OK, I had 3 buff opringtons, two pullets, 1 cockerel. I also have 2 araucanas, both pullets. I collected them about two weeks ago. I managed to find an old chicken pen beforehand and clean it completely. I did everything, got a bell feeder and a bell drinker and used a some fencing to make them a large space for them to range. The opringtons and araucanas mixed well and were friendly to each other.
Last week, when I opened the pen to let them out, one pullet (orpington) was dead, she had some scuff marks but no bleeding. I asked the breeder (who is an expert from my experience) and he said that sometimes pure breeds are not as strong as hybirds and do die. Is that true??? I quickly got a replacement, a much smaller pullet. I took her back, took a risk and put her straight into the flock. She actually got on well with the others, couple of pecks but no aggression intended between the birds. She was protected a lot by the older orpington pullet. Life carried on normally from then on.
This morning, I opened the pen, all of the chickens came outside ready for food and water, but the older orpington pullet didn't. She looked dead not asleep. Luckily, I noticed her foot move and her eyes twitch. I put her outside, but she looked incredibly ill. I noticed only a little bit of blood in the pen so I checked her over. At the bottom of her body, a large patch of feathers had been pulled out and her skin was showing. I asked my dad (a farmer) to give her some medication, which he did using a type of blue spray (not sure on the name, but it helps injuries). I put her in another pen with some bedding and gave her some water. She is there now, not dead yet but I have a bad feeling about her. I hope see doesn't die.
What is going on, 2 chickens have now died?? What could of attacked her? She was fine last night in the pen but attacked this morning??? What should I do to prevent this?
Last week, when I opened the pen to let them out, one pullet (orpington) was dead, she had some scuff marks but no bleeding. I asked the breeder (who is an expert from my experience) and he said that sometimes pure breeds are not as strong as hybirds and do die. Is that true??? I quickly got a replacement, a much smaller pullet. I took her back, took a risk and put her straight into the flock. She actually got on well with the others, couple of pecks but no aggression intended between the birds. She was protected a lot by the older orpington pullet. Life carried on normally from then on.
This morning, I opened the pen, all of the chickens came outside ready for food and water, but the older orpington pullet didn't. She looked dead not asleep. Luckily, I noticed her foot move and her eyes twitch. I put her outside, but she looked incredibly ill. I noticed only a little bit of blood in the pen so I checked her over. At the bottom of her body, a large patch of feathers had been pulled out and her skin was showing. I asked my dad (a farmer) to give her some medication, which he did using a type of blue spray (not sure on the name, but it helps injuries). I put her in another pen with some bedding and gave her some water. She is there now, not dead yet but I have a bad feeling about her. I hope see doesn't die.
What is going on, 2 chickens have now died?? What could of attacked her? She was fine last night in the pen but attacked this morning??? What should I do to prevent this?
