My flock was fine this morning, this afternoon they are dying!

[Aber]

And I just had a scary thought. Is there any way I can rule out avian flu?

 

[biophiliac]

And I just had a scary thought. Is there any way I can rule out avian flu?

So sorry for your losses. Agree with all who encourage you to continue.

Doesnt sound like avian flu.

 

[Aber]

So sorry for your losses. Agree with all who encourage you to continue.

Doesnt sound like avian flu.

Good, that thought suddenly terrified me.


I have a 3 and 6 year old begging me to go get new chicks soon already. They're good encouragement to stick with it in spite of our tragic first run! I'm hoping we can find a nice pullet around Penny's age to keep her company first and foremost!

 

[biophiliac]

I think bringing in one is a good idea, more than one might gang up on Penny although she enjoys home turf advantage. Very best of luck to you in the future

 

[lastco]

Maybe you could casually mention that you will let him know if YOU plan to use chemicals. He'll probably get the idea. Most folks don't want to be bad neighbors (although there are exceptions). Sometimes people consider their own pets/livestock, but simply forget that they need to consider other people's animals.

Like a lot of other folks on BYC, I've also kept honeybees. NOTHING will gauge how much crap people are spraying/spreading like honeybees.

 

[Aber]

That's a really good point! I have a feeling he will bring it up again and I'll probably mention it that way. He seemed totally mortified as it was. My parents just started keeping bees as well, it is such a sad state of affairs! It's why we got our guineas... To have some pest control sans nasty chemicals.

 

[Aber]

I think bringing in one is a good idea, more than one might gang up on Penny although she enjoys home turf advantage. Very best of luck to you in the future

She is super docile I am worried about her getting her butt whooped! My brother in law got some pullets right around the same time as us and I was thinking about asking him... But his are downright feral. I think they'd eat her.

 

[TinyBirds]

I woud just get new chicks and then put them with her when they're maybe 4 weeks old in a dog crate where she can see but not hurt them for a week before letting them out. I don't buy grown birds any more due to higher risk of introducing illnesses to your property (just my opinion but others may disagree)

 

[christwodog]

Don't give up on the chicken keeping! It is heartbreaking to lose just one, let alone several...but give it another try. I had two poisoned with an unknown toxin also, which is why I mentioned insecticide spraying in my other post. I suspected that with mine, but could never confirm it. One survived (Kalani), she literally was on death's doorstep, but the other did not (Buttercup). But I did learn valuable critical care techniques, so if I have another incident, hope not ever, at least I know what to do and am well supplied. So I try to learn from experiences like these, but I still cry my eyes out if I lose one. Good luck with new chicks or chickens, whichever you decide.

 

[biophiliac]

Don't give up on the chicken keeping! It is heartbreaking to lose just one, let alone several...but give it another try. I had two poisoned with an unknown toxin also, which is why I mentioned insecticide spraying in my other post. I suspected that with mine, but could never confirm it. One survived (Kalani), she literally was on death's doorstep, but the other did not (Buttercup). But I did learn valuable critical care techniques, so if I have another incident, hope not ever, at least I know what to do and am well supplied. So I try to learn from experiences like these, but I still cry my eyes out if I lose one. Good luck with new chicks or chickens, whichever you decide.

Thanks for sharing your insight will help others. Every crisis makes us better able to help our birds in the future.