Arizona Chickens - Page 2769

I went to release the chickens this morning and found my poor Kevin dead under the roost.  She's the first chicken I've had die since raising chickens in AZ.  She had some kind of internal problems.   She grew abnormally fast and large compared to her flock mates and laid only a few dozen eggs in her short two and a half years.   But she was one of the sweetest birds I had.  When I laid her on the ground while I dug the hole to bury her, her actual sister and inseparable best buddy, Waldo, kept nudging at her.  Then she sat and preened Kevin's feathers until I took her away.  

She was so fun and adorable.  When we were outside she always came up and sat right next to us, wanting to be part of the group.   RIP Kevin, we'll miss you.   

Hey Peeps, thanks for the condolences.  I knew she wasn't long for this world with her problems but it was sad to be faced with it.  I've been extraordinarily fortunate this far in my desert chicken raising adventure and this sad passing pales in comparison to what many of you have dealt with in your flocks.  It's nice to have a place where others know what it's like to be sad over a simple bird.

On the upside, Waldo walked off and began foraging right after I took Kevin away.  Maybe there's something to be learned from that.   I need some ice cream.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gallo del Cielo 

Hey Peeps, thanks for the condolences.  I knew she wasn't long for this world with her problems but it was sad to be faced with it.  I've been extraordinarily fortunate this far in my desert chicken raising adventure and this sad passing pales in comparison to what many of you have dealt with in your flocks.  It's nice to have a place where others know what it's like to be sad over a simple bird.

 

On the upside, Waldo walked off and began foraging right after I took Kevin away.  Maybe there's something to be learned from that.   I need some ice cream.

Good excuse for a double scoop.

With hot fudge!

I went to release the chickens this morning and found my poor Kevin dead under the roost.  She's the first chicken I've had die since raising chickens in AZ.  She had some kind of internal problems.   She grew abnormally fast and large compared to her flock mates and laid only a few dozen eggs in her short two and a half years.   But she was one of the sweetest birds I had.  When I laid her on the ground while I dug the hole to bury her, her actual sister and inseparable best buddy, Waldo, kept nudging at her.  Then she sat and preened Kevin's feathers until I took her away.  

She was so fun and adorable.  When we were outside she always came up and sat right next to us, wanting to be part of the group.   RIP Kevin, we'll miss you.   

I am so confused.  The second from the bottom of the pecking order of my 20 week olds did an eggs song.  First egg song from my pullets.  I was so eggcited I went searching the yard, nest boxes and NOTHING...NOTHING I tell ya.  GRRR....would they start to lay already???  My 5 girls are now 20 weeks, the Australorp is 18 weeks and my Ideal 236 (white leghorns) are 17 weeks.  They should all be starting.  I've read that it's typical for the Ideal 236s to start laying between 13-16 weeks.  That's early but mine are 17 weeks and don't seem interested at all.  Actually none of them seem to snoop in the coop during the day time.  They only go in to roost. 

Anything I can feed them or do to encourage them to lay?  I think I've been patent long enough

~Selina