sad morning here in TN

[cassie]

Sometimes of critters, of any age and species, and people too, just die for no obvious reason. Happens sometimes. I am sorry.

 

[zoo2u]

I agree that i don't think it was the food. Because we have all ages together, we certainly have young ones that get they layer on mistake and older ones eating grower. Never experienced any issues from this. they also eat primarily grass and food scraps though because they are of course, spoiled.

I agree that it was probably a fluke thing, an unfortunate but fluke thing.

 

[NEK38583]

Sometimes things just happen. I would think in our area it may be to early to get some raised up before winter unless you had a good barn or something with a heat source for them. I stop hatching late July because I am afraid they will not be big enough. If you are wanting to add some older ones their is a website it is www.localsalesnetwork.com it is for tn and ky and you can fine alot of chickens on their under the livestock section. I have found alot of nice birds their I hope that helps.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I agree. But you do need to be careful about chicks eating layer, the extra calcium can overtax their kidneys. I don't know the age at which this is no longer a concern but suspect it is just a few weeks, maybe 6 or so -- have read varying opinions, have not found anything scientific. It's simple enough to hang layer high enough that small chicks will stay out. But your was definitely old enough for layer, IMO.

It is so frustrating to have one die and not know why. It's happened to me, it's probably happened to anyone who has owned a number of chickens for a while. So much breeding is done to increase egg production and decrease broodiness -- heaven only knows what this does to the birds in reference to genetic problems or defects. The commercials don't care, as they knock them off at 1.5 years or so anyway, so no research is likely to be done.

 

[PatS]

One of my apparently healthy BOs died last year in the coop. I think she must've fallen off the perch or flew into the wall accidently and broke her neck.

I do love the BOs. Mine turned super friendly once they were a year old. They make good mamas, too.

 

[rancher hicks]

I to DON'T think it was the feed. If you saw red in the comb I doubt it. I've got birds of all ages and feed them a mix. Hopefully next year I will have a grower coop. However please if you are new, chickens can be walking time bombs and just collapse for no reason. Lost one this past month. Don't know why but she was just there dead in the run.
Gave a CM roo to a friend and he just dropped dead, we both were sad as he was a really nice big roo.

Now OP you've got two months to feather out another bird as I see it. I've got chicks running around the run now just hatched. Broody hatched and mom seems quite capable of taking care of them. I had a broody hatch out two for two in the dead of winter. If any goes broody in the mean time I'm holding out Del eggs (switching them for yesterdays eggs) and will give her a couple I ain't worried.

Op please don't feel any guilt these things happen and we don't always know the reason. This is life.

Love ya
Rancher

 

[elmo]

I don't think it was the feed, either. Sometimes chickens die for no apparent reason. Please don't blame yourself. I'm very sorry for your loss.

 

[JROOSTER]

 

[jerrydude]

thank you so much everyone. this is such a great forum. i'm soaking up the knowledge!

 

[HBuehler]

Sorry for your loss..very doubtful it was the layer feed...We have a few hundred and as hard as you try the chicks and tweens will get some on occasion and they don't die. Had one this Spring get out of the nest box and jump on the perch so she could oversee us building a new tween pen and give her advice..she had lots to say as usual(normal for her to be vocal) suddenly she went off the perch in less than graceful style..she was dead.We sent her to the lab her heart had burst.
I'm in middle TN and we are still hatching..set 41 today.We hatch all but the Christmas Season because I'm too busy to check bators.You just have to have the proper housing for it.