What were your worst mistakes when you first started?

[Wendy Case]

That's so sad.

 

[Wendy Case]

So sorry for you, must have been awful for you

Oh no! That must have brb awful.

 

[The Lazy L]

Flock #2 was the troublesome flock. Mixed breeds and one rooster. Egg output wasn't as good as Flock #1. 3 hens started going bald around their vents. No lice or mites or anything else I could see. Then the same three started loosing feathers on their backs. Bald area around their vents grew larger and red. Same feed I had used for Flock #1 with zero problems. Rooster was very "rough" when he mounted the hens and the bald hens appeared to be his favorites. Rooster lost his head over this incident.

Hens bald spots started filling and I was patting myself on the back. Then the hens that never had been bald started going bald too! It wasn't the rooster! Getting close to winter so we had a lottery, the cross beak hen joined the rooster. Bald spots filled on the rest of the hens and all was right again. Sorry rooster.

 

[Folly's place]

LL, maybe it was actually both the roo and your cross beaked hen. Peace in the flock is still a good thing...
Mary

 

[Wendy Case]

Flock #2 was the troublesome flock. Mixed breeds and one rooster. Egg output wasn't as good as Flock #1. 3 hens started going bald around their vents. No lice or mites or anything else I could see. Then the same three started loosing feathers on their backs. Bald area around their vents grew larger and red. Same feed I had used for Flock #1 with zero problems. Rooster was very "rough" when he mounted the hens and the bald hens appeared to be his favorites. Rooster lost his head over this incident.

Hens bald spots started filling and I was patting myself on the back. Then the hens that never had been bald started going bald too! It wasn't the rooster! Getting close to winter so we had a lottery, the cross beak hen joined the rooster. Bald spots filled on the rest of the hens and all was right again. Sorry rooster.

Aww, I'm so sorry you had to let go of your rooster.

 

[blackandtan]

I almost stopped once, if that could be considered a mistake...
My first coop was too small, built with scrap wood, just not great for many reasons. So I knew I’d need to rebuild if I stuck with this chicken keeping venture of mine, but it worked for two years. So there was that to deal with, and just when I had decided to build a new coop, my chickens started dying- one by one I lost all but one of my year old barred rocks, for no apparent reason, everyone else was fine! Well I DID stick with it, the one survivor is my favourite, Roo, they have a great new coop...properly built...and no mystery deaths anymore! I’m glad I stuck it out with “the chook life”

 

[Wendy Case]

Aww, I'm so sorry you had to let go of your rooster.

He's still hanging around! Lol
I read an article the other day that gave me hope! He only has four hens right now and that's going to change as I add another 11 pullets come July/August. He'll also be over a year old at that point and they'll all be free roaming. I've decided to hang on and see what a bit more maturity and a lot more girls will do for him. He could be on his knees and begging for his own mancave come September!
He came VERY CLOSE to being dispatched. He WILL be if he shows aggression to anyone else. He's wonderful with the flock and my hubby. I know the exact day and the reason his aggression started, but that's no excuse! He's not aggressive every day, in fact he was absolutely fine this morning.
Taking it day by day right now.
Thank you so much for replying though, that means a lot.

 

[Wendy Case]

I almost stopped once, if that could be considered a mistake...
My first coop was too small, built with scrap wood, just not great for many reasons. So I knew I’d need to rebuild if I stuck with this chicken keeping venture of mine, but it worked for two years. So there was that to deal with, and just when I had decided to build a new coop, my chickens started dying- one by one I lost all but one of my year old barred rocks, for no apparent reason, everyone else was fine! Well I DID stick with it, the one survivor is my favourite, Roo, they have a great new coop...properly built...and no mystery deaths anymore! I’m glad I stuck it out with “the chook life”

I'm so glad you stuck with it but I'm sorry you lost hens in the process, that sucks!
My coop needs more ventilation for sure and a lot of improvements.... Starting next weekend! I can't wait to be as happy as you are with your coop! I'm adding 11 more pullets by July/August, can't wait!! To have a great coop with windows and plenty of ventilation will be awesome!
❤

 

[Celticdragonfly]

1: Not deworming the flock.
1) We now deworm on a regular schedule with a broad spectrum dewormer. Worms can kill, and quickly.

I'm reading this and doing my best to learn from all of it - sat around reading BYC for a year before going ahead with chicks. Please, tell me what your schedule is and what's the name of the dewormer?

 

[Celticdragonfly]

thanks to Cathy Here is my post sans Zeros....
My addition to this is Guinea Fowl. ...
oh and moms Garage has never been quite right again....
o yes there will be a next time.....
I refuse to remove the elipses

Oh that was hilarious! Must have been so frustrating, but you write about it so well. Stick with the ellipses ... they're my favorite punctuation.