Dead Ameraucana ? and other issues! :(

[meggerseggers]

Let me start at the beginning...I had one flock of chickens with that flock were 2 black Ameraucana mamas with 4 chicks between the both of them. They went broody together ...sat together ... raised the 4 chicks together... chicks are now 7 weeks... I opened my coop up this morning and found one mama dead on the floor... Everything was fine the day before somewhat normal....though we did have a neighbor girl come with her old dog and scare the mess out of all the chickens...SOooooooo I am wondering if maybe this mama had a heartattack?? orrrrr maybe it was cause she did have the runny diarrhea ?coccidiosis? im not sure how to know if she had coccidiosis ??? Also I did get another flighty flock of phoenix which are wild and refuse to go in the coop at night...except for last night there was one phoenix that would never go in before and is now going in at night starting last night the night my Ameraucana died....Could there of been a fight? Could there been something transfered from the phoenix to ameraucana?

Also I would like to know as this is my first flock of chickens how to get the chickens to start laying again?? I only get one egg a day and have 1 Ameraucana with the chicks...3 cochin hens They have layed before...would they be molting?? I have no light to give them the 12-14 hours needed? I have not seen mites but did see fleas ??

When do my chicks start laying?? And when will the mama lay again???

Sorrrrrryyyy theres sooo many ???s

 

[Echobabe]

This time of the year most hens are stopping laying in preparation for molting. Your broody hens will not lay, not sure when she will resume laying since I've never let a busy raise chicks before myself. Your new hens may take a couple weeks before they settle in and start laying for you.

You should examine the body for any obvious signs of disease or fight. There is always the chance she got dehydrated after the scare with the dog, but that seems extreme. How are her 7 week olds doing? They really aren't big enough yet to be in the flock of older hens by themselves.

You should always keep the newcomers quarantined for 4 weeks to make sure they do not have an illness that they would then transfer to your established flock.

 

[Echobabe]

lol-- meant 'broody' not 'busy'