Hi all,
Having a blast reading all the comments, from new members and chicken people alike. This is really a fun site. I just recently got chickens again after a long absence and it is nice to know there is a place I can go when I need refresher courses or the newest and latest chicken techniques. I grew up with chickens, my dad had quite a selection, sebrites, polish, silkies, millie flures along with peacocks, guinea hens and lots of varieties of pheasants. When I was 12 or 13, my friend and I raised 50 Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks and sold the eggs. I remember the big Barred Rock rooster who used to attack me, I think he ended up in a pot.
That was a long time ago and things were different then. We used to go to the auction and get chickens and other birds, I remember doing it and having so much fun, it was like going into a candy store. SO, that is where I started last fall, at the local auction. This one was different than I remember, we were not allowed to go see the boxes of birds before hand, you just had to wait till the auctioneer put the chickens in the cage on the counter (they used to pull them of the box and hold them up by their feet). So I bought a bunch of young chickens and a few guinea hens and put them all together in my newy build coop. I have been pulling my hair out ever since. I don't remember my chickens ever being this sick or so many dying from unknown illnesses.
WOW, after reading many articles, I discovered the number one rule, stay away from auctions!!!
They all seem to be ok now, hopefully I have it all under control. How things have changed!!!
Sorry you are having a rough time with some ill birds - hope things start looking up from here on out!
