She was just 8 months old. She had some obvious genetic issues like split wing and very slight cross beak. She died very fast from being egg bound. She was a little off at 5 am and from where the body was either did not move an inch all day or died soon after I left for work,
I am accepting that I cannot save them all and trying not to beat myself up about it to much.
I have had rotten luck with the ee's. I like them but either they lay eggs with no shell, super thin shells or die young on me. All mine have been from different places so I don't think it is from one bad breeder.
It is so disheartening to lose them like this that I think I wont get more in the future. It is just to sad for me. I had 5 and now am down to 2, none of which are over 5 years old. Elizabeth is the oldest at 5, Whitchy died at 2, Apple died at 2, Victoria is 8 months old, and the Grandma chicken died at 8 months.
They are certainly a perky and attentive type of bird to have in the flock. The one that just passed was super sweet.
I feel your pain. In the last 2 years I ordered 3 Amer juveniles but lost 2 out of the 3 from different breeders and in different colors. Our one survivor is very sweet but she only layed 3 eggs her 2nd year. I hate losing birds and pure breed Ameraucanas have just not been hardy for us - plus our surviving girl does not do very well in heatwaves while our other breeds with walnut/or no-combs show no problems (Silkie and Breda).
I am in the city too but have much more lenient rules here luckily.
She was eggbound. She was fine Sunday running around like normal doing what she always did then Monday she was off a bit at 5 am and gone well before 3 pm. I had heard it could take them pretty fast I just hoped not to ever have it happen to mine.
Eggbound is a common occurrence in production birds like Sexlinks, Leghorns, hybrids, jumbo egg layer breeds, etc. The Amer and EE eggs I've seen are pretty big for a lightweight bird - these birds only look heavier because all their downy feathering makes them look larger than they really are. Our friend's EE had a prolapsed vent which she treated but the EE never layed another egg again. We love our Amer and keep her for her sweet nature towards her flockmates and towards us - I guess if it's a choice between having her eggbound or ceasing laying eggs I prefer the latter.
