Will Chicken Keeping Get Easier?

[cybercat]

Sorry to hear about your problems. Hope things turn around.

Makes me glad that I have so many I can not get attached to them.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Don't get discouraged. I think everyone who raises chickens has run into a problem like yours. Unfortunately for you it happened at the beggining of your project. Sometimes the chicks bring disease with them from the hatchery or store that they came from. This is not your fault and sometimes these things happen with chickens.

 

[Lucy4]

You poor thing.

: Like others have said, it sounds like you've just had bad luck. I'll send some positive energy your way that's the end of that streak! Rehome the boys, and wait a bit for some fresh eggs, and hopefully your luck will remain on the happy side from now on.

Where did you get your chicks from? Might want to try a different source next time too.

Hang in there.

 

[greenbeandreams]

Thank you all for the encouragement and advice!

I got these chicks from a local feed store (that orders from the big hatcheries). Beginners mistake but that is where most folks here get their chickens from. I won't be repeating that mistake. Also - because the roosters (which I was lucky enough to rehome somewhere that didn't include a stewpot) were bantams though the feed store didn't mark them as such. I assumed standard.

Anyway, the upside to all this is that I've learned ALOT! and will be buying from a local breeder next time. I'm also totally up to date on what to do for worming, lice and mites - even though my chickens didn't end up with any of that at this time.

I do wonder if there is something to it about raising chicks in the winter. I got mine end of October and its been cold and damp ever since.

Oh, yeah, my breeds are EEs and a BR.

I would think those are pretty hardy.

Thank you again. BYC is the best!

 

[chookchick]

Oh, yes, raising them in winter can be much more difficult! Kind of goes against nature....

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with getting hatchery chicks from a feed store. It is a really good way to get just a few sexed pullets for beginners. Without the stress of shipping. And they SHOULD be healthy from a reputable hatchery. BUT--you have to have a good feed store, which doesn't mix up the chicks, keep them in poor conditions, mislabel them etc...which sounds like you may not have had. I wish I had gotten my first batch at the feed store...but they were out for the season.

Going with a good local breeder is great if you can do it. I have had a hard time trying to get them to "sex" the chicks (by any means possible..) they want to sell them as straight run only. So that is the drawback--more roos!

 

[MIKE555444]

It is tough when you have such bad luck. I know it is also hard to cull the sick but it is true that in order to have a healthy flock you often have to make tough decision. In my case I could never afford the first vet bill so for the health of the whole flock I will seperate and sickly ones and cull them if needed.

 

[greenbeandreams]

Chookchick: Good point on the roos. Rehoming them was as heartbreaking as dealing with the sick ones.

Mike & Beekissed & others: I see the point about culling. I've been so stressed out these last few weeks over this bird, trying to figure out what's wrong, wondering what to do, watching her like a hawk (non-stop). Since we returned from the vet, I've only checked in on the other chickens a couple times a day - which is as I had hoped it would be. Refresh the food and water, make sure everyone's okay, give them something to entertain themselves, etc. But here's the beginner question for you. How do you go about culling? I'm such a wuss. I just couldn't do take round back and break their necks or whatever. My current sickie will be put down if the antibiotics don't perk her up in a week but beyond paying to put a chicken down or doing the real dirty business (which wimps like me aren't cut out for), what does one do?

 

[Renee']

Greenbean Dreams. I had a sick one too and I too am a wuss however I had to do something so I waited until it was dark and the chicken was in it's night time daze. I took a broom stick and the flash light out to the coop. I grabbed the chicken, laid it's neck down, laid the broom stick on top, put my feet over the ends of the broom stick, turned off the flash light, grabbed it's legs and pulled. It really wasn't that bad. Oh yeah I also took a sack with me and put the chicken in the sack (light's still off) and put the sack in the trash. I didn't have to see any of it. Sorry if I grossed anyone out but it was very nondramatic and I didn't have to see the dead bird and there wasn't blood.

 

[MIKE555444]

Quote:
DO you really want details LOL

The point is to make the cull quick and certain. You don't want any suffering so if I have too i use an axe or something that removes the head but of course you will have fluttering afterward but you know the brain is no longer attached to that body.

That was way harder than i thought to explain ... blah

 

[bywaterdog]

This is so true. Pets are expensive,but however you look at it "sometimes things just die."



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