chick died

[MontyJ]

The Cornish X bird that had the slightly runny poo died today. I found it at the after work butt checks. It was as active as the others, was gaining weight, eating and drinking fine. I kept it clean daily, but it just didn't make it. It was alive as late as 11:00 this morning when DW freshened their water. No other chicks have abnormal poop, but I am watching them very closely.

Now for the worse news. I accidentally killed one of the red sexlinks this morning. I was setting the waterer into the brooder and thought I had shooed them all clear. When I did the final chicken count I was short one. I thought it had gotten out somehow and searched all around the barn. As a last resort, I lifted the waterer and there it was. I don't know how it got under there. That one kind of hurt. I expected to lose a chick or two, but not to my own hand. Needless to say, watering the chicks is now a two person job. One lowers the waterer while the other watches to make sure it stays clear.

 

[so lucky]

So sorry, Monty. It hurts to take a life, accidental as it was.

 

[catjac1975]

Monty-the same scenario has happened to me. Squashing a chick is the worst. You are going to lose some. The worst thing I ever did was..... I used to leave a 5 gallon paint can full of water in the chicken yard in order to quickly refill the water when in a pinch for time. You can probably guess that once they were big enough to jump to the top they fell in drinking and drowned. Worse yet they often copy each others behaviors and I found several well started birds in the bucket. Not a lesson I had to learn twice. Very sad.

 

[canesisters]

So sorry Monty.

 

[lesa]

Sorry... they are really so delicate when they are tiny. Soon, they will all be big and healthy and you won't have to worry so much....

 

[897tgigvib]

So sorry to hear that Monty. It could have happened to anyone. Hang in there.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you deal with living animals you will have to deal with dead animals. It's part of the cycle but not a fun part.

I think the worst I've felt with a chick was when I picked up a broody that had just taken her chicks off the nest to see how many she had. One had crawled up under her wing. When I picked her up, I crushed it. That taught me to leave a broody alone.

 

[Carol Dee]

 

[Smart Red]

So sorry you lost those chicks. It is always tough to lose an animal entrusted to your care. My last batch came with three dead chicks -- smothered and crushed under the stronger birds -- and one that died soon after. I always figured it may have had internal injuries I couldn't see. I still felt bad about it.

 

[baymule]

So sorry about the dead chicks. It is to be expected sometimes, but to contribute to the demise of one of your animals gives you that twist in your guts and makes you feel even worse. Sorry about your chickies.