socalchickens76
Chirping
- Oct 13, 2020
- 91
- 55
- 98
Hi,
I started chicken keeping in 2020 with six hens I bought from a local breeder. I've lost three of them so far: one to a bobcat and two to egg yolk peritonitis (both Wyandottes). I lost my third chicken just last week to EYP (which we didn't know she had until the day she died, although we knew we she was sick, just didn't know what exactly it was or how severe). My recent research is showing that EYP is extremely common among chickens particularly those that lay a lot of eggs/ are high producers. I am also seeing that heritage breeds or ones that lay less eggs might be less prone to EYP.
Is there any truth to that last statement? Seeing the rapid decline of the chicken I lost last week was very sad and traumatizing. I'd rather spend more on a heritage breed that will lay less eggs but will live longer with less health complications. Or are there any breeds in general that suffer from EYP less often?
Thank you!
I started chicken keeping in 2020 with six hens I bought from a local breeder. I've lost three of them so far: one to a bobcat and two to egg yolk peritonitis (both Wyandottes). I lost my third chicken just last week to EYP (which we didn't know she had until the day she died, although we knew we she was sick, just didn't know what exactly it was or how severe). My recent research is showing that EYP is extremely common among chickens particularly those that lay a lot of eggs/ are high producers. I am also seeing that heritage breeds or ones that lay less eggs might be less prone to EYP.
Is there any truth to that last statement? Seeing the rapid decline of the chicken I lost last week was very sad and traumatizing. I'd rather spend more on a heritage breed that will lay less eggs but will live longer with less health complications. Or are there any breeds in general that suffer from EYP less often?
Thank you!