Hello from Dubuque, IA

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Well what a winter, we had an easy November/December, then January/February slammed us with snow, extreme cold and overall nastiness. I wound up putting two heat lamps in during the -30 below stretch.
The chickens all survived and since the light was put in the began to lay again, I'm now up to eight to ten eggs a day!
I have five ducks on order from the local store and I am anxiously waiting for the snow to melt and get to prepping the garden beds and getting the duck pen built.
 
Good morning all! Another trip to the VA hospital to get my eyes checked out its only been 10 years! Lol. I went to the local farm store where I get my feed and other supplies and where I ordered my ducklings, I checked on my order and they didnt have it! I wasnt upset but made sure I got a new order for them and they will be in on April 8.
 
Sad day today. I lost a chicken, after getting them through the hellacious winter and cool spring thus far DS3 went to gather eggs at 6pm and found her.
The strange thing is at 8am this morning I seen nocsigns of her being in distress. She was lying on her side and had a large soft bulge at the base of her neck. I buried her before thinking of cutting the bulge open. I think with the rapidity of her death she may have choked on something.
The alway have fresh water, oyster shell and plenty of food. She wasn not small by any means and I saw no signs of pecking.
I am bummed. I understand thats its part of having animals but it still a living animal that died in my care.
 
Wow! Haven't didn't realize that its been that long since I logged in to BYC! Lots has happened in the past few years. First I abandoned the hoop coops for something more permanent, Had most of my original flock from 2019 die off of age and other things I failed to catch (Impacted crop and such) I still have two of my original flock left though and they are in my second smaller retirement coop.
I bought a new batch of 12 chicks last spring and boy were they a challenge, they were "Prolific Egg Layers" no breed specifications and I think they weren't very hardy and most died off sadly. I even went so far as to put a light in the coop to try and save the last two. Not the greatest idea but I felt I had to do something, so far those two are still alive.
I did get ten easter eggers (Americanas) from the local Thiesens yesterday, they all look good and are in the brooder now. I have them on probiotic and chick starter for now.
My plans this spring are to check the main coop for cracks and seal them up, expand the chicken runs, and give the absolute best care I can for them as usual.
 
R3bauer said:
Wow! Haven't didn't realize that its been that long since I logged in to BYC! Lots has happened in the past few years. First I abandoned the hoop coops for something more permanent, Had most of my original flock from 2019 die off of age and other things I failed to catch (Impacted crop and such) I still have two of my original flock left though and they are in my second smaller retirement coop.
I bought a new batch of 12 chicks last spring and boy were they a challenge, they were "Prolific Egg Layers" no breed specifications and I think they weren't very hardy and most died off sadly. I even went so far as to put a light in the coop to try and save the last two. Not the greatest idea but I felt I had to do something, so far those two are still alive.
I did get ten easter eggers (Americanas) from the local Thiesens yesterday, they all look good and are in the brooder now. I have them on probiotic and chick starter for now.
My plans this spring are to check the main coop for cracks and seal them up, expand the chicken runs, and give the absolute best care I can for them as usual.
Click to expand...
Welcome back!
 
R3bauer said:
Wow! Haven't didn't realize that its been that long since I logged in to BYC! Lots has happened in the past few years. First I abandoned the hoop coops for something more permanent, Had most of my original flock from 2019 die off of age and other things I failed to catch (Impacted crop and such) I still have two of my original flock left though and they are in my second smaller retirement coop.
I bought a new batch of 12 chicks last spring and boy were they a challenge, they were "Prolific Egg Layers" no breed specifications and I think they weren't very hardy and most died off sadly. I even went so far as to put a light in the coop to try and save the last two. Not the greatest idea but I felt I had to do something, so far those two are still alive.
I did get ten easter eggers (Americanas) from the local Thiesens yesterday, they all look good and are in the brooder now. I have them on probiotic and chick starter for now.
My plans this spring are to check the main coop for cracks and seal them up, expand the chicken runs, and give the absolute best care I can for them as usual.
Click to expand...
Welcome back to BYC!
 
Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies! I always check in the "What's New" section as well at the top of this page. This way I can read how I may have a similar question or help give some advice.
 

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