Worst Experience EVER!!!

[JackieK318]

Please tell me that having chickens isn't all depressing. I just lost my Ameraucana the other night to who knows what illness. I found out yesterday my flock may have parasites, so I promptly started treatment. Now today I think my Splash Andalusian is showing signs of Marek's. ARGH!

I just don't get what in the world I am doing wrong! I change their cage (7'x3.5' while the coop is being constructed) every 4 to 5 days. I change their water twice a day. I wash everything with dish soap each time I change the bedding. I'm using pine shavings. I have the food and water raised up off of the ground so they won't get 'mess' in it.

I'm so drained by all of this work and all of the failure I'm seeing. It has been one thing after another this week. I am now terrified that I will lose my entire flock! I approached the guy at the Feed Store (where I bought 8 hens last week) yesterday to see if his birds were showing any signs of anything. He said no and found it amazing that I was having such a time as his brother in-law has 600 plus chickens with no such issues...like my hubby said, I am beginning to think this was a horrid idea.

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[Country Gal]

So sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time! Especially with all the hard work your doing...

 

[blue90292]

hey jackie,

i'm going through a little rough time also.

here's my thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11907

anyway, keep your chin up. in the end, it'll be all worth it.

once you get that coop built, it'll get more relaxing and you'll get to enjoy your birds.

 

[schmoo]

I'm sorry your having a bad time. Don't give up! It doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong. I think it's just a case of bad luck. It happens. I expected tons of thing to go wrong, its my first time with chickens and I started with 26 of them! I only change their water once a day, and I only clean the waterer once a week, and mine are all fine.........my point is you are doing a better than average job. There are alot of ways to get rid of parasites, do a search on here for your options. I don't know anything about Mareks, so someone else will have to give advice there.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I know how you feel sometimes. I have had over the years a few birds drop dead for no reason. I then start to worry it something terrible. But I try to keep everything clean, feed twice a day, clean water etc... But I also believe that some birds just die like that sudden death syndrome. They are fine one minute dead the next. I can make myself sick if I'm not careful. So take a breather and try to relax a little it will turn out ok. I'm sure your birds are ok and its just a freak thing thats happen. Wishing you the best.

 

[blue90292]

yup. you know when it rains it pours, but after that...it's rainbows!

the easiest way to get rid of those parasites is to use eprinex. i had mites and they were gone the next day along with worming the birds. i don't put it in the water, i put it on their backs like "frontline". it's safe for the birds and there is no waiting period.

 

[theOEGBman]

It happens to us all. I had 26 chicks and raised them for a month or so in the house. My parents made me put them outside and I lost 21 of them, within a few days because it was too cold. Last year when the heat hit, I lost tons of birds. Its never fun, and the scary part was getting used to it. Instead of thinking of seeing the birds and wondering how many eggs I would get, I would think of who would be dead today. It isnt fun, but its life. Sorry for your losses and problems, but it will get better.

 

[JackieK318]

Blue: I am abnormally optimistic, but this is just beating me up. I will keep plugging away because I refuse to fail, but it sure is hard, isn't it?!

I am very hard on myself and I blame myself because I'm new to chickens. I just hope my Splash doesn't have Marek's! I just felt like giving up Wednesday night after we disposed of the hen. Yesterday I got up early and did the regular routine without my fluffy faced hen... Last night, I pushed the cage outside so they could be out 24/7, I fashioned a roof for the cage, put two pallets under it and strung a cord for a fan for them. I read about Coccdia yesterday and one site said sunlight is extremely important for their recovery. I just feel horribly guilty right now for something I let happen to these animals.

Thanks for all your kinds words.

 

[COgirl]

Jackie, I really know how you feel, last weekend I was frantically running to the vet supply to get Sulmet to treat coccidiosis in my 27- 5 week olds. I'm pretty sure they got it from me washing their droppings off my patio and them getting into the runoff, so I really felt like a bad chicken mom. Then yesterday I lost a banty brahma hen, 6 months old who had just started laying, she simply fell over dead it seems. I understand your frustration, but hang in there these things happen, the good folks on this site always seem ready to help out with words of wisdom, advice and sometimes just comfort and understanding when it is needed most. Watching my babies eat their yogurt tonight, then happily jump up to their roost for the night made all the worry and frustration well worth it, just try to enjoy them. Hope things get better for you real soon