@dutchlion
Both of your experiences are very similar to what I keep hearing from folks that purchase started birds. Makes meIt gives me more reinforcement to stick with my decision NOT to purchase started birds.
I've wavered on that a couple times, but now reading this - which is adding to a heap of folks I already know who have experienced similar - it helps me keep my resolve.
i've read about someone else who had an issue similar to this as well- she is a few hours south of me. I thought maybe it was a regional thing due to the relentless heat and humidity we've had here. but @Juleschicks is all the way on the other side of the country.
i've purchased started birds from people that i know and have not had issues. this is an issue with care/cleanliness/bio security. when we picked up the chickens we were not allowed into the pens, but we were allowed right next to them. and if that was the case with everyone who purchased birds from him, then anyone could have brought disease with them. it's my fault- i shouldn't have purchased them. but now that i have i have to deal with i; and the flip side to that is that he should have been honest with me about ANY of his birds showing ANY signs of illness.