URGENT REQUEST!!!!! Lost 8 chicks :'( NEED ADVICE...

[bjw113]

Mithious,
Thanks for your gracious reply. I find most of the chicken folks are like you.. and I agree, while you may have been a TAD overzealous

in your responses regarding Mareks, I DO understand and acknowledge that your intent was heartfelt and sincere. I too pray for my babies (and all of them, cats, dogs & horses too) and truly appreciate your prayers. I believe with all my heart that the problem that I experienced was indeed shipping stress due to the high temperatures and the rapid decline in my babies health. I am heartened though to watch the remaining 19 little ones run around and do ALOT of acrobatics!!! LOL!! I could spend hours... WAIT, I DO spend hours just watching them!! I will NEVER again order babies this late in the year, this year my intent was to order early in April, but a illness and death in my family delayed this for me and I SO wanted to have new chicks this year, however I will never again do something so selfish because the heartache is too much... Thank you for your friendship! and best wishes to you and your flock!!

 

[bjw113]

Eggsoteric,
I am SO sorry for your loss. I DO remember the cold snap, so sometimes we just can't predict the temperatures..and sadly enough, these little one sure are susceptible to the shipping stress.. Interestingly enough, on my first shipment of 24, I only lost 1 and it was DOA. I too had one that was iffy, but was able to pull it through just with giving it water. I WILL get some Poly-Vi-Sol (without iron) next time I order and I really appreciate that information. I try to do everything possible but I do think next order will be for shipments in May or June and pray we don't have a early hot spell. Best wishes with your little ones and thank you so much for your reply.

 

[mithious]

Mithious,
Thanks for your gracious reply. I find most of the chicken folks are like you.. and I agree, while you may have been a TAD overzealous

in your responses regarding Mareks, I DO understand and acknowledge that your intent was heartfelt and sincere. I too pray for my babies (and all of them, cats, dogs & horses too) and truly appreciate your prayers. I believe with all my heart that the problem that I experienced was indeed shipping stress due to the high temperatures and the rapid decline in my babies health. I am heartened though to watch the remaining 19 little ones run around and do ALOT of acrobatics!!! LOL!! I could spend hours... WAIT, I DO spend hours just watching them!! I will NEVER again order babies this late in the year, this year my intent was to order early in April, but a illness and death in my family delayed this for me and I SO wanted to have new chicks this year, however I will never again do something so selfish because the heartache is too much... Thank you for your friendship! and best wishes to you and your flock!!

Thank YOU for understanding!!! I had just read the thread and was horrified, then read yours...much to my horror...I think I felt each and every one of your losses!!! I was on my knees, through it all, and still hold you in my prayers each night!

I am sooo sorry for your family loss also! I lost my Daddy 3 years ago, last Nov to pancreatic cancer. He was my ROCK...and taught me everything I know today! It is sooo hard!!! I so understand!!!

I too had to order late this year. The first hatchery I tried to order from, kept giving me dates than excuses why they couldn't ship, then finally sent me a check for my money..I didn't ask for it, they just sent it. Needless to say, I was almost two months late, in what I had planned for ordering and had to raise the chicks in the summer, for the first time in my life, in the house, in a brooder...trying to regulate the temps was awful and I just gave up with a heat source after a week or there about, as they were getting too hot!! Although I didn't experience what you guys did and Thank God all my chicks arrived live and healthy, I was close enough in my small cabin to watch them, and they seemed fine without the heat, after that first week. The plus side was, they slept all night

I even moved them out to their coop at 3 weeks! Had a fan on them through that heat wave...we got it all the way up here..plus was changing out their water every 1-2 hours for cold water. and feeding cold yogurt in the heat of the day with chick grit, as our run isn't done yet!!!

I really don't like raising them myself, just me though, would rather Mamma chicken had that job. That used to be the way we did it, and it was soo much easier for us!!! WE had a flock of 50 Plymouth Barred Rocks, the heritage back then, as the hatcheries were just starting and weren't very popular with most farmers, especially with my Daddy! We had a sheep, chickens, cows, pigs, rabbits and two dogs, plus the odd hamster and guinie pig and all the rescued animals I dragged home. Good thing I was a Daddies girl

I'm soo glad that you have your babies to spend time with and play with...I did lose a chick out of my order, but it was MY fault...I set the water container down, and one must've run under, just as I did, then went out to finish working on their coop. I puked, cried...was horrible!!! Especially since I did it!!! I'm glad your gals/guys are ok and it was just shipping stress...not having that experience nor even knowing about all the diseases that are out there, until now...yes, I did go over the top, again, so sorry!!! It's my heart that gets me in trouble lots

Thank you too, for your friendship and prayers!!! Means a lot! More than you know! I am glad I found this forum...and all the people here...I have learned much, as you noticed

some of it broke my heart, you, that thread, others pleas for help....I know God has a plan, I get that, I still ask why sometimes though!!!!!!!

I bet you had no idea about shipping stress or thought it would be a problem...I wouldn't hold yourself responsible! I have been raising chickens for years, with a stop for quite a few years now...but since I was 2 and would've thought, heat, baby chicks, good thing, they need heat....not that it would hurt them...than again, I have never lived in the south but always up north here or northern regions...so heat is a good thing to us here!!! Especially my age

lol, oh and I watch and play with my chicks too...they think I am a jungle gym, every time I go out to the coop, or do chores. I usually have 3 or 4 riding on me, and one that sits on my shoulder the whole time!!!

Best to you and your chicks and you all will always be in my prayers!
Mithious