Illinois...

[cavemanrich]

@chickendreams24
My prayers are with you and grandfather.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I lost Mr. Wonderful this morning. I think he waited for me to open the coop, just so I could be with him. Most of his comb was purple. He was such a beautiful and wonderful boy, and I will miss him.

 

[Faraday40]

Oh No! Not Mr Wonderful! Do you have any ideas of what happened?

So sorry for your loss.

 

[cavemanrich]

View attachment 1055490 I lost Mr. Wonderful this morning. I think he waited for me to open the coop, just so I could be with him. Most of his comb was purple. He was such a beautiful and wonderful boy, and I will miss him.

How old was he? Any idea as to cause? Are your other chickens in chance of getting same?

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I don't know what it was. He was just a year old and wasn't acting sick. Until I noticed on Saturday evening at lockup he was holding his wings out like he was hot. Then Sunday morning, the tips of his comb were purple and wings still out. I went and opened the coop this morning, all the girls piled out, he came out and within a minute of hitting the ground he was gone. Comb was totally purple. I am thinking heart/oxygen related because of the purple comb. His breathing was fine, he was eating and drinking, I know cause he came running at treat time and when I put out the watermelon and cantaloupe yesterday. The only thing that was off, was that he had watery poop on Sunday. But that could have been from the watermelon.

 

[Molpet]

sounds like a heart issue..
so sorry for your loss

 

[megpie021]

@ChicagoClucker Im so sorry. He was handsome.

Well today the big ones are 19 weeks old. And my first egg day is the biggest bummer. I went out to do a check, and I found the 4 of the chickens vigorously pecking at a weird thing in the coop. I pulled it out and I think it was a super soft shelled egg that burst. Great. Then I found a more dried up looking but very similar thing. So I think Peaches is laying soft eggs and they are eating them... She has oyster at her disposal, is this just a getting things going situation? And do I need to be worried about them eating the normal eggs once they come because this soft shelled egg eating?

 

[Faraday40]

@ChicagoClucker Im so sorry. He was handsome.

Well today the big ones are 19 weeks old. And my first egg day is the biggest bummer. I went out to do a check, and I found the 4 of the chickens vigorously pecking at a weird thing in the coop. I pulled it out and I think it was a super soft shelled egg that burst. Great. Then I found a more dried up looking but very similar thing. So I think Peaches is laying soft eggs and they are eating them... She has oyster at her disposal, is this just a getting things going situation? And do I need to be worried about them eating the normal eggs once they come because this soft shelled egg eating?

uh oh! Egg eating is not something you want. I think all chickens will eat egg if it's all of a sudden in front of them - like if you drop an egg on the ground. So only if she continues to lay soft eggs will there potentially be a problem. Yes, all kinds of crazy things can happen when a pullet 1st starts laying, so again you don't have to worry unless it becomes the norm. Try crumbled bits of eggshell for extra calcium. Mine prefer it over the oyster shell.

 

[megpie021]

I think these had popped open. They are wafer thin and see through. I am hoping if she gets them solid it wont be an issue.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Up cycled this vinyl umpbrella and base for the guys. Really helps for shade at that end of the run

and a deterrent for the hawks.