We all do the best we can do with the knowledge and resources we have at any given time. No need for any shaming or guilt. Thank you for sharing your experience with the forum. I'm sorry for your loss.
I need some input...
My Speckled Sussex have been with me for 4 seasons. They all appear healthy and are happily laying eggs. But all of the sudden one of my girls (Olive) is relentlessly attacking her flock mate Nell. Yesterday I found Nell in the nest box with Olive stacked on top of her...
Don't know for sure, but I can say that one of my girls will sneeze if I have just poured feed into the container and a little bit of "dust" (from the feed) gets in her "nose"
I'd be very careful with the heat lamp, just read an article today about a coop/run fire in Duluth, MN that did...
I use a radiant heat panel above the roost at night to give the girls a little bit of comfort. Last year Wisconsin had many -30 F nights (not including wind chill), and my girls came through, no problem and no frostbite.
Obviously very inspired names!
Oh no, is Napoleon still with you? If he is, how is he coping? You might have to get another lady for him and start naming them after his mistresses (Maria Countess Walewska, perhaps?).