Michigan

[Farmer Andy]

Olive Hill- Over here on the west side, the manager of the Lowell TSC told me they will be getting in some California Whites. Don't know when though. I wish they had a schedule of when they were getting what.

 

[Olive Hill]

fife -- I hope your ribs heal quickly. Sometimes bruised ribs are worse than cracked, I think. Two summers ago my mare threw me in the middle of a HARD packed field and I came down on my ribs on one side, just bruised 'em but MAN did it hurt. Of course so did my head and my neck and my pelvis.

Andy -- Thanks! I'll have to check in at the TSCs around here periodically this year and see if I get lucky.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Hello Everyone - long time no chat (I have been peeking though!!) - Looking for input on the cause of wrinkled eggs - typically extra large - not sure who/was laying them. Over the winter we've had 3 RIR hens die; they would have been 3 this spring. Each one had hard abdomens and when brought in for quarantine, did not lay eggs. The last hen started hiding in the corner of the coop about 6 weeks ago. We would bring her out into the yard (shoveled free of snow, of course) and the behavior would cease. She would eat treats and act normal and then 3 wks later or so the same behavior. She was acting perfectly normal on Wed of this week, Thurs began sitting on the floor again - take her out - she'd enjoy treats with everyone else, and then yesterday it was back on the floor again so we left her there for the evening. This morning I removed her from the flock and brought her out into the yard. She couldn't stand and was obviously not comfortable at all. We euthanized her. In this hen, her crop actually felt boney - this was not true of the other 2 hens. From what I can determine (reading on line) they all may have been internal layers, resulting in infections....any thought/input would be appreciated - and yes, Sam, we ARE looking forward to Chickenstock and SPRING!

 

[Olive Hill]

Did all lay wrinkly eggs before death?

Were there any other symptoms not included in your post? Rattles? Nasal Discharge? Watery eyes?

The reproductive tract of a hen can be affected by illness and can result in oddly and poorly formed eggs. But it's not the only thing and with the span of time between each death in your flock a contagious illness is unlikely. On the flip side of that token however, without autopsy information it's basically impossible to determine a non-contagious cause as well. So, unless you autopsied them there's not much that can be said about it for sure.

Also, probably important to note is that just because a few hens died within a relatively short time span doesn't necessarily mean they all died of the same causes.

 

[Olive Hill]

Also meant to ask, what type of hens and where'd you get them?

Another thing to keep in mind is that while we all like to fixate on the rooster that lives 25, 30 years or the hen that's 27. Those are exceptions for the most part, not rules. 3 -6 or 7 years old... that's a decent run for a bird from a production bred background as they're not bred for longevity. It's not economical for a hatchery to keep 3 and 5 year old hens for their breeding birds because they, as a general rule of thumb, don't lay as well as their younger counterparts so longevity isn't even considered in the equation.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Quote:

All of the symptoms were the same as well as the behavior

thanks for the input and appreciate any other input/thoughts along the way

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Huston's Happy Hens :

Quote:

All of the symptoms were the same as well as the behavior

thanks for the input and appreciate any other input/thoughts along the way

They came from Townline Hatchery and I'm leaning towards it being the result of the breeding for heavy egg production; hence the issue of internal laying as they age

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
Thanks Olive....I hope so too...at least my head and neck didn't get hurt as yours did!
I'll just be laying around for a bit I guess.

 

[Olive Hill]

Keyt - Hens for sale on Lansing CL ---> http://lansing.craigslist.org/grd/2245869644.html

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:

Congrats Tank!! 51! Sounds like an addiction to me