First one, I have no idea .. she was fine when she went into the coop but the next morning she could not lift her head and passed away within a couple of hours. I think she was either bitten by something or ate something she should not have. Her sister and the rest of the flock were fine.
The second one had young chicks at the time and was in the run with them when a Brush Turkey wandered into the yard. She freaked out, ran around trying to protect her babies [not that it was a threat] and she just stopped eating, drinking and generally looked unwell. I took her to the Vet who said it was shock, heart attack or heat stress. They tried to save her but no luck.
As I mentioned, my two Silkies were very nervous and flighty in comparison to the rest of the flock and may be, being sisters, it was something in their breeding .. I do not know
The second one had young chicks at the time and was in the run with them when a Brush Turkey wandered into the yard. She freaked out, ran around trying to protect her babies [not that it was a threat] and she just stopped eating, drinking and generally looked unwell. I took her to the Vet who said it was shock, heart attack or heat stress. They tried to save her but no luck.
As I mentioned, my two Silkies were very nervous and flighty in comparison to the rest of the flock and may be, being sisters, it was something in their breeding .. I do not know
When I feed and water (or walk around them in general) I have to do what we call the "chicken yard shuffle". If I don't shuffle, I step on them because they're always right under foot. Or, over foot, they'll all crowd around and sit on my feet if I stay still long enough.
). Mine are very hardy and they're wonderful incubators and mothers. Mine lay pretty well too when they're not broody.
