We bought 40 pullets last weekend and all seem fine. We followed Joel Salatin's teaching about free ranging with a portable coop. They live in a 2 ft high coop that we move everyday to new grass. They have seemed very happy and healthy but this morning we went out to move the coop and one was dieing. She was about 17 weeks old. At first I thought her head was gone and thought prehaps something had managed to get her through the fence but when I went around to the side i saw that her head was just distended towards her back. The other chickens were stepping on her also. We scooped her out and she had died by the time we finished feeding and watering. Do you have any ideas? It has not been unusally hot or anything and they have had fresh water and food everyday.
My other issue is that one of the birds looks like it has had it's eye pecked out possibly. It is closed so i cant tell for certain but it is very swollen and looks a little leaky. Should I try to see if there is puss or just separate her or what? She is eating and drinking fine.
Thanks for your help.
My other issue is that one of the birds looks like it has had it's eye pecked out possibly. It is closed so i cant tell for certain but it is very swollen and looks a little leaky. Should I try to see if there is puss or just separate her or what? She is eating and drinking fine.
Thanks for your help.