- Feb 27, 2014
- 25
- 16
- 99
When we moved to our little farm we inherited six chickens from the previous owner, a rooster and five laying hens. That was 18 months ago. We had no way of knowing how old any of them were, or what their histories were.
The rooster died almost immediately; although he looked good, we think he was pretty old. He was a silver Wyandotte. There were three silver Wyandotte hens, one Barred Rock, and one RIR. Two of the Wyandottes and the Barred Rock died over the course of last summer and winter. Just sat down and .... died.
The other Wyandotte and the RIR were doing great. Laying, active, ranging on about two acres, friendly, talkative. Both laid eggs today.
In the meantime, I raised four chicks this spring. They are healthy and happy, range on the yard, sorta interact with the older girls, and look to start laying on schedule in August.
I went out to close the coops for the night and Joline, the Wyandotte, was dead just outside her coop. No marks of violence, no indications of trauma or disease, just dead with rigor established. Remember, she laid a normal egg today.
This sucks, because I liked her, and I have no idea what's going on. It's a closed flock, but of course there are wild birds around. I don't use pesticides or herbicides. They get Layena as a base, and whatever they care to forage in the way of vegetation, bugs, seeds, and watermelon rind. Doggone it, she ran full steam across the yard five hours ago! Looking for the little bit of cracked corn I sometimes put out.
I am in Chester County Pennsylvania. I got my chicks the first week of March. No other domestic birds have come or gone since then. I have not been in contact with any other birds of any breed or species, nor has anyone who comes here.
Any ideas?
The rooster died almost immediately; although he looked good, we think he was pretty old. He was a silver Wyandotte. There were three silver Wyandotte hens, one Barred Rock, and one RIR. Two of the Wyandottes and the Barred Rock died over the course of last summer and winter. Just sat down and .... died.
The other Wyandotte and the RIR were doing great. Laying, active, ranging on about two acres, friendly, talkative. Both laid eggs today.
In the meantime, I raised four chicks this spring. They are healthy and happy, range on the yard, sorta interact with the older girls, and look to start laying on schedule in August.
I went out to close the coops for the night and Joline, the Wyandotte, was dead just outside her coop. No marks of violence, no indications of trauma or disease, just dead with rigor established. Remember, she laid a normal egg today.
This sucks, because I liked her, and I have no idea what's going on. It's a closed flock, but of course there are wild birds around. I don't use pesticides or herbicides. They get Layena as a base, and whatever they care to forage in the way of vegetation, bugs, seeds, and watermelon rind. Doggone it, she ran full steam across the yard five hours ago! Looking for the little bit of cracked corn I sometimes put out.
I am in Chester County Pennsylvania. I got my chicks the first week of March. No other domestic birds have come or gone since then. I have not been in contact with any other birds of any breed or species, nor has anyone who comes here.
Any ideas?
