Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[definit]

I lost a chick last night and I'm still a little sad over it. I noticed she was pretty runty compared to the others so I picked her up to look for pasty butt, etc and found an injury towards her side. I'm not sure how it happened but I'm wondering if it was maybe caused by the feeder given how voracious the chicks get when I refill the feeders. I have several of the circular ones and one of them doesn't come with the bottle to screw in the middle, and I imagine the little one tried to eat in the middle hole and then got stuck somehow. I tried putting some ointment on her and noticed her tendency to go over to the other chicks and huddle with them, despite them being larger and actively trampling on one another so I quarantined her in a small box with her own food and water but she kept chirping unhappily so i placed the box within the brooder. I checked up on her periodically and a few hours later she was gone.

I guess this is why my parents will never agree to a dog, if I get this upset over a little chick. Well sorry to hijack the thread with this little tidbit. Just wanted to get it off my chest and try to feel better.

 

[goldeneggtees]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your baby chick, sounds like you did what you could but these things happen sometimes and there is no explanation why.

 

[Imprfctme]

I lost a chick last night and I'm still a little sad over it. I noticed she was pretty runty compared to the others so I picked her up to look for pasty butt, etc and found an injury towards her side. I'm not sure how it happened but I'm wondering if it was maybe caused by the feeder given how voracious the chicks get when I refill the feeders. I have several of the circular ones and one of them doesn't come with the bottle to screw in the middle, and I imagine the little one tried to eat in the middle hole and then got stuck somehow. I tried putting some ointment on her and noticed her tendency to go over to the other chicks and huddle with them, despite them being larger and actively trampling on one another so I quarantined her in a small box with her own food and water but she kept chirping unhappily so i placed the box within the brooder. I checked up on her periodically and a few hours later she was gone.

I guess this is why my parents will never agree to a dog, if I get this upset over a little chick. Well sorry to hijack the thread with this little tidbit. Just wanted to get it off my chest and try to feel better.

Sorry to hear it! It is always sad to lose a pet, no matter how big or small.

 

[goldeneggtees]

I remember when I was younger, I had a little parakeet that talked. She would mumble "give me a kiss sunshine". She was so cute and such a good little friend to me. She got sick and died and I cried and cried for days. I still think of her. Don't worry, it's normal to cry and is helpful too.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

I lost a chick last night and I'm still a little sad over it. I noticed she was pretty runty compared to the others so I picked her up to look for pasty butt, etc and found an injury towards her side. I'm not sure how it happened but I'm wondering if it was maybe caused by the feeder given how voracious the chicks get when I refill the feeders. I have several of the circular ones and one of them doesn't come with the bottle to screw in the middle, and I imagine the little one tried to eat in the middle hole and then got stuck somehow. I tried putting some ointment on her and noticed her tendency to go over to the other chicks and huddle with them, despite them being larger and actively trampling on one another so I quarantined her in a small box with her own food and water but she kept chirping unhappily so i placed the box within the brooder. I checked up on her periodically and a few hours later she was gone.

I guess this is why my parents will never agree to a dog, if I get this upset over a little chick. Well sorry to hijack the thread with this little tidbit. Just wanted to get it off my chest and try to feel better.

Don;t feel bad about crying. I have a 1 week old silkie chick with a head tilt. The other day I thought she was a goner. I cried, then my kids cried. It is a normal reaction to being sad. Losing a pet is never easy. When I had to put my ancient doberman down at age 13, (The dog was 13, I was in my late 30's) I couldn't breathe. The Vet had to drive me home.

It shows a great deal of caring on your part, and that's NEVER a bad thing.

 

[smkchick]

I lost a chick last night and I'm still a little sad over it. I noticed she was pretty runty compared to the others so I picked her up to look for pasty butt, etc and found an injury towards her side. I'm not sure how it happened but I'm wondering if it was maybe caused by the feeder given how voracious the chicks get when I refill the feeders. I have several of the circular ones and one of them doesn't come with the bottle to screw in the middle, and I imagine the little one tried to eat in the middle hole and then got stuck somehow. I tried putting some ointment on her and noticed her tendency to go over to the other chicks and huddle with them, despite them being larger and actively trampling on one another so I quarantined her in a small box with her own food and water but she kept chirping unhappily so i placed the box within the brooder. I checked up on her periodically and a few hours later she was gone.

I guess this is why my parents will never agree to a dog, if I get this upset over a little chick. Well sorry to hijack the thread with this little tidbit. Just wanted to get it off my chest and try to feel better.

Never apologize for feeling deeply! I'm still getting used to dealing with such small fragile creatures. It's so hard to tell what's wrong and it's so easy to lose them. She was probably never strong so maybe it's better that she's gone.

You did what you could.

And stay with the thread - no better chicken people anywhere!!

 

[Glasshen]

I read this thread, then a few others and my thoughts keep coming back to the subjects of people judging others and the inevitability of grief.

It is a beautiful thing that people have different values, and tastes. I'm older now, and find that I have less desire to please people than I did. There is no one on earth who has exactly the same feelings, likes, dislikes etc as Me. We are all unique, yet we want acceptance, yet, we may not always get that, as others too have their own set of likes etc. I think aiming for respect is perhaps more realistic, and respecting ourselves is a good start. Having chickens is unusual to some, and some people fear the unusual. But knowing ourselves and knowing that we are good people is really important, and our judgement of ourselves is more important than others judgements of us.

And, grief is a very uncomfortable feeling, but comes to us all many times over our lives. Caring, is opening the door to being hurt, as is loving, but the world is a bleak place without love and caring. Sometimes parents try to spare their children uncomfortable experiences, and that is because they love them. But, some parents know that grief is inevitable and so allow their children to feel the uncomfortable feelings while they are with them so they can help them through the painful times, and the children will have the experience to fall back on later in life when they are independent.

All of us feel sad when we loose a chick or a bird whe have had for years. I say GOOD. I don't ever want to become so insensitive that I can't feel sad when an animal that I care for dies. What kind of a person would I be then?

 

[JerseyHen]

Happy news!!!! The eggs under my first broody are hatching! One chick out and the other two are split open. The first chick is soooo tiny! I hope it is ok. Maybe it is because it is still a little wet. Broody Mama hen let me peek at it and didn't try to bite me or anything. She is really friendly! Yay! Something to be happy about today! I will post pics when I can.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Happy news!!!! The eggs under my first broody are hatching! One chick out and the other two are split open. The first chick is soooo tiny! I hope it is ok. Maybe it is because it is still a little wet. Broody Mama hen let me peek at it and didn't try to bite me or anything. She is really friendly! Yay! Something to be happy about today! I will post pics when I can.

WOO HOO!

Let us know how it goes!! I can't wait to see pictures!!

 

[Imprfctme]

I read this thread, then a few others and my thoughts keep coming back to the subjects of people judging others and the inevitability of grief.
It is a beautiful thing that people have different values, and tastes. I'm older now, and find that I have less desire to please people than I did. There is no one on earth who has exactly the same feelings, likes, dislikes etc as Me. We are all unique, yet we want acceptance, yet, we may not always get that, as others too have their own set of likes etc. I think aiming for respect is perhaps more realistic, and respecting ourselves is a good start. Having chickens is unusual to some, and some people fear the unusual. But knowing ourselves and knowing that we are good people is really important, and our judgement of ourselves is more important than others judgements of us.
And, grief is a very uncomfortable feeling, but comes to us all many times over our lives. Caring, is opening the door to being hurt, as is loving, but the world is a bleak place without love and caring. Sometimes parents try to spare their children uncomfortable experiences, and that is because they love them. But, some parents know that grief is inevitable and so allow their children to feel the uncomfortable feelings while they are with them so they can help them through the painful times, and the children will have the experience to fall back on later in life when they are independent.
All of us feel sad when we loose a chick or a bird whe have had for years. I say GOOD. I don't ever want to become so insensitive that I can't feel sad when an animal that I care for dies. What kind of a person would I be then?

I could not have said it better.