Will I ever stop worrying about losing one?

[teapot10]

So we got our first chicks this week...11 on Tuesday, 11 more on Wednesday and 4 more on Saturday...I check on them constantly...when can I relax a little and stop worrying about looking in there and seeing a dead chick? Did anyone else do this the first time or am I just OCD?...lol

 

[goldnchocolate]

You are totally NORMAL!!!!!!

 

[abanjaf]

Ha Ha! I think OCD is the "norm" for us chicken-lovers!

 

[donnavee]

Yep, got our first 8 last April and worried/checked/obsessed constantly. A year later, all are healthy and constantly into mischief!

Now, we have 6 more to be shipped tomorrow, so I'm already worrying about the weather and their trip - just wait, I'll be a basket case again.

I concur - you are perfectly normal - or as normal as a chicken person can be.

 

[teapot10]

LOL...ok, just checking.

Does anyone know when the odds improve? Since mine are almost a week do the chances of them surviving get better?

 

[equine chick]

Just like your kids you always worry because you

them.

 

[tammyd57]

I started my first flock over 40 years ago and have had hundreds of chicks since then. I STILL obsess like mad over all of them!

 

[nsanywhere]

yes, there is always a worry with the little ones, but it does get better.

I find that getting through the first week is the big hurdle, especially if they were shipped from a hatchery. I relax on checking for poo-butt after 3 days. When you see then them super active, peeping, and running around the pen, you are basically in the clear.

There are always things to worry about as they grow, especially when little, like predators, enough heat, etc., but the main "chick died over night for no reason" worry should subside.

Good luck!

 

[pocketina]

I'm so glad I found this post...I thought I was the only one obsessed like this!

(I get up several times a night to check the temperature...can you tell we only got chicks 5 days ago?)

 

[Sequin]

Uhm, you will never stop worrying. If it isn't one thing it is another. That is part of the joy of caring for our fine little feathered friends.