noisyhummingbird
In the Brooder
- Mar 20, 2021
- 10
- 6
- 44
I am experiencing what feels like a disproportionate number of early deaths in my flocks. Of the 7 mixed breed birds in the first flock, 5 died before or just shortly after turning 2 years of age. I had two autopsied. One was a hermaphrodite that died of a torn trachea from apparently eating too much grass. The other had ovarian cancer. Of the 7, only 4 laid regularly. I've had two veteran chicken farmers and my vet look over my set-up, feed, etc. All felt the birds were very fortunate to live in such nice accommodations and had no recommendation for changes. I'm now on my second flocks of 5 birds. I lost one quite suddenly after just a day or two of 'honking'. No other symptoms. She wasn't yet one year old. I now have a second ill bird. She is about a year and a half old. Comparing her feces (yellow and white, mucousy, with bits of green) to the Chicken Chick's photos, it appears to be ovarian cancer. The environment has not been sprayed with pesticides in the ten years we've lived here. The neighbors' horses on the other side of the fence have no health issues. Our dogs on the opposite side of the fence have no unusual health issues. I'm just at a loss. But it isn't much fun to have chickens if I'm going to lose them at this rate. Does this seem unusual?
