Feeling so helpless with my flock

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I got our first 5 girls last spring from a hatchery. I was SO excited. I’ve always wanted chickens and fell in love immediately. The first year went perfectly; no illness, injury, loss. At around a year old one of our hens started laying only soft shell. Then we had a series of undetermined illnesses, just lethargy and weakness. Took them to the vet and bloodwork showed toxic changes but no answers. Then we lost one suddenly. Necropsy confirmed lymphoid leukosis, likely from the hatchery.

We have 6 hens now, 2 are new from this year (local farm). One of our original hens is on 2 heart meds twice a day due to a murmur (likely from leukosis). One has a deslorin implant because she was hurting herself laying soft shell. Another of the original remaining hens is very likely dying right next to me as I write this. She’s declining quickly, she has a vet appointment on Friday but she’s struggling. And the last one just laid a soft shell egg off the roost tonight.

I’m so exhausted. I do absolutely everything I can to keep them stress free and healthy. I’m meticulous in caring for them and I’m still losing them.

Edit: Should state that this isn't commentary on hatcheries, just details in my specific experience

 

[Sara S]

awwwwvI’m so sorry, praying for u and u buddies. I really hope they get better

 

[chickengr]

hatchery chickens (at least where I live) are meant to live short, 1-2 years. I know it is a hard decision but sick chickens should be culled. I learned it hard way after 7 years of keeping chickens. the healthy ones will get sick if you don't.

try to keep heritage breeds from some local breeder if possible.

good luck

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

hatchery chickens (at least where I live) are meant to live short, 1-2 years. I know it is a hard decision but sick chickens should be culled. I learned it hard way after 7 years of keeping chickens. the healthy ones will get sick if you don't.

try to keep heritage breeds from some local breeder if possible.

good luck

Sucks so much with hatchery hens. I didn’t know this before I got them, and then just convinced myself I would take exceptional care and that’s why the age stats were low. Boy was I wrong.

 

[chickengr]

Sucks so much with hatchery hens. I didn’t know this before I got them, and then just convinced myself I would take exceptional care and that’s why the age stats were low. Boy was I wrong.

welcome to the club!

 

[Iluveggers]

So sorry about your birds. It sounds like they have the best life you could give them.

Wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing the hatchery & breeds? Thanks very much.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Big hugs. That sucks.
If possible, try non-hatchery birds?

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

So sorry about your birds. It sounds like they have the best life you could give them.

Wondering if you wouldn’t mind sharing the hatchery & breeds? Thanks very much.

I should give a disclaimer that I’m not sharing this as definitive evidence that it came from the hatchery, but my vet suggested this is the likely culprit based on timelines and presentation. Our first 5 are from MPC, and we have a variety of breeds. The first we lost was a Mille Fleur, also have a Cochin, Brahma, Ameraucana, and Silkie

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

Big hugs. That sucks.
If possible, try non-hatchery birds?

Definitely. We added 2 more later this year before we knew what was going on from a local farm, they seem to be healthy and overall great temperaments overall. Fingers crossed this continues. As of now our flock is closed, I can’t handle the losses, but we might consider if the new girls do well.

 

[aart]

If possible, try non-hatchery birds?

Ultimately, most birds come from a hatchery.