It's been a terrible 2 weeks for me and birds. I lost my beautiful BO. I had a broody hen that I wanted to get chicks for. cbnovick and pastrymama were kind enough to share some rare birds with me. I had gotten sulmtalers and brahmas from pastrymama and some blue and brown Orpingtons from cbnovick. I had 5 of the orpingtons for my brood, day old cute fuzzy butts. The night I got them home I waited until the sun went down and it was dark, I transfered broody hen from nest to brooder and put the chicks under her. She wouldn't have it and started pecking at them. I moved her back to the nest and the chicks into the garage. Next morning I go out and realize I didn't shut the brooder. I have a board that seperated two sides of the brooder and I have quail growing out on the other side. Well the board fell down and I had 12 quail on the loose. I found 2 that had met their demise with my cat. I found many running around the yard and caught them. The neighbor called me and informed me that 2 of my quail were in her back yard. I was able to get them as well. A few days later I found another in the yard and then a week later another. I fixed the board in the brooder with a screw and put the chicks with my broody hen. She seemed to except them this time. No pecking. She just ate and drank and would sit. They crawled under and over her and she seemed happy. That afternoon I went to my grandmothers for 3 hours. When I got home I check on the birds. She killed three, leaving me one brown Orpington and one blue. I pulled her out and put her back with the hens. Those two are doing good. My broody, she's still broody. I kick her out of the nest every time I go out there. She really makes me mad. Then, 2 days ago, as I feeding the pullets (hopefully) in the grow out pen I realize one of the sulmtalers is just laying there not interested in the food as the others are going nuts over feeding time. I pick her up and her crop is full and hard. I brought her in and was able to get her crop emptied. I put her in my indoor brooder under a light that keeps the brooder about 85. She dried out from the crop emptying and was drinking water on her own. She was standing and no longer limp. She had been so much smaller than the others her age. Well she passed that evening. I did an autopsy and found the her gizzard was packed full of food and very expanded. There was no bile in her gizzard, not sure if there is suppose to be. I was very extended and full, just packed with grass and food.
Just a sad backyard bird raising month.
what a depressing month. With the heat it is Evernote worse. I'm so sorry and empathize Wuth your pain. 
