Little update after the death of Filomena

[Kelly FG]

I took two poops from other girls in my flock to the poultry vet yesterday morning to test for parasites, I was sure I'd get a positive but they were both negative. So the good news is the rest of my flock isn't sick with parasites & Filomena probably wasn't either. The bad news is her death is still a mystery.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

I'm glad to hear that you can at least eliminate that from your list of worries.

Have the girls stopped looking for Filomena? How is the pecking order settling?

 

[Kelly FG]

thanks Shelly. Some of the girls like Daphne & Marguerite have been really extra affectionate with me. They insist on being on me when I go in the run, once I sit in my chair they get on my lap & won't get off. They just sort of look at me as if they are asking "what did happen to Fifi Mom?" They don't hang out in that area (where she died) of the run anymore. They made a new spot about 20 feet away to nap.
Daphne is still the top hen & Fifi was second.....I'm not sure who's in the second spot now. I did notice that Genevieve who is at the bottom has been slightly more aggressive toward Olivia who is also at the bottom. Penny is broody so that's throwing stuff off too, because she spends the majority of her day sitting in an empty nest.
Its really weird without her voice too, because she was a big mouth.
I have decided for sure that whatever girl goes broody first next Spring is getting a couple of fertile eggs to sit on.
Its really weird only having seven, I was programed to count all 8 without actually counting to be sure they were all there, now everytime I count I get confused.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Awww. Poor babies! Even though she terrorized them, she was part of the gang, and a big part at that. I'm sure they'll miss her for a bit then figure out who's who in the mix. You, on the other hand, will always remember.

I think that's a great idea about the eggs in the spring. What fun that will be! Then, of course, you'll have to start a new thread - Spring Chicks '08! Doesn't rhyme as well as our '06 thread, though.

I understand about the number eight. That was a part of your sig-line for so long that it just seems that's the way it should still be. :aww