Hello chicken folks!

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Henflummoxed

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Jun 2, 2024
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Happy to join, I don't know anyone else with chickens! I have a little coop and run (a fortress, we live in the woods, many predators) my husband and I built in 2018. 4 hens is our max. I currently have a 6 year old lavender orpington and a 3 year old ameraucana as I lost two ladies over the winter. About to gain two newbies soon. I love my funny little feathered weirdos but I worry about them and what is normal/okay as when they die, its always so mysterious! Happy to find a place to hear from others with their knowledge or experience. I just want to do right by my ladies as much as I can.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

So glad you decided to join us. So sorry for your losses, :hugs always hard on the heart.
If you lose any more, definitely ask around the forums.

Make yourself at home here and welcome to our community!
 
Welcome to BYC. I would test your 6-year old based on the symptoms of the two you lost, before you bring the younger ones in. I like this lab https://www.vetdna.com/about-us, because they do not have reporting requirements. Results go only to you. There is a good symptom checker here: https://www.poultrydvm.com/views/symptoms.php, that can help you narrow it down to 5-6 things to test for...maybe less.

The reason I think this is important is based on a mistake I previously made. I took in my vets three lavender orphingtons that she could no longer care for. They were 2-years older than my oldest flock. I quarantined. About 3-months after I had them one of my chickens became very sick. She passed before I could get testing and the only vet that would see chickens was on vacation. We drove 2-hours to take her to an emergency vet clinic that said they would see chickens, but they were useless. I tested two chickens from my flock for many respiratory illnesses. They ended up testing positive for infectious coryza. Even if you quarantine, birds that have recovered from certain illnesses won't show symptoms, or may not again unless there is a stressor.

If your flock gets one of these chronic diseases, if culling is not an option for you, as it is not for me...you will have to close your flock.
 

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