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- #11
Update:
I added the two vents I spoke of, about 14" X 14". They made all the difference in the world. Ammonia smell greatly reduced. The flock seems to have recovered their appetites and egg-laying prowess, thankfully.
So, while the rest of the flock rallied my one Red Star didn't make it. I isolated her and tried to offer feed and water but after three days, it was pointless. The vet's assistant told me over the phone that most likely they had all been afflicted by the same thing-probably respiratory-but the one that died probably had a weaker immune system to begin with and was less capable of rebounding.
I feel responsible for her death and I feel also as if it was preventable. Honestly, I was happy with having done everything right up until now except for delaying adding more vents. The folks here were absolutely right about ventilation, you can't have enough of it. And if you don't have enough of it, you will pay, or rather, your chickens will.
After one year of being "back in" the poultry world, if I had to offer one word of advice, it would be it: VENTILATION
I added the two vents I spoke of, about 14" X 14". They made all the difference in the world. Ammonia smell greatly reduced. The flock seems to have recovered their appetites and egg-laying prowess, thankfully.
So, while the rest of the flock rallied my one Red Star didn't make it. I isolated her and tried to offer feed and water but after three days, it was pointless. The vet's assistant told me over the phone that most likely they had all been afflicted by the same thing-probably respiratory-but the one that died probably had a weaker immune system to begin with and was less capable of rebounding.
I feel responsible for her death and I feel also as if it was preventable. Honestly, I was happy with having done everything right up until now except for delaying adding more vents. The folks here were absolutely right about ventilation, you can't have enough of it. And if you don't have enough of it, you will pay, or rather, your chickens will.
After one year of being "back in" the poultry world, if I had to offer one word of advice, it would be it: VENTILATION
