- Jul 14, 2009
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Please respond if you can? My hens are between 2 and 4 years old, a mix of breeds. For all their lives I have been using the deep litter method with pine shavings and/or straw, feeding high quality layer feed, free range using an electric mesh fence. I have never lost a hen to predators, but this year I have lost FIVE of my gals to a mystery.
All that I have lost are the oldest gals (4) except for today I lost a 3 yr old. First was an EE. Then a white jersey Giant, Then a Buff Orp, then my favorite , my "boss hen" named Diva who was a red sexlink. Finally, today, a white leghorn.
ALL of these gals were shiny and glossy one day, dead the next morning, lying on the floor of the coop. No signs of distress or illness. The only one who "seemed" sick was Diva who lingered for 3 days and died the same way. She was lethargic and not eating (empty crop) and toward the end was thin but not scrawny.
Please please give me some ideas? I do not want to lose any more. I didn't think four was old for laying hens who have had a good healthy life???
Thank you in advance for answering...
All that I have lost are the oldest gals (4) except for today I lost a 3 yr old. First was an EE. Then a white jersey Giant, Then a Buff Orp, then my favorite , my "boss hen" named Diva who was a red sexlink. Finally, today, a white leghorn.
ALL of these gals were shiny and glossy one day, dead the next morning, lying on the floor of the coop. No signs of distress or illness. The only one who "seemed" sick was Diva who lingered for 3 days and died the same way. She was lethargic and not eating (empty crop) and toward the end was thin but not scrawny.
Please please give me some ideas? I do not want to lose any more. I didn't think four was old for laying hens who have had a good healthy life???
Thank you in advance for answering...