Our americauna ( who was giving us problems with lots of clucking of late as she defends her spot as top of the pecking order) was dead in the coop this morning. She seemed to be holding her own against the White Rock twice her size challenger.
Last night when I went to put everyone away, my Orp was already in the coop ( odd for sunset as they all like to roost on the serving ledge outside the kitchen window). The orp is having a problem with bare butt and shell-less eggs despite lots of calcium and others are laying good strong eggs so if I was to worry about anyone it would be the Orp.The americauna was sitting on the ground below the ledge, and the Rocks were on the ledge as usual. When I picked up the Am. she was just slightly more cooperative than usual. No unusual bumps or open sores that I could feel, although I had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.. She was eating when I saw her earlier in the day. Since it was after dark and the Orp was in the nest box on the side where everyone lays eggs, I didn't bother to look for eggs. This morning, when I opened the coop, it was still dark. As the sun rose, the rocks came out to free range.. I sent my daughter to put a small waterer in the coop as the Orp had not come out yet and I wanted to make sure she had easy access to water in case she wasn't feeling well or was broody and my daughter came back crying that Emilio was dead.. She was laying on her back, no sign of external wounds, there was a little white around her vent.. one leg was back one forward....
She did not lay an egg yesterday and she is a pretty regular layer.
Should I be worried about my other girls? it was in the high 80s yesterday, all waterers are full, plenty of shady trees... I have no idea what killed poor Emilio ( but i know it wasn't opossums this time at least,.
Last night when I went to put everyone away, my Orp was already in the coop ( odd for sunset as they all like to roost on the serving ledge outside the kitchen window). The orp is having a problem with bare butt and shell-less eggs despite lots of calcium and others are laying good strong eggs so if I was to worry about anyone it would be the Orp.The americauna was sitting on the ground below the ledge, and the Rocks were on the ledge as usual. When I picked up the Am. she was just slightly more cooperative than usual. No unusual bumps or open sores that I could feel, although I had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.. She was eating when I saw her earlier in the day. Since it was after dark and the Orp was in the nest box on the side where everyone lays eggs, I didn't bother to look for eggs. This morning, when I opened the coop, it was still dark. As the sun rose, the rocks came out to free range.. I sent my daughter to put a small waterer in the coop as the Orp had not come out yet and I wanted to make sure she had easy access to water in case she wasn't feeling well or was broody and my daughter came back crying that Emilio was dead.. She was laying on her back, no sign of external wounds, there was a little white around her vent.. one leg was back one forward....
She did not lay an egg yesterday and she is a pretty regular layer.
Should I be worried about my other girls? it was in the high 80s yesterday, all waterers are full, plenty of shady trees... I have no idea what killed poor Emilio ( but i know it wasn't opossums this time at least,.
