Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

[lazy gardener]

Bruce, the white egg/brown egg preference is related to part of the country. IIRC, folks down South think that brown eggs are flawed, or at least they did up until the last generation or so. And, us Northerners grew up with brown eggs, and consider a white egg to be odd. Perception of freshness is also tied to the egg color. This being b/c white eggs are leghorn eggs. Leghorns typically were not used as layers in the North b/c of their big combs. Therefore... white eggs in the supermarket were not as fresh, b/c they were "from away".

 

[AaronandAlice]

Learn something new every day.

 

[bruceha2000]

Perception of freshness is also tied to the egg color. This being b/c white eggs are leghorn eggs. Leghorns typically were not used as layers in the North b/c of their big combs. Therefore... white eggs in the supermarket were not as fresh, b/c they were "from away".

Well that certainly makes sense!

Maybe they charge more for brown eggs here because they are seen as "more fresh"? And maybe they are cheaper in the south because they are seen as "less fresh"?

I lived in So. Cal for 23 years and have lived in VT for nearly 40. White eggs predominate the "dairy" case in both places. Easier to color for Easter I guess

 

[lazy gardener]

Interesting. I'll have to check out the grocery store next time I go. I think that they are segregated, and white ones are cheaper.

 

[AaronandAlice]

I see mostly brown at Hannaford. (Maine) Some $5/ dozen.

Two more pics with questions- one- is this too much/ too little/ or just right for an amount to feed him?

Second pic- does his comb look dark at tips? I feel like I’m analysing the crap out of him these past few days.

 

[lazy gardener]

Is that oatmeal a snack, or a meal? If it's a snack, it's fine. If a meal (hopefully, you're feeding chicken feed and not oatmeal as his main ration) then he needs more! Yes, his tips look dark. But, it's winter and we've just come off a brutal cold snap. Not to worry. At this point, I'd not worry about him unless he keels over.

 

[TwoCrows]

Is he on regular poultry feed? He should be on a balanced diet of some sort of Flock Raiser feed. Something designed for poultry. Free feed him, in other words, leave food out so he eats as much as he wishes.

Looks like he has some frost bite developing. Frost bite is painful and they can lose the tips with it. I would put some bag balm on his comb or vaseline. Apply it every night before roosting to keep the moisture from damaging the tissues.

 

[AaronandAlice]

It is a snack and in the morning I give him one egg yolk cooked with about a tbsp of cottage cheese. I leave out the crumble for him to eat whenever but it doesn’t seem to be disappearing very fast. They used to all get one snack a day but I’ve been bringing him 2 warm ones since he’s been alone.
He’s not ready to let me balm his comb... I’ll have to get Aaron out there with me so I can hold him.

 

[TwoCrows]

It is a snack and in the morning I give him one egg yolk cooked with about a tbsp of cottage cheese. I leave out the crumble for him to eat whenever but it doesn’t seem to be disappearing very fast. They used to all get one snack a day but I’ve been bringing him 2 warm ones since he’s been alone.
He’s not ready to let me balm his comb... I’ll have to get Aaron out there with me so I can hold him.

Well, when you do get a hold of him, give him some lovin from me. What a sweetheart.

 

[AaronandAlice]

Well, when you do get a hold of him, give him some lovin from me. What a sweetheart.

I did hold him for a few minutes last night- but needed both hands. The twice daily snacks are helping.