When Things Go Wrong with Chickens

[@ZannaTheGreat]

Homesteading isn't for the faint of heart, thank you for posting this... it helps me go into backyard chickens with eyes wide open. Thank you.

[@christinehaslam9480]

Have no idea why ppl gave this vid a thumbs down? Honestly I think your shared experiences help so many ppl! You videos are seriously top notch, informative and amazing!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@olscott1624]

Thank you for having respect and compassion for one of Gods creatures.

[@Relaxationdefined8609]

We had to cull a quail that my daughter named Wobbles. She waited until it hatched, wobbling, over a day later after pipping, and it was so sweet. It had a slight wry neck because it was born late. At first, it wasn't so bad, so we kept it going because it was her first "pet" when we started our journey in the city at the time. As Wobbles got about 10 weeks old, he was having a seriously hard time eating and drinking. His neck got so bad it was just about completely upside down. I had to sit her down and tell her about love, pain, and the humane thing to do. She cried, and I told her to go and hold him and think about how it would affect him, being he can't eat or drink right, and the other birds pick on the weak ones until they kill them. She went to cuddle him, then brought him to me and said it's time. She cried all through it, then said to me we shouldn't waste the meat, and she wanted to eat the quail for lunch, as that would be a waste of his life if we didn't make more out of him after all he went through. And, after I made sure that is what she wanted to do, we did just that. She said it was the best quail she ever had, and that his life was not wasted. :) Sometimes it can be really hard, but there are a ton of beautiful things too.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+WildCraft Homestead - Wow. 😳 That sounds like a really tough moment. Very relatable. Thanks for taking the time to write that. 👍🏻

[@christinehaslam9480]

Thank you for walking us through such a difficult topic! I saw a chick in a feed store that was in very bad shape & asked the guy if I could take him home. The guy knew he wasn't going to make it and proceeded to put him back in the tub, where the other chicks were pecking at him! I picked him back up and the guy said I could have him! I had no idea what to do. The chicks eyes were crusty & closed. He also had a wound on his head! I quickly did some research but sadly the chick died on the ride home! Boy did my husband and I cry. He made him a little box & we gave him a proper service... I am a new chicken mom! So sad and I feel for you and anyone who has to deal with this... Thank you for loving him...

[@MamaCatkitten]

I know this is a older video and I want to say I appreciate you putting this out here. The video was respectful and necessary. I am in tears because this is the hard part of having any animal, whether its a back yard chicken or a homestead. People dont realize you do attached to your animals. Even if its a few days. Animals have a purpose yes, they provide us with food, but they also provide a companionship even a chicken. So many homestead channels do not address the bad parts of homesteading and I applaud you for making this video. I recently lost my rooster and many hens to 1 raccoon. I am not a homesteader, I just like my fresh eggs and I LOVE my chickens!!! I didnt realize a raccoon could destroy a entire flock of chickens. I am living and learning everyday, but what a hard lesson to learn =( Ive watched many of your videos over time and never comment but I am now a loyal subscriber because you took the time to explain this hard thing you had to deal with. I wanted you to know I (1 solo viewer) appreciate you putting this video out there. Thank you again #love&support

[@bsofar1675]

When I bring beans and rice home from the store, I put them in the freezer for around 10 days to take care of any possible bug issues. Thanks for sharing the whole package, not just the pretty parts. I know it hurts the heart to see them hurting or have to help them stop their suffering. Blessings to you and your crew. --Brenda

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Yes freezing does help. It is just very challenging when you are buying 50# worth and don't have freezer space. A mylar should help with that. We shall test it out I think ;0)

[@katherinesimonds622]

Thank you for sharing this. I could never do the other methods and I never thought about even the possibility of having to cull a baby bird.

[@kidznkiddz07]

Jamie, I love that you are so honest,pro's and con's. Thank you

[@nannettepilcher6903]

Thank you so very much for all of your videos, I am new to raising chickens, (2 weeks into my first flock) the information and the way you present it has been incredibly helpful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@moderndaymercantile]

thank you for sharing. this is a reality of things that can happen so it's important to share how others take care of this situation. not sharing, doesn't help and gives the illusion that all goes perfectly. Appreciate you.

[@lisacabello8624]

I love chickens. They make the BEST pets each with their own personalities. I miss my chickens. We raised them and they were fun. i especially miss them just at dusk when they peck for the last time of the evening and their tails in the air.

[@maryr8364]

Thank you for showing the reality side of raising chickens. I will be starting soon

[@ChickaWoofRanch]

We are somewhat guilty of not showing some of the hard things that happen on the homestead. Tough decisions need to be made more often than we would like but having livestock and gardens is very unpredictable. The current american culture is propping up a "safe" and "predictable" lifestyle that is simply not reality. Animals die, gardens fail, tornadoes happen and predators are a real danger. We have purposely chosen a lifestyle that is real and we would challenge any one out there interested in leaving the security that our culture affords for something that is real and fulfilling. I congratulate you guys on making a video that's hard but very real. Thank you!

[@lunalovegood708]

so good to have you guys talk about ´real`homesteading not just the stuff that ´sells´fine on youtube. thanks for being just awesome!

[@Annie.xx-xx]

It's such an awful shame that this chick was sent to you in this condition. You did the right thing to put it out of its misery. Thank you for this video

[@juliapiskernik3824]

it's so wonderful to see, how much effort, research, heart and soul you put into homesteading!

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Julia Piskernik Thanks for watching Julia

[@cantgetright4241]

Thanks for posting this vid. It was sad but I needed to know what I’m in for. I’m a proud new owner of 7 chickens! I’ve been learning, readings, and watching yt videos. You guys seem be doing amazing and I’ll be a new subscriber.

[@tlinton5]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. Being new to raising chickens myself, all your videos have been so very helpful. While this was so sad, I truly appreciate your approach to handling the culling it was so very humane.

[@kathorstad]

In case I haven’t told you lately, I love your videos. You provide so much helpful information.

[@TheKris2384]

Culling a mortally injured baby chick would have destroyed me for days. Very sad. Thank you for educating us on some harsh reality though.

[@rickmanley767]

If you have chickens you are going to deal with them dying. Sounds cold to the inexperienced but it is just fact, no matter how well you pamper them, they die.

[@melissag8270]

Rick Manley it’s the absolute truth, it’s something that you just have to accept

[@josephinegallegos2139]

so sorry for your loss but also ,thank you for sharing. because I am a new beginner and if this happens to me, now I know what I need to do thank you for taking your time and your family's time to teach us.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Aww thanks for the kind words and for watching Josephine

[@chavachava6400]

Thank you so much for providing this information. Had to cull a baby chick today and it was the most humane option for us especially being new chick parents

[@Alphastarcar]

Thanks for more great info! Your channel saves me lots of time because I don’t need to start from zero to figure things out.

[@debrahj.knight433]

thank you for this thoughtful video. i will get my first chicks soon. i would hate to face something like this with no information.

[@lisablake4237]

Thank you for being humane about it.

[@manfredknight5014]

You and your husband have good hearts.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

We do love our animals

[@redtankgirl5]

Thank you so much for sharing the ups along with the downs. It's sad to have to do a cull for sure but the choice is best for all, in particular to the chick. I have some coming and appreciate the information in case this becomes my reality. I know things can not always go well, as I'm nursing an injured duck hen now from an over zealous drake and have learned to be prepared for the unpleasant with the joyous. I love that you share it all.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

It is always better to know how to handle a situation before it arises/if it arises. That is why we do this. Thanks for watching and good luck with your duck. We have some coming in May :0)

[@1wolfpup]

Really great job as always. It is wonderful to see how other homesteaders handle the problems that arise on the homestead. You guys do a great job of sharing both the ups and downs. Thanks. I hope the goats are coming along well. Blessings...

[@Guildbrookfarm]

They are coming along just great! We should have an update this week! Oh the ups and downs!

[@teutonic7113]

The sound of the wind chimes at the end of the video totally zenned me out!

[@zombrea]

Thank you again for such an informative video. Your channel has been my go-to while learning before buying our chicks and I'm very thankful for the knowledge of how to cull a chick humanely if needed ❤

[@joybickerstaff194]

Hi ya Jaime, that was sad about ur chick, I see nothing wrong n how u put it to sleep, going to sleep is a good way, no pain. I know this for a fact, I nearly died twice but didn’t know that I was slipping away, I didn’t even know I went to sleep. This was nice of u to share with us, preparing us for what could happen and how to deal with and handle the situation. I also appreciate the knowledge u gave on the broody hen and feed. When I had my hens, I often wished the feed companies would make different sized feed bags, not just a 5 and 50 lb bag. Again thank u for sharing, all who want animals need to know what to do when something bad happens. Thank u

[@williamward2467]

Hello again. Thank you for being real. We used an empty rabbit cage slot for about a week. Worked well for us and the chicken.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Ya she just didn't want any part of being in a cage.

[@moderndaymercantile]

now that I'm watching the video more...it seems like the baby was like that when it was put in the box. That is so sad, thank you for helping it leave this world and it's pain.

[@redinnalong6528]

I just started watching your channel and seeing this just broke my heart for your family. You did the right thing though. That baby was in pain.

[@seagnatprepper9613]

I'm so sorry you had to do this ... I'm a grown man in my 50s and this made me tear up the whole time you were explaining it .

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+seagnat prepper Aww thanks for watching :0)

[@CogHillFarm]

So glad y'all made this! It's not always rainbows and unicorns, & thanks for sharing that!-Jason

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Cog Hill Farm & Homestead No it's not. Well, except the unicorns. There is always a unicorn at this house lol

[@CogHillFarm]

:)

[@wordswritteninred7171]

I just found your channel. Thank you for address this! Death, is a part of life! too often, we do not like to accept this fact. I am disappointed that the company sent you such a sick chick. They are in the business of raising chicks. I have a problem believeing that they did not know about the problem. But THANK YOU for showing a HUMAN way of dealing with such a problem. And for being ACTIVE! and not letting the chick suffer! I am looking forward to checking out your other videos! SUBBED!

[@ParsleyFarm]

That's so sad. Sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing

[@suemcfarlane4199]

My kids loved using a incubator to hatch chickens. We also hatched turkeys and guguinea fowl

[@CiaofCleburne]

Really happy I came across this video. Now that I'm raising chickens again, I'm sure this will come up at some point and I couldn't image what I would do. Adult animals aren't so hard for me, but putting babies down is something I find I just cannot do. I think now, however, I could, if I had to, use this method. Thank you again.

[@huntproject8082]

I had a white crested chic a few days ago that was passing a yellow foaming substance, it would not sit down and it wasn’t getting any stronger. Wife didn’t want me to cull it but it was suffering and i was afraid it had some sort of disease that it might give the others. I researched all i could and i couldn’t find anything.

[@nonameaccount5590]

Very humane way of dealing with this difficult dilemma...

[@janettekleynhans6409]

Thank you this video. It is extremely helpful

[@sonickchri]

I hear one way to cure broodiness is to gently lift the mother hen up in the middle of the night when she's resting and replace her eggs with fake ones or something like that. Thanks for covering this. I feel more emotionally prepared for what to expect in a few short days when I receive my chicks. This might be especially impactful for my 4-year-old.

[@KingTesticus]

yeah... it's a bummer, but it happens sometimes. just deal with it and move on. added to my favorites!

[@TheresaPhilgren]

Hi, just came across your channel. I appreciate you so very much for making this difficult video. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to do with all the negative trolls out there. I just have to say w/out you I may have unintentionally let a chicken suffer. I was too nervous, and emotional to deal with it. I admire your courage and selflessness to do the right thing/humane. Looking forward to watching all of your videos!

[@andreaburke6009]

Thanks for being straight up👍

[@adm6785]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Great video!!!

[@TressasSouthernHomeCooking]

Thank you for sharing the many aspects of homesteading. You did a great job in this video!!----Tressa Daigle

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Tressa's Stay at Home Life Thanks Tressa :0)

[@kimbermoss]

I love that you bring this aspect of homesteading an animal husbandry to the forefront. I wish you and your family all the best on your new adventure with this baby chicks. I just recently experienced my own issues with Mail order ducks and geese. I had a maimed duck and a dead female gosling upon arrival. My replacement went just as bad. So I have resigned myself to having my one male gosling and my Darklings for now and this is how we will leave it good news is that my male duckling that I thought was maimed has had a wonderful turn around and he is moving around well now and thriving.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Kimberly Mossman Aww I am sorry about your duck and gosling. We were lucky to have a good experience with replacements on MyPetChicken. They are adding another one onto our next order. Hopefully they will all be ok

[@rebeccaparr8305]

Thank you - very good information.

[@farm_in_themiddleofthewood3339]

Great video!!! Many thanks! When our girls go broody, they bounce back in a day or two. Thanks for sharing.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Farm_In_The MiddleOfTheWoods I think she will be alright also. Thanks!

[@joenadeau4419]

Our approach has been a little different but I appreciate you guys sharing your solutions.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Joe Nadeau Feel free to share. We are open to all input to provide different viewpoints

[@theresad6990]

I'm sure that must have been a rough thing to deal with when you had to cull the chick. You're right though. Folks do need to see and hear about the difficult things on a homestead as well. It's all important information. Thanks for sharing with us. -All the best. ~ Theresa

[@spookscrew4651]

Its sad but these things happen.On the other hand i see allot of chickens with worse issues that people help threw life and they live pretty long and happy lives even with disabilities.

[@llisamac63]

More great insight. Thank you so much. I did check out some of Cynthia Fuller's videos and they look great. I hope all goes smoothly with your other chicks.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Yes she has a wealth of information on her channel. We love her :0)

[@MikaOnida]

Quick and sharp is easier on me but I understand the gassing was easier on you. Condolences on your loss and best wishes for the future.

[@TC-bq5ri]

hate to say it..but I agree Shannon..be done with it for the animals sake and live with it as hard as it may be on myself

[@steveandterriatterrabellaf1750]

Sorry about the chicks, We raise chickens and you will have that.You are right, there is a down side to homesteading. Love your passion and compassion for the chicks.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Steve & Terri Brock at Terra Bella Farm Thanks guys :0)

[@JeffFanning-v7w]

I love your videos very educational thank you

[@sydneyfimbres2384]

I love yalls channel! And your kids and chickens are so sweet☺️

[@AutumnOaksFarm]

Sorry for the loss, it is life on the farm, but great video.

[@carolschedler3832]

😢😭😢 Thank you for sharing this tough topic.

[@lifeonthewink3453]

all great info! i also use that wire cage as a hen hospital. it works out great. also love my brinsea--i had the same set up as you with the tote, which expanded to 2 totes connected, which expanded to a large box attached to that! thanks for sharing all of this info

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Lifeonthewink We will move them to a larger cardboard box soon. We got the idea from Eric at Life in Farmland. It works great!

[@StillSwirling]

We just got a sick chick and I am going to have to cull 😔 Thank you for sharing this hard thing with us. I'm pretty sad about what we have to do, but it is an unfortunate part of homesteading life.

[@RoughRoadHomestead]

sorry bout the chick. I just had to do that with one of our baby rabbits. especially being a beginner myself I totally agree with you about using a method that is comfortable for you. ease into it until we are accustomed to the deed. our culling method was the same as our dispatch method. I don't think it'll get easier but we will be,more mentally prepared to deal with it

[@sadienio]

Thank you for posting this video.

[@seriouslyreally5413]

I know nothing about raising chickens.. but, Would letting your broody hen surrogate the new chick's you just got be OK if it saves the hen from dying? If she wont eat and gets over heated and plucks her feathers then halting her egg laying to save her life by giving her a brood to care for is better than nothing. Or does it make her stop laying permanently and you want her to go back to laying eggs?

[@lizardinderert]

Never gets easy on this part....Thank you for sharing

[@norahbradley5138]

I'm so sorry you had to do this. You did the right thing. It's not right to let a little animal suffer if you can't help it. You are the right that this was the kindest thing to do. Thank you for showing us what to do.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

It was. The poor little thing was definitely suffering. Thanks for watching

[@cockeyedhomestead]

Having had coyotes and stray dogs attack our grown flock of NH Reds over winter, the unexpected happens and we lost over half our flock. We had a hen injured and she still hops around on one leg, but after 4 months, she is now laying again leaving us with 4 layers. We invested in Buff Orpingtons and RIRs this spring to reestablish our layers.

[@lookup8297]

What also breaks a hen from being broody when they have no eggs under them but want to be a mommie,...get a black round rubber tub and fill it full of water (about 6")...Hold the hen and dip her in it (feet first) several times,...do not dip her more than half her body in the water. Do this 2-3 times then dry her off. This will reduce her body temp. If it doesn't work that day,... try again tomorrow. It WILL work. Changing (reducing the temp) their body temp will snap them out of being a broody hen. :0) (My husband does this for us with hens that become broody but have no eggs under them. You want them off the nest and back with the flock to get the food, vitamins and water they need. Enjoy your channel. :0)

[@libbysevicke-jones3160]

My mum use to put the Broody hen In an onion sack and tie it on the clothesline for half the day, that would cool them down fast with minimal stress

[@amariev226]

I had a broody hen and this water dipping method, worked for us. Took two days and the third day she was over it.

[@mariehaugland9996]

Thanks for sharing

[@kan-zee]

wow...that was quite the intro with the music... This is good....you guys did your best .... cheers ;-)

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Kanzee Thank you

[@Lee-dn3ou]

Just a tip with new chicks place small rocks in waterer they can still get water and not fall in

[@pattikemp-gettmann9646]

How do they send them like that?

[@thebaron9194]

Welcome to the world of commercial hatcheries.

[@kyliecrawford1301]

Probably in the hopes that a newbie wouldn’t notice and keep the chick anyways.

[@ParsleyFarm]

Not sure the time between filming and you posting your videos. But, you have the perfect heat source for your new chicks, in the broody hen!! I just used my broody to raise my chicks (first time trying it)... its been amazing!

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Parsley Farm I have read success stories and failures with this. We don't want to risk our breeding stock but thanks for the suggestion

[@ParsleyFarm]

:)

[@steveharris2589]

Hi Jaime & Jeremy, I think I like your channel mostly because how much you guys love your animals.!!!))) 🐥🐥🐥😊

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Steve Harris We do :0)

[@YankeeLivn]

Sorry to hear about the loss, I'm in the middle of a yardbird crisis my self, I have an Egg bound hen that I'm in the middle of treating, trying to get some footage. but putting the hen's well-being first.so we'll see, thanks for sharing

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Yankee Liv'n I am so glad I haven't encountered that yet Brad. I am looking forward to the video, if you get any. I completely understand about putting the chicken first. We appreciate your videos!

[@YankeeLivn]

I've been working with her all day, It's hard when your filming and doctoring alone, Hopefully, by morning she'll get some relief

[@bannlaughlin3544]

have you been able to get the eggs loose yet? I hope so. there is a way of getting it out without harming the hen. takes time and patience but doable. good luck and God bless

[@Bipolarzfinest]

OMG I’m so sad for you and the baby… thank you so much for sharing. I would have chosen the same method:(

[@KCHeirloomsOrganics]

sorry for the loss, and we have all grown from your experience, thanks for sharing. Interesting the DE only kills living, not eggs. Peppers freeze their bulk seed to kill eggs. Golf balls under Mrs broody?

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Freezing would work but it would be a lot to freeze. As for Mrs. Broody, we will just let her run her course and see what happens

[@NanaTrece9444]

Thanks for sharing the real life of homesteading.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Latrece Preston Thanks for watching :0)

[@ede2225]

Wouldn't the bugs in the scratch just be an added bonus?

[@pcking2008]

Those peeps are cute! love the sound they make. Angel from The Bay

[@janiceb4679]

I love it when you say, "this isn't that". Instead of a "happy-go-lucky" video, you shared your out of the ordinary experience... which is even better, because we learned more about the reality of raising animals. I had a similar experience, with a hen that was more than 2 months old. The chicken-tractor was left in a hot and sunny part of the yard, in the middle of summer. I believe the young hen had heat exhaustion/stroke. It only happened to one out of the 5 in there. The hen wouldn't stand and rolled onto it's side without support. We tried nursing her, made her a nest to stay upright, hand fed/watered, giving electrolytes, but she didn't recover. In the end, she died on her own about a week or two later. In hindsight, the efforts were not worth the outcome, but it was an experiment and learning experience. That said, last week, a broody hen of ours hatched out 7 "Easter" peeps, and we have another sitting on a large clutch that should be out any day now. Though there are the woes of animal farming, there is also the excitement of new life. All a part of the natural processes. So important for kids to see both sides of that coin.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Janice B I'm sorry about your hen. We have some serious heat around here as well in the summer. 107 last year for a couple weeks. But yes, ups and downs. They all seem to balance out

[@poodleoodle7689]

Wow! That's too bad about the chick. Thanks for sharing and making this video.

[@currinka]

Hi Thank you for the fantastic advice and guidance. I have 6 x 2 week old chicks and they are looking healthy. I came home from shopping today and three have lost the tips of their beaks. Is this normal. the other 3 are fine. 2 of them it is the top and bottom of the beak and the 3rd it is only the top. Must I be concerned. I have spent two hours with them and they are all still eating scratching and drinking. Just a bit concerned. Thanks again. Regards Karen

[@MermieOriginals]

Ps. I had the broody hen problem and also a single white female duck who sits for months every year. The chickens got bored after a few weeks and I used to simply hand feed them and give water twice a day and the duck gets up to stretch her legs and eat when she wants. They're happy, so I'm happy :)

[@markc1234golf]

Thank you so much for sharing this xx much love to you guys xx

[@ThalieLuna782]

wonderful video thank you!!

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Nathalie Navedo You're welcome

[@cindyurban4162]

I'm so sorry. We have had to do that and it's hard, but sadly it's life.

[@Windyhillfarm71]

This truly is a great video. I hesitate watching this video cause I don't like negative things, it this was truly a good video. Thank you so much.

[@Guildbrookfarm]

Ya it wasn't a fun video to make either, but thanks for watching

[@fludrbywest3886]

Thanks for sharing 😢❣️

[@suemcfarlane4199]

Any sort of cage that has free flow of air under the bird can help break them of broodyness but it can be all about location you may find others go broody in the same nest box whether it to do with the view or what goodness knows but they start of all crowding into the one box and then one by one go broody

[@babs331176]

Hi Jaime, have you considered seeing if you could get her some fertilized eggs from another homestead to sit on and hatch out?

[@Guildbrookfarm]

We got some roos and will have eggs in the fall.

[@shirleysunshine3319]

That's really sad. I have 21 birds started a year ago and have never had an issue (yet) with having to cull one of my birds but it's a part of life. Ty for sharing hard to watch but if you have chickens you NEED to know. It's funny cause when I first thought about getting chickens I thought you get chicken feed them get eggs it's so much more than that. I enjoy my chickens and the benifits I get from them but it's expensive and time consuming if you do it correctly.

[@kscott1001]

Really sorry about your little chick.

[@KoalityofLife]

It is sad, but part of nature. I have chickens and have had to put some down. Not my favorite thing to do but I cant watch anything suffer. Thank you for sharing. :)

[@Guildbrookfarm]

+Koality of Life Thanks for watching