Feeling incompetent because my chickens dont live long

[MindiWynne]

I have no idea what is happening, but every time I think I have something under control I find some new crisis or issue. In the past 2 weeks I have lost 2 roosters and one hen. One rooster had been ill for a long time and was blind, so losing him did not surprise me. But losing my 3 yr old RIR Rooster totally freaked me out, and then I lost a 1 yr old Wyandotte and neither of them seemed sick at all. Now two more of my Wyandottes are acting different , but not sick, and its freaking me out. The hen (Cookie) has something wrong with her foot, but I cant find any sign of Bumblefoot or injury, she just wont walk on it. She hops and flies but she is eating and drinking well and her poop is normal. So she has been roosting on the ground and recently my Wyandotte Rooster(Pancake), who is now my only roo, has gone from roosting on top of their indoor coop to snuggling on the ground with Cookie. They huddle together, sometimes one under the other's wing. He is also eating and drinking and seems normal during the day but now Im super paranoid and have not found anywhere else to go for advice. Can anyone tell me if this is normal chicken behavior or.am I about to lose them, too??

 

[sourland]

Have you considered taking an ill bird for necropsy so that you can define what disease/diseases you are dealing with ? @casportpony, can you help the OP with a location?

 

[MindiWynne]

Ive never considered that. I dont know where to start. Is it expensive?

 

[sourland]

Hopefully the person I tagged will respond. Most places are not overly expensive. Especially if it helps you save your flock. Periodic losses are frustrating.

 

[MindiWynne]

Hopefully the person I tagged will respond. Most places are not overly expensive. Especially if it helps you save your flock. Periodic losses are frustrating.

Yes, @casportpony was an amazing help when my poor chicken, Marsala, was attacked and had her crop hanging out. I feel like I ask too many questions but everyone has been wonderful about answering them!

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, I am a bit more heartless, and I don't expect my chickens to live forever. I don't keep chickens, I keep a flock. Have had the flock for years, but I expect chickens to cycle through. I would be separating those birds immediately from the flock at the very least. I would be protecting the rest of my flock from exposure to whatever it is. Don't keep an old blind ill rooster, when they are weak like that, they are more prone to picking up an illness and then becoming a source of an illness to pass to healthy birds.

So, my questions are, how many chickens do you have? Are you feeding a commercial feed? What does your set up look like.

Really to keep birds, good commercial feed, clean water, protection from the wind and a dry coop are all you really need to do, but eliminate any bird that does not thrive in that or you can just wreck the whole flock.

The healthiest flocks are flocks that are young and vigorous. I have had one sick bird in 12 years. However, I have had birds with sudden death. I just assumed it was a heart attack or something similar, and figured it was a quick way to go.

I like adding chicks each year, so I also need to loose chickens each year. I really don't go with the whole pet idea and expect birds to live 10 years. I don't think it is realistic. It is just a different viewpoint.

Mrs. K

 

[Ridgerunner]

When they open back up after the holidays call your county extension office and talk to them about a chicken necropsy. Each state is different, in some a necropsy is really inexpensive, in some it is more expensive. If you know how much it costs, what is involved in keeping the carcass and transporting it, and where to take it then you at least know your options.

 

[Ribh]

Just a thought, though things could be operating very differently in my country: Where do you buy your chickens? Lots of people here run chooks as a small side business, totally unregulated & not everyone keeps hygienic surrounds or immaculate birds so those birds are more prone to disease & early deaths. I researched until I found a wonderful place & my birds are doing really well. It pays in the long run to spend a bit more money & know you are getting healthy birds that have been well looked after.

 

[MissChick@dee]

*if keeping a chicken for necropsy refrigerate the body don’t freeze it *

 

[MindiWynne]

Ive only had chickens for about 18 months now and Im still learning, but I think Ive found the answers Im seeking. I have had some illnesses in my flock, I have had scaly leg mites, I have had chicken lice. I have nursed Battery Hens back to great health and I have had chickens with frostbite and heatstroke. I will find out about necropsies but I think this is all just part of the rookie curve. Thanks for all of the advice, Im less concerned now with why they are perishing then I am about why Cookie sleeps on Pancake's head on the floor every night...They both seem perfect during the day, I guess they may just be weird.