Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

So sad. I lost my last Midget white hen. Makes me feel like such a failure. I think the Roo chased her out of the coop last night, and she stayed out overnight. I didn't do a head count last night, because I was working on bumblefoot surgery on my one girl. Poor Wheezy, RIP.

Do you have any poults growing up? I will ask around about MW poults if you want.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Do you have any poults growing up? I will ask around about MW poults if you want.

I found a lady on Craigslist that has some young chicks she is selling. I also have the2 Bourbon reds and 1 Mottled Black that I hatched out from Aurora's eggs. I should be good, but thank you.

I try to take very good care of my animals, but I have had a few mishaps with the girls. The one was eaten by a raccoon before I had my permanent coop, the one died of an infected ( I assume) mating wound, and this one stayed out overnight to never return. We always have to be vigilant and be good stewards of our animals. Unfortunately, we have to learn some lessons the hard way.

 

[kie4]

Oh no I have some sad news too. This is Kiwi our rumpless Araucana that we hatched on Jan 21. She laid us the coolest dark green eggs and they then became a light blue. I was watching the chickens today and Kiwi was walking around as normal with her friend. Her best buddy laid an egg at 10am. Kiwi always waits until her older Blue Orpington best friend lays, then she lays in the same spot. Today she stayed down in the run. Then squatted down as if in a dirt bath. I approached her because I don't want her to lay in the run, and surprisingly she didn't move. I gave her a stroke or two and she still didn't move. Very odd. So I moved her upstairs in the coop to let her lay her egg in peace. Then her head went down and beak touched the floor. I got her some water because I thought she's overheating and dabbed some on her mouth. She noticed me doing that as if paralised. Then I decided to bring her inside into the cool and prepared a box. When I got back she looked asleep. Then there was some intermittent flapping bursts. And then silence.

After the initial shock I put some gloves on and checked her cloaca. Kiwi had a habit of some days of sitting as if she was going to lay, and then not laying. Her cloaca was oozing a white liquid and when I felt further up I could feel what felt like broken egg shell. I squeezed a lot but I couldn't get any of the egg shell to come out to confirm. I'm not cutting her open. Could a broken egg inside cause instant death? She went from lively to dead in about 15 minutes. I thought I had a lot more time to figure out the situation than that.

Kiwi was our smallest, cutest chicken.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I'm so sorry. Was she ill? Was it a predator?

 

[kie4]

I'm so sorry. Was she ill? Was it a predator?

Thanks @AnneInTheBurbs . No predator, we haven't seen any for a long time. Not since the hawk attack in December. She was safe and sound locked in the coop and died just after her time to lay, which is why I'm thinking that something went wrong while laying causing her to die?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Thanks @AnneInTheBurbs . No predator, we haven't seen any for a long time. Not since the hawk attack in December. She was safe and sound locked in the coop and died just after her time to lay, which is why I'm thinking that something went wrong while laying causing her to die?

Did you do an external examination ? Any signs of trauma or a bound egg?

Sometimes it seems they just fall over and die with no explanation. I had a chicken 2 years ago that just died in the middle of the yard one day. She had laid an egg that day and been very healthy otherwise. There is a whole thread about it called some thing like "sudden chicken death syndrome".

 

[kie4]

Did you do an external examination ? Any signs of trauma or a bound egg?

Sometimes it seems they just fall over and die with no explanation. I had a chicken 2 years ago that just died in the middle of the yard one day. She had laid an egg that day and been very healthy otherwise. There is a whole thread about it called some thing like "sudden chicken death syndrome".

Hi @AnneInTheBurbs , I'l do a search for that thread. It did feel like there was a broken egg inside her when I examined externally.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I just went to Kennet Square on Monday.

Me too! And Tuesday, and yesterday...and well, everyday just about. I will be headed there shortly.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

So my first ever broody chicken, Tiny, has been sitting on 4 eggs. Two of them hatched out and two died in the shell. She has been doing good as a first time mama though. It's new for both me and her! The babies are 50% americana, 25% buff orpington, and 25% speckled. What a strange mix... I'm hoping to have at least one female so I can keep her
View attachment 1083220

PRECIOUS!

 

[Lelanae]

Me too! And Tuesday, and yesterday...and well, everyday just about. I will be headed there shortly.

Well, if you happen to pick up a couple eggs from Dennis.... It seems like all my hen's are taking turns being broody! First one English Orp, then my Wyandotte, then the OTHER English Orp ..now even my Welsummer is thinking about motherhood! I did get shipped Coro Sussex Eggs from high rated ebay sellers TWICE this summer and not ONE hatched.