Only One Survived... Until This Morning

[Henriettamom919]

And I keep thinking they'd be alive if I hadn't ordered them. I was greedy and selfish, and now they are dead.

No, no, NO! You're not to blame here! Some of these hatchery factories treat chicks like they're produce while others report wonderful experiences! You are not to blame for their negligence!!! The fact that you care so much about the one surviving is evidence of how much you invest into those babies and its not your fault that they weren't competent!

 

[Cryss]

No, no, NO! You're not to blame here! Some of these hatchery factories treat chicks like they're produce while others report wonderful experiences! You are not to blame for their negligence!!! The fact that you care so much about the one surviving is evidence of how much you invest into those babies and its not your fault that they weren't competent!

X2...no, X200!

 

[Cryss]

PLEASE contact My Pet Chicken about this! They should be able to help you replace these poor babies. You waited 6 months and paid good money for your silkies, let them know that. Good luck and please keep us posted.

EDIT: Not sure how you feel about it, but you could keep her as a house chickie and keep her with you; silkies do well as house pets! They even sell diapers for them.

EDIT 2: Do you have any feed stores in your area, a small business one or a Tractor Supply or Murdoch's? You might contact them and ask if/when they have silkies coming in. But first thing first, call MPC and ask for replacement chicks!

At least make MPC refund your money if they won't replace your chickens.
You did nothing wrong.

 

[Chickens Forever]

No, no, NO! You're not to blame here! Some of these hatchery factories treat chicks like they're produce while others report wonderful experiences! You are not to blame for their negligence!!! The fact that you care so much about the one surviving is evidence of how much you invest into those babies and its not your fault that they weren't competent!

100%!!!

 

[Chickens Forever]

This is exactly my thought process.

She might be fine as a house chicken. I will have to see how my dog and cats do. My dog has been great with my other chickens, but she tends to go a little wacky when chicks are around. I have an 8 week old chick with a mama hen who she doesn't bother anymore. It's just when they are tiny. And my one cat couldn't care less. The other, however, is a mouser. He might be problematic.

There is a feed store locally, and they have silkies right now! I will have to take my chances that I get a cockerel, though. I will get 2 more today. Or I will get 2 other bantams. That way, I have a better chance of getting at least 1 pullet. I can rehome a roo if I absolutely have to. I have a couple of coworkers who have ranches and will accept roos.

MPC won't ship out fewer because of the mortality rate. More bantams = more heat and better survival rates. I will NOT order from a hatchery out of CA ever again. No breed is worth the sadness. They were sooo tiny and cute. I had already named them....


And I keep thinking they'd be alive if I hadn't ordered them. I was greedy and selfish, and now they are dead.

Oh sweetheart, my heart is broken for you. THIS IS NOT! I REPEAT, NOT!!! YOUR FAULT! As for the cat issue, what kind of setup do you have for your babies? How old is the chick with mama hen? Might she adopt this little one? At least part of the day, if possible, I would suggest wearing a hoodie with a front pocket pouch, or even making a little cloth pouch and tying it around your neck, so you can keep babychick close to your heart and help bond with her especially in these early days. You might also want to put a little plushie in the brooder for her to snuggle with when you aren't cuddling her. Have you checked out the Buy~Sell~Trade forum on here? You might post a 'Wanted' thread explaining your situation and see if you can find someone with silkies in your area to get more from. In the future, if possible, adopting from local breeders over hatcheries would be best. I know this isn't an option for everyone but it can save a lot of heartache. Bantie chicks especially suffer from rough treatment in shipping. Again, I am so sorry for your loss, and NO, under zero circumstances is this your fault!!!

 

[Aunt Angus]

You are awesome, everyone. Thank you. I feel somewhat better. I know I didn't do anything wrong, but you know how it is. Sometimes the brain and the heart disagree.

I am headed to the feed store right now (leaving work early) to get more chicks. I may end up with roos, but at least my one weird bantam won't be so weird as she's growing up.

I named her Thistle.

My mom went to check on her and said she seems to be doing well. She is drinking and peeping and walking around. She was just laying there this morning, so I am hoping she'll pull through.

 

[Chickens Forever]

Good on you, I am sure you can rehome the roos if you need to. Silkies are very popular and the roos can be easier to place. If they have any rare colors, you might go for that so any potential roos might be even easier to rehome. PLEASE call and complain to BYC still, though. I think, but I am not certain, they might have a 'guaranteed alive on arrival' policy, but at the very least they should issue a refund for the DOA chicks.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I picked up a black silkie (last one) and a silver sebright.

 

[Chickens Forever]

I picked up a black silkie (last one) and a silver sebright.

Awww! Sebrights are gorgeous birds! So glad you found another silkie, too. Pics please!!!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Here they are. I'm carrying them in the hood of an old hoodie.

Not sure about names for the other two. I'm thinking Violet for the black chick and Picotee for the silver (Picotee is when flowers' petals are laced, so it seems appropriate even though it's unusual for a name).