sometimes because of some internal defect we never identify. But once they start growing and doing well after a few days, you really should relax and enjoy!

 

[Vtchicks]

Thank you for the help, feeling better and I suspected that was the case. I ussually read the most recent topics on the main page, kinda addicting. I started with 8 and now have 8 one month old EEs. Coop is done and run should be done tomorrow. i am going to put them in the coop as soon as the run is done and secure. Thanks again.

Russ

 

[ChicKat]

Congrats Russ,

if you started with 8, and you still have 8-- you are doing great. With a coop and secure run, you will have a long and happy chicken experience ahead of you...

 

[Katydid2011]

Quote:
Me too!

 

[citychickx6]

6 happy, healthy city chickens lol more like suburban chickens. All is well here no losses when younger and no injuries so far.
New to chickens in a neighborhood and enjoying it very much. Silly chickens make me laugh every day.
Had many chickens in the country (28 laying hens and assorted others just cause they were cute)no losses when they were young. Had one get out of the run and drown in the stock tank.

Had one go broody in the winter and got to cold.

The flock was 5 years strong when I got divorced and had to rehome them.

Like others have said MOST backyard chickens live healthy long lives.

Enjoy those silly clowns.

 

[peterlund]

Hmmmm.... Good point. I have had many chickens of late..... Lets forget about the Cornish X that had their issues, and I will focus on the regular girls. The only losses I have had were from me allowing my ladies to free range and some critter decided they were dinner.... Then there were the ducks that were allowed to free range... then the time I forgot to close up the run............. Hmmmmm Like I thought, they girls are fine as long as us owners do our part. Health... Never my issue. No Bumblefoot, no crop impacting... I had a lady with an eye that was red raw and being pecked at by the others, but 1 dose of antibiotic cream and a clean up with 3 hours solitary, and she was good to go... ANd sad to say out loud the antibiotic was just simple neosporin... No you shouldn't use it in the eyes, but it worked just fine and my girl is none the worse for my apathy. I had a few Meat chicken die here and there, but they are not your normal chickens to figure into a sustainability plan. Get your chickens and they will do just fine... even with us humans guardians they put their trust into.... They are virtually bulletproof, although I haven't truly tried this theory... Good luck.

 

[Jerseycoop]

I did the same! I read everything and worried about what did I get myself into! BUT because of all the wonderful people on BYC most of my fears have been put to rest. There's a lot of common sense and experience on here, soon you'll worry less

 

[PippyChicken]

Don't be worried!

They'll be alright as long as they have proper care,food,water,etc.

 

[Nicole01]

The lady at the farm store says roughly 1 out of 4 die. I bought 8 and they all lived. My neighbor bought 4 and one died, so she replaced it with 4 more and all 7 are still alive. I treated with probiotics and vitamins and my chicks are super healthy. My neighbor now treats with vitamins and probiotics as well.