Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

It's so difficult to tell why birds die without an autopsy. It's even hard to tell when they're close to dying, they're so good at masking their illnesses. It sounds like maybe the hen had reproductive issues. And possibly the cockerel a heart problem if he looked purple.

I have had several sudden deaths in my flock this spring and summer, some birds were eating out of my hand only to be found dead the next day. It does not appear to be Mareks and they don't show any signs of illness prior to dying, and no signs of illness in the flock, as you would expect from AI. It is a mystery.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry, loosing nice birds is never good.
We haven't lost any 'by suprise' this year, one hen who had reproductive issues, almost four years old, and our gradually failing rooster, who had several issues that took him.
The smoke hasn't been good, so true, and I'm spending way too much time indoors because of it. The chickens seem to be doing okay, but I doubt that it's doing them any good either.
Mary