Our Mixed Flock Journey!

[LaFemmeKatia]

Spoiler: Not solution for everyone.

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That was evil but FUNNY!

 

[BY Bob]

That sounds like an interesting adventure. You should tell that story.

I think she learned some tough lessons. Be aware that prolific layers tend to have shorter life spans. I learned that with all of my white leghorns. I think @Ribh would tell you the same.

 

[drstratton]

It had a sad ending...

Sorry Jehane!

 

[drstratton]

I think she learned some tough lessons. Be aware that prolific layers tend to have shorter life spans. I learned that with all of my white leghorns. I think @Ribh would tell you the same.

I didn't even think about that possibility! Poor things...

 

[Ribh]

I think she learned some tough lessons. Be aware that prolific layers tend to have shorter life spans. I learned that with all of my white leghorns. I think @Ribh would tell you the same.

I would ~ but I didn't want to spoil her joy in her new birds & they will have a better life with her for the time they have than many & so...

 

[Ribh]

That's so awesome that your first flock were rescues! Did you like their temperament?

I did. These birds were between 18 months & 2 years so @ the end of their commercial laying life & would have been culled if not rescued. I expected to have them for some years but we lost the entire flock in a matter of months. At 2yrs they were *old* birds. They arrived almost naked & completely clueless about free ranging. Watching them grow feathers & sun bathe for the 1st time was a joy ~ & they all laid up until the day they died but I will never do ISAs again. You don't need every bird in a flock to lay every day to get the amount of eggs you need & there are breeds who are hardier & longer lived & with more personality ~ ok, so I like difficult birds... & I would rather a bird that didn't lay itself to death. Everyone manages their flock differently for different reasons & different needs but for me some breeds are off the cards always.

 

[BY Bob]

I didn't even think about that possibility! Poor things...

My leghorns had amazing personalities. I miss them dearly. They were so much fun and so interested in me. I've not found that in another chicken since. I just couldn't take the heartbreak any longer.

 

[WhoDatChick]

I find my Seramas to be as hardy (health-wise) as any of the other girls. Gorbie in my Avatar, she went MIA after a group of rowdy neighborhood kids were chasing playfully my flock to KINGDOM COME. I put an end to that behavior, but was not able to find Gorbie that evening. ,, Years later I did find remains, and it was Gorbie's as she tried to hide away, and not able to squeeze back out
My second Serama died of a respiratory disease, along with 2 other hens. I was worried that I would loose the whole flock. The sight was not pretty,,
Mareks is a common widespread disease. My understanding is that there are a few breeds resistant to it. I don't think any of the hens that I keep are resistant.
In over 20 years , I have never encountered it in my flock.



DW cooks up a pot of chicken soup just about every week. No,,,,, I don't cook my chickens,,,, I would be out of chickens in no time.

That is such a sad story... I’m sorry for that...

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I did. These birds were between 18 months & 2 years so @ the end of their commercial laying life & would have been culled if not rescued. I expected to have them for some years but we lost the entire flock in a matter of months. At 2yrs they were *old* birds. They arrived almost naked & completely clueless about free ranging. Watching them grow feathers & sun bathe for the 1st time was a joy ~ & they all laid up until the day they died but I will never do ISAs again. You don't need every bird in a flock to lay every day to get the amount of eggs you need & there are breeds who are hardier & longer lived & with more personality ~ ok, so I like difficult birds... & I would rather a bird that didn't lay itself to death. Everyone manages their flock differently for different reasons & different needs but for me some breeds are off the cards always.

I hadn’t thought about that. But at least they had a proper chicken life with you for a short time, after their unnaturally caged world.

 

[drstratton]

I did. These birds were between 18 months & 2 years so @ the end of their commercial laying life & would have been culled if not rescued. I expected to have them for some years but we lost the entire flock in a matter of months. At 2yrs they were *old* birds. They arrived almost naked & completely clueless about free ranging. Watching them grow feathers & sun bathe for the 1st time was a joy ~ & they all laid up until the day they died but I will never do ISAs again. You don't need every bird in a flock to lay every day to get the amount of eggs you need & there are breeds who are hardier & longer lived & with more personality ~ ok, so I like difficult birds... & I would rather a bird that didn't lay itself to death. Everyone manages their flock differently for different reasons & different needs but for me some breeds are off the cards always.

I honestly had no idea! I definitely get enough eggs, so that's not a need that I have! My friend had these chickens before and he loved them, but I think a predator got into the coop and destroyed his flock...he's a pretty soft hearted guy, so I honestly don't think he knows this about them either! I will give them a good home and hopefully they will be able to live a longer life with good food and the freedom that they will have in their new home! Thank you for sharing this sad story, it has opened my eyes a bit further!