Nice to meet you Ivy, Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Were your birds lost to illness or predation? If the former did they exhibit the same symptoms before dying?
This is a useful link of BYC guides to take a look at announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3 I’d suggest including your location using the guide in that link, if you have not already done so. You can use this link to contact members in your area - Find your State's thread.
It sounds like you have quite the mixed flock! My crew includes chickens, a pair of American Buff geese and nine runner ducks. If this is your first experience with runners, you are in for a treat. They are goofy, frustrating, wonderful birds.
I understand not joining communities. This is the only group that I belong to -- but it is such a great bunch of people. I wish I had joined sooner.