How to RESPONSIBLY rehome my flock?

[centrarchid]

As you look for new owner, consider showing pictures of how you are keeping them and provide answers to questions looking for details of how you are caring for them. It is possible for a string of bad luck, bad feed, or a feed storage issue.

 

[DdachickenBoy]

I wanted to get rid of my chickens when my rooster was pulled through a 2 inch gap when he was protecting his ladies but I’m I didn’t

 

[hellotrixie]

As you look for new owner, consider showing pictures of how you are keeping them and provide answers to questions looking for details of how you are caring for them. It is possible for a string of bad luck, bad feed, or a feed storage issue.

I would definitely answer any questions a new potential owner might have. I would likely not give them to someone who did not already have some experience with chickens.

Since I lost one to a hawk, one to cancer, and one to unknown causes, I'm calling it bad luck. Our feed is always fresh and stored in an airtight bucket with a waterproof seal.

 

[centrarchid]

I would definitely answer any questions a new potential owner might have. I would likely not give them to someone who did not already have some experience with chickens.

Since I lost one to a hawk, one to cancer, and one to unknown causes, I'm calling it bad luck. Our feed is always fresh and stored in an airtight bucket with a waterproof seal.

In the shade? What temperature? How was it taken care of prior to you purchasing it? What is manufacture date on bag? Your luck does not appear that all bad. Average chicken life is not forever, and some have to die early to have an average that is balanced by those living several years.

There can be other issues not even considered so far. If you have lost interest, then do not feel bad. Take time to find good owner(s). I lost interest in ducks.

 

[BGcoop]

They say bad things happen in threes. So you should be good to go for a while now!

 

[AngieDawn]

I received the results of the necropsy on my poor girl Debbie who died this week. She had cancer that had spread throughout her body. The report says:

"The cause of death of the bird was adenocarcinoma that spread in the coelomic (abdominal) cavity. Because of absence of carcinomatous lesion in the ovary, the origin of the adenocarcinoma is likely the pancreas."

The report also stated that she had no signs of internal or external parasites, no injuries, no lesions, or other physical abnormalities. She had an egg developing in her shell pouch. The report noted she was in excellent body condition, and was even normal weight despite her cancer. Her crop was full of fluid because her internal systems were shutting down due to her pancreas not functioning, because the entire organ was full of tumor.

This means that the death of this chicken is unrelated to the death of my other hen Chocobo a couple of weeks ago. There's no way to know for sure now since I did not necropsy her, but Choco likely died from some reproductive disease/problem, since she had laying issues (soft eggs, shell-less eggs, fairy eggs). I checked her regularly to make sure she was not egg bound (including right before she passed) because I often found her straining in the nest, but of course her problem could have been internal. She appeared in good health until the day she passed.

The point of all of this, is that I have been beating myself up and thinking I needed to find a better home for my flock where they would get better care. But I guess Heffalump is right...



I still might rehome the chickens. But at least I don't feel quite as awful as I did before. Still sad, but not as guilty and like I'm a horrible chicken keeper. Maybe this will help someone else with their feelings about chicken losses too.

You’re a good chicken mom!
Im sorry you’re feeling the way you are.

 

[Sequel]

I too think you're a great chicken keeper. Your self doubt is normal and healthy for a well adjusted adult. Chicken keeping just isn’t like having dogs and cats though. Their lives and deaths are on an accelerated timeline. That’s the way I think about it, I love my birds but can’t fall in love with them if you know what I mean.

 

[hellotrixie]

You’re a good chicken mom!

I too think you're a great chicken keeper.

Thank you for the encouragement. I'm sure I can always do better but I am trying my best and I am willing to learn. I just want what is best for the animals I am responsible for.

 

[hellotrixie]

In the shade? What temperature? How was it taken care of prior to you purchasing it? What is manufacture date on bag?

In the shade. The temperature varies because it is outdoors. I have limited choices of where to buy chicken feed, so I buy it at Tractor Supply. I called them this afternoon, and the manager told me that they get the feed on pallets from the distributor and then they store it in the store or in their stock room, both are climate controlled. There's just no way for me to know more than that unfortunately. I don't know the exact date that was on the current bag, but I do look at the tags when I buy the feed to make sure it is not very old. I buy feed as I need it and do not store large amounts.

I called the pathology vet that did the necropsy on Debbie, and he said the cause of the cancer is not dietary. It is more likely genetic. He said adenocarcinoma is pretty common in chickens and often originates in the ovaries or pancreas. And I know the feed has nothing to do with the hawk attack.

So that leaves the unexplained death. I guess something with the feed could be the cause? She had no symptoms other than her laying troubles prior to me finding her dead. I had actually just looked her over pretty thoroughly the day before and she seemed her normal self.

I do check the feed for moisture/mold/funky smells/etc. every time I fill the feeders. What are you thinking could be wrong? Is there a particular reason you are saying the feed might be an issue in these specific cases (cancer, hawk, unknown cause of death)?

There can be other issues not even considered so far.

I am planning on making a post that details my husbandry practices so that I can obtain constructive criticism on how to improve. Even if I end up rehoming them it is not going to be tomorrow, so in the meantime I want to do my best.

If you have lost interest, then do not feel bad.

I don't really think that's a fair characterization of what I am going through here.