Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Sallysec]

I checked for more fresh poop nothing bloody. I just did a ton of reading quickly. I had some meds on hand and figure it might be worth it just to medicate them without knowing if that could be it. I can't find anything local just the Cornell Ithaca location that will do avian necropsy's . I still just can't fathom this being a fight incident. I did notice a feather pulled on one girl though. Before we left we purchased and added new waterers and feeders. I also used a feeder that had been stored awhile. I rinsed it but didnt scrub it with bleach. I find myself just second guessing everything I did before we left. The flock block ....the spiders lol... Thank you all for your kindness and the advice. I will be watching very closely for the next few days. I am scared to leave them again and this whole next month is filled with weekends away.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Sorry to hear this Sally. Sounds like there was no predator involved. There would be lots more feathers and probably blood depending on what type of predator. That is provided they died where you found them and nobody cleaned up the feathers. Forgive me for second guessing your "baby sitter". Could they have gone without water? Water get too dirty and they couldn't or shouldn't have drank it? Maybe fed something they should not have been fed? Locked inside too long and got too hot? Left out in the rain? Could somebody have let a dog in by accident and killed them before they got control of the situation? All of this is just a guess and only to help you. I know you take very good care of your chickens and they are probably in very good health.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Personally I wouldn't start filling my birds with meds without them showing any symptoms of being sick. That route is endless and I would think it could be more harmful than beneficial. That's just me and I am no expert by any means.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Who was the last person to check on them and did they see anything. What time was it? This could rule out many different things knowing that.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Sally, I agree with OK about not medicating blindly. From what I've read, chicks can have problems with cocci, it rarely occurs in adult birds unless they are relocated. Did your husband check for broken necks? Wondering if they might have been scared by something (predator?) and freaked out. It happens.

The thing that strikes me is your comment that these two were your egg eater suspects. Perhaps they had some metabolic or other issue that made them weak. ?? Mysterious and sad.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I find it odd that nobody reported any problems but two of them dropped dead sometime between the last visit by the "sitter" and when you got home. If one of them was by the door it couldn't have been missed. At the very least I would have somebody looking after my birds that knew what a sick one looked like. Again sorry to point my finger at anyone but the timing is just not right in my opinion. Forgive me if you disagree. I am only trying to help Sally.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Hi All! Wow! I just finished reading this entire thread! I feel sad that the good "book" I was reading is over. Although I know it continues! I have learned so much from all of you posters, thank you! I moved to Florida 6 months ago to a community with 5 acre minimums. Along with the 5 horses, 3 dogs and 2 cats, I thought having my own farm fresh eggs was a natural progression. I researched breeds, (small, friendly, cool), and decided on 5 chickens. That would give me enough eggs for myself with some to share with family living in the area. I jumped right in a bought 3 Blue Ameraucana eggs to hatch. Realizing too late, what would happen if only 1 hatched? Off to TSC to pick up a couple of chicks to keep the new ones company. Didn't know they had a 6 chick minimum, I am up to 8. Got some NH Reds to add to the 2 Am that hatched. Liking the blue eggs layers and the heritage breeds, I ordered 6 more eggs to hatch (Cream Legbars). They sent me 10. (Is this what you mean when you say "chicken math"?) Of course all 10 hatched, although one died shortly after birth. They are sex link chicks so I had 7 roos and 3 pullets. The one that died was a roo, and one escaped and a predator got it, a pullet of course! In the meantime, before all the egg ordering (and before I read this thread), I had ordered some live chicks but they weren't coming until June. 5 Barred Rocks, 1 Delaware, 1 Buckeye. I can only hope none of Roger's lineage is in any of them, but she seems so entertaining! They arrived last week, one BR didn't make it. Since it seems one of my original Am's is a roo, I had to order some more hatching eggs and since I liked the Blue Am's I ordered more of those and threw in some Wheaten's too. They sent me 15 eggs! My family is already calling me the crazy chicken lady! Unfortunately, the eggs that seemed intact upon opening the package, were scrambled when opened at day 10 with no progress upon candling. Only 3 out of the 15 hatched and they were all Blue Am's. Until I know the sex of those three, I currently have 2 NHR Pulllets, 10 weeks, (although I suspect one may have been in the wrong bin and is a roo), 2 Blue Am 9 weeks, (1 pullet and 1 roo), 7 CL, 8 weeks, (2 pullets and 5 roos), 5 BR, 2 weeks, (pullets), 1 Delaware, 2 weeks, (pullet), and 1 Buckeye, 2 weeks, (pullet). So I have too many roos. Not sure I can kill them off since I hatched them! But I figure if they come after me or harm the hens, they are done! And at some point in the next couple of months, the oldies will begin laying! Which is how I came to this thread! So now I am waiting for eggs! Thank you again for all of your insight during the many posts! I have already started feeding them pie! And I had to build a bigger coop!

Welcome ScullyD. Glad you joined the conversation. A bit of a crisis going on at the moment but hang around. Roger said to tell you hi. Be careful when Roger tries to friend you. Its a scam.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Hi All! Wow! I just finished reading this entire thread! I feel sad that the good "book" I was reading is over. Although I know it continues! I have learned so much from all of you posters, thank you! I moved to Florida 6 months ago to a community with 5 acre minimums. Along with the 5 horses, 3 dogs and 2 cats, I thought having my own farm fresh eggs was a natural progression. I researched breeds, (small, friendly, cool), and decided on 5 chickens. That would give me enough eggs for myself with some to share with family living in the area. I jumped right in a bought 3 Blue Ameraucana eggs to hatch. Realizing too late, what would happen if only 1 hatched? Off to TSC to pick up a couple of chicks to keep the new ones company. Didn't know they had a 6 chick minimum, I am up to 8. Got some NH Reds to add to the 2 Am that hatched. Liking the blue eggs layers and the heritage breeds, I ordered 6 more eggs to hatch (Cream Legbars). They sent me 10. (Is this what you mean when you say "chicken math"?) Of course all 10 hatched, although one died shortly after birth. They are sex link chicks so I had 7 roos and 3 pullets. The one that died was a roo, and one escaped and a predator got it, a pullet of course! In the meantime, before all the egg ordering (and before I read this thread), I had ordered some live chicks but they weren't coming until June. 5 Barred Rocks, 1 Delaware, 1 Buckeye. I can only hope none of Roger's lineage is in any of them, but she seems so entertaining! They arrived last week, one BR didn't make it. Since it seems one of my original Am's is a roo, I had to order some more hatching eggs and since I liked the Blue Am's I ordered more of those and threw in some Wheaten's too. They sent me 15 eggs! My family is already calling me the crazy chicken lady! Unfortunately, the eggs that seemed intact upon opening the package, were scrambled when opened at day 10 with no progress upon candling. Only 3 out of the 15 hatched and they were all Blue Am's. Until I know the sex of those three, I currently have 2 NHR Pulllets, 10 weeks, (although I suspect one may have been in the wrong bin and is a roo), 2 Blue Am 9 weeks, (1 pullet and 1 roo), 7 CL, 8 weeks, (2 pullets and 5 roos), 5 BR, 2 weeks, (pullets), 1 Delaware, 2 weeks, (pullet), and 1 Buckeye, 2 weeks, (pullet). So I have too many roos. Not sure I can kill them off since I hatched them! But I figure if they come after me or harm the hens, they are done! And at some point in the next couple of months, the oldies will begin laying! Which is how I came to this thread! So now I am waiting for eggs! Thank you again for all of your insight during the many posts! I have already started feeding them pie! And I had to build a bigger coop!

Hi Sully! You win the Giant Flappy Chicken Award

for getting through the whole thread!!

AND you included a picture! Bonus points!!

Love your variety of chickens. I have a New Hampshire and she is great, good calm temperament. You might be better off with just the blue Ams, though. I have a wheaten Ameraucana, and she is a ditz. Flighty, jumpy, and lowest in the pecking order. She's pretty though. If you want another Am variety, I would recommend buff Ams. A bit larger and much calmer temperament. EEs are great too. As for all your roosters-to-be, if you are serious about keeping them, I would recommend keeping them together in a bachelor pen. There is much less risk of fighting if they are separated from the girls, and when raised together, can get along fairly well. Reserve the right to change your mind about keeping them once they start crowing though! If you show some pics of your little blues, I might be able to help you sex them. Boy combs start to show three ridges or rows of peas by 3 weeks and will go pink around 6 weeks. Once you've seen it, it's pretty easy to tell. I like the blues too, especially because you can get black and splash also!

Oh, what kind of horses and what do you do with them? My family raised horses when I was a kid. I think the most we had at one time was 14. There was a lot of poop. But the chickens loved it!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi All! Wow! I just finished reading this entire thread! I feel sad that the good "book" I was reading is over. Although I know it continues! I have learned so much from all of you posters, thank you! I moved to Florida 6 months ago to a community with 5 acre minimums. Along with the 5 horses, 3 dogs and 2 cats, I thought having my own farm fresh eggs was a natural progression. I researched breeds, (small, friendly, cool), and decided on 5 chickens. That would give me enough eggs for myself with some to share with family living in the area. I jumped right in a bought 3 Blue Ameraucana eggs to hatch. Realizing too late, what would happen if only 1 hatched? Off to TSC to pick up a couple of chicks to keep the new ones company. Didn't know they had a 6 chick minimum, I am up to 8. Got some NH Reds to add to the 2 Am that hatched. Liking the blue eggs layers and the heritage breeds, I ordered 6 more eggs to hatch (Cream Legbars). They sent me 10. (Is this what you mean when you say "chicken math"?) Of course all 10 hatched, although one died shortly after birth. They are sex link chicks so I had 7 roos and 3 pullets. The one that died was a roo, and one escaped and a predator got it, a pullet of course! In the meantime, before all the egg ordering (and before I read this thread), I had ordered some live chicks but they weren't coming until June. 5 Barred Rocks, 1 Delaware, 1 Buckeye. I can only hope none of Roger's lineage is in any of them, but she seems so entertaining! They arrived last week, one BR didn't make it. Since it seems one of my original Am's is a roo, I had to order some more hatching eggs and since I liked the Blue Am's I ordered more of those and threw in some Wheaten's too. They sent me 15 eggs! My family is already calling me the crazy chicken lady! Unfortunately, the eggs that seemed intact upon opening the package, were scrambled when opened at day 10 with no progress upon candling. Only 3 out of the 15 hatched and they were all Blue Am's. Until I know the sex of those three, I currently have 2 NHR Pulllets, 10 weeks, (although I suspect one may have been in the wrong bin and is a roo), 2 Blue Am 9 weeks, (1 pullet and 1 roo), 7 CL, 8 weeks, (2 pullets and 5 roos), 5 BR, 2 weeks, (pullets), 1 Delaware, 2 weeks, (pullet), and 1 Buckeye, 2 weeks, (pullet). So I have too many roos. Not sure I can kill them off since I hatched them! But I figure if they come after me or harm the hens, they are done! And at some point in the next couple of months, the oldies will begin laying! Which is how I came to this thread! So now I am waiting for eggs! Thank you again for all of your insight during the many posts! I have already started feeding them pie! And I had to build a bigger coop!

nice to meet you!

Hi all, really sad news. I came home last night around 3 am after driving for fourteen hours. We didnt want to stop, missed the girls. Came home and could barely stay awake to drive, let alone get in the house with the kids. My three different sitters all said the girls did fine. They had no out time. Woke up this morning to put my son on the bus. Went out to the coop and opened the coop door to find Pop dead at the door, I dropped the block in my hand and burst into tears. I was in shock. I came home to around 4 dozen eggs on the table and happy reports from everyone. I looked right away for coop damage to see if something broke in, and I found Mary dead in the run. I screamed and my husband came outside and I just don't know what happened. Its been rainy all weekend here. They had plenty of water and food...we even added more waterers and 'toys' I just don't understand. My husband noticed its the two girls we thought were eating the eggs.

I just cant imagine them killing each other, they have been together forever, we have NEVER had any issues with loose feathers or pecking behavior. Last week was the first time I witnessed any bad behavior and that was the eggs being eaten. I filled two eggs with mustard and I actually wondered if that could have hurt them. I just feel horrible. I wish I would have went straight to the coop last night to check on them. I am so lost. My husband thinks someone else might be hurt but I don't see any other signs of weakness or issues in anyone. He thinks so because as he took the girls bodies out he noticed a fresh looking poop that looked bloody.

This was the worst thing to come home to.

Coop 2 is fine, and the 2 teens are still in the house and fine.

I am so sorry. Its very painful. If you saw bloody poop, get corid right away! Even contact with a wild bird can bring it on. I have a bottle here since we have so many birds, just in case. I do agree with everyone tho, to not medicate unless theres' no question.

 

[BullChick]

Sully. congrats on getting the hang of chicken math so soon!

I am so proud of you!

I agree about the bachelor pen, and was going to suggest it too. I have yet to make mine, but I am looking into it for this summer.
Sally, W4W makes a lot of sense about the health problems and about broken necks due to freaking out. Medicating blindly is not good. Did you mean you had the chicks vaccinated against Coccidiosis (or however the word is spelled!

)?
If ANYONE has chicks that were vaccinated for Cocci..., be sure to not give them medicated feed. The double dosing is dangerous to chicks.
Hello, OK!

So glad to see you tonight!
Anyone see AL lately? She should be out of school by now. I hope she is feeling okay.
I definitely have an egg problem. I found another broken/soft shell tonight. I will have to put the oyster dispenser back up. They kept knocking it down, and I finally kept it down.
The BCM chicks (5 weeks) are so much smaller than the 9 and 13-week-olds. They needed out of the brooder, and all the other chicks were being moved and combined. I didn't know what else to do. They mostly seem mad at me. That or they are just very curious. They are the only non-hatchery chicks in there. Wonder if they know I am not their mommy, and want in the coop with her(s)?

Soon. I don't see a comb on any of them, so they can go in the Marans coop in 2-3 months.
I have managed to get 11 pullets out of 14 straight run this year so far! Woo hoo!