NY chicken lover!!!!

Do they have light in the coop ( windows ?) this weather has been horrible ...I would think twice about laying a egg too ! Do they range all day or have a run ..that they can be let out longer during the day ? This is sure a Mystery ..
Could something be stealing the eggs ? Squirrels ?
This will probably gross you out ..A OT - Old timer said if she was really wanted to know if a hen was laying ..she would stick her finger in the vent ..& feel ..She was a nurse so she has seen a few behinds... I am sure Deborah
You're right, this weather HAS been horrible! The orps free range all day, I started letting the silkies free range every other and leaving the orps in their coop while the silkies were out but this was after the fact that they hadn't been laying, we're going on about 3 weeks now without any eggs? I've gotten maybe 1-2 from my lav orp over the course of that time, but nothing like they used to be laying. I always 2 a day in the afternoon. I'm going to do some looking around in the woods today where they hang out when I get back from my lesson. There's a huge knocked down tree in the woods that they've been hanging around on, I even caught them roosting them up in a tree the other day, I wonder if they've been somewhere over there. But would they do that? I can see a new layer, but would they go from laying in the coop to outside some place? The do get some light in their coop as there are slits in the side above the door, I'm sure it's not much light, but again, these guys free range from early in the morning until dusk until they decide to go back into the coop themselves.
 
I have 14 hens and went from 8-10 a day to 1-2 or nothing. I keep checking to see if everyone is still alive because there are so many feathers floating around. They seem to be all molting at once now that it is cooler and probably need a rest.

They are in a coop with two skylights (clear polycarbonate sheets for roofing) and no other lights. I wanted to let them take a break for the winter and focus on staying warm.

Managed to merge the duck flocks together with no incidents and now something is trying to dig under the duck coop. I suspect the woodchuck I saw earlier this year, but will put down some wire in case it is a more predatory critter.
 
. But would they do that? I can see a new layer, but would they go from laying in the coop to outside some place?
Yes. Mine have been escaping from the stall/run that the coop is parked in for winter. They have been great at laying average 6 eggs a day in the coop. Now we started finding some in the stack of hay. I secured the fence to the ground where they had been sneaking under. They were all in when we left for work, all in when we got home (except one roo). But I only got 3 eggs yesterday. I checked in the barn, but it was way too cold, wet and windy to go searching outside. When I get home tonight, there better be a full set of 8 or I will be egg hunting.
 
That's why I'd have them shipped from the hatchery, not from me. At least if the chicks get sick, it won't be from me. I just went outside and the chicks in the same hatch are skittering around normally, as are the 'bad' ages for cocci, 6-8 weekers. Even flashlighted all the poo. LOL. They attacked me this morning for treats and no one is standing around puffed up or acting odd.

I still feel horrible! Of course, *any* sort of chicken exchange can result in cocci problems based on what you said - there's different strains of cocci in the soil and switching around baby chicks can be even more dangerous in that respect. But I still feel like a heel - her kids are upset, etc. So it's the only thing I could think of to do.
I must have not understood you were buying her new hatchery chicks. At least that way they should be ok. You are doing the right thing
 
Ugh! The couple of chicks I gave away the other day are giving the new owner problems - they were under a broody before they left here and look like they now have cocci! Yuk! None of the other birds here have any signs of illness and the chicks that are left under the broody are fine. They were only rehomed because princess can't cover that many..

I can only guess that with all the wet weather and not having the broody immunity going for them it hits the little ones hard in a new environment. What's weird is I checked the two remaining chicks over and there's no problems - eating, drinking, no bloody poo, etc.

I feel horrible!!! I got Peter Brown's chicken emergency kit so everyone's getting amprol tomorrow. bleck. Watch out for the cocci with all this wet weather!

It could be the stress of moving or a change in food. If I have chicks in a brooder they get medicated for a few weeks. Stress is not good for them or us. It brings down our immune system. Too I hope they didn't put the new chicks in with some of theirs.

This is why I don't allow folks to be near my chickens. They are used to me and don't like strangers even if it's family. Well family is strange anyhow but you know what I mean. It's best if family goes out and around the chickens so the birds get used to them.
 
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My chickies are here....
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:D:D

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this last little one cracks me up already....she runs around like a nut and at first I thought the others kind of pushed her....she was the first one I tucked under the ecoglow...she caught on quickly...now she is darting out to get food and water...they all are but they make the cutest little noises...omg I am so in love...
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I wont accomplish anything now...who needs a tv...
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I got chicks
 
How much can they be handled...I would like to take them each out for inspection and pictures...is that too much? I worry that they are stressed already....maybe tomorrow?
 

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