What were your worst mistakes when you first started?

[Amer]

Chicken math means
Chickenxchicken=more chickens than humanly possible
Seriously have you ever seen them reproduce? It's fast

 

[Amer]

Hey ... the first clip no problem...going in for justa’ lil bit more...well lol
I know now to use a emery board and file.

I use it on beaks too. Those are easier. One Ameraucana grows her beak way too fast.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Leaving out water buckets and expecting chickens not to just randomly drown themselves.

 

[Chickassan]

Using wood chips instead of hay. Leaving a jameson on the rocks out then hoping for hours the rooster dosen't have alcohol poisioning. Thinking running out to the coop in heels is actually a possible thing "it isnt".

 

[Izzychicky]

Definitely a good idea for a thread.

I haven’t had chickens long enough to make any mistakes that have resulted in the death of my chickens but I have definitely made some

For example DO NOT USE A HEAT LAMP! My house nearly burst into flames, it fell and had started a small fire in the pine shavings

 

[Cebarmlds]

I gave my first small flock too many treats like bread (very unhealthy) and they got fat and quit laying, then they got fatty liver disease.

 

[pnwchicklvr]

Getting chickens before the coop was built. Spent every spare minute for 6 weeks in the cold and rainy Pacific NW winter building a coop. And then after a few months wished it were bigger so spent another month in the hot blazing sun doubling the size.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I gave my first small flock too many treats like bread (very unhealthy) and they got fat and quit laying, then they got fatty liver disease.

Oh wow...so sorry

 

[PB and J Acres]

Trusting that the cute stray dog that seemed sooooo sweet would not harm my three girls! We lost one outright and the other succumbed to her injuries that evening.

 

[NewBoots]

Leaving out water buckets and expecting chickens not to just randomly drown themselves.

This made me both laugh and shudder in horror. Dealing with livestock means having a healthy sense of black humor...I hope.