How often do your chickens die? Aka - am I just unlucky?

[StinkyAcres]

It's possible that when you introduced new birds they brought something. Generally it's recommended to quarantine for a month as far away from your existing flock as possible. If they're too close they can still spread disease

Yes, and shower and change clothes after caring for the new birds and before caring for the old birds.

 

[A Swede in France]

It's possible that when you introduced new birds they brought something. Generally it's recommended to quarantine for a month as far away from your existing flock as possible. If they're too close they can still spread disease

Yes I've not been that strict. To be honest I've worried more about the new ones catching latent IB virus

Some of the never girls do come from large hatcheries so I guess they are more likely to carry stuff, even though they are vaccinated against a bunch of disease.

 

[A Swede in France]

Wild birds can certainly be a source of illness. Unfortunately if you free range there isn't anything you can do about that

I'll medicate the whole forest

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

One theory I have is wild birds. I live in the mountains surrounded by nature and wildlife of all kinds. Maybe they bring stuff?

Hello It is very rare for that to happen as much as some people would like you to believe it. Thin your chickens down and I think they will be healthier.

 

[FrostRanger]

I don't think overcrowding is the issue here, they seem to have plenty of space to roam

 

[StinkyAcres]

I don't think overcrowding is the issue here, they seem to have plenty of space to roam

I think @Kenya Mwangi meant they should have fewer carbs and more protein.

 

[FrostRanger]

I think @Kenya Mwangi meant they should have fewer carbs and more protein.

Ah, I see. I can agree with more protein in general. Idk if there's a high protein layer feed available in France, but I do think the added grains and whatnot in addition to the layer feed is unnecessary and might be throwing things off balance. I'd just stick with layer feed and whatever they can forage to see if that helps at all

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

I think @Kenya Mwangi meant they should have fewer carbs and more protein.

Hello Yes this is what I meant to say. I'm sorry.

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh you poor thing, so stressful. Your set up looks good, and if you are going to the vet - he must of questioned your feed? If he is happy with it, I would not worry about it.

Getting started can be a big learning curve, and while chickens can live a very long time, a lot of times they don't. A lot of times it is genetic and not much you can do about it.

I don't think you will want this advice - but I would consider culling your poorer doing birds. Poor doing birds get sick much easier, and then they can kind of harbor it in the flock, and any stressor can bring it back out into themselves and then the healthier birds.

Medicine is always an option, too. But culling is an old time animal husbandry technique that has long term benefits.

Mrs K

 

[A Swede in France]

Hello Yes this is what I meant to say. I'm sorry.

Good morning from my corner of the world!

I checked their food and this is the nutritional value of it according to the bag

10.6% Protein, 4% fibre, 5.3% Fat, 2.08% Calcium, 0.27% Phosphorus, 8.48% minerals (called cendré brute here is apparently a measure of minerals and trace elements - very vague), 0.2% Methionine. High protein mix, enriched in calcium and omega 3. Intended for laying hens. Complete animal feed

What do you think?

I'll look up how much protein is recommended. French feeding routines seem very different to those in the US. Here, only scratch and scraps is the norm.