Whats going on with my Welsummers????

[countrykidsx7]

We ordered 15 welsummer chicks this Spring, got 17. 2 died within days of arriving. Then the chickens got sick, I assumed Cocci. At that time I had 15 welsummers & 12 Houdans. I lost 13 of the Welsummers & only 2 Houdans. A week later another Welsummer was dead. Looked healthy & fine at bedtime was dead in morning. I have 1 hen left of the original 17. I was given a Welsummer Rooster. Healthy, tame, sweet as can be. Yesterday perfectly fine, this morning dead.

All my other chickens are fine. My Houdans & Silkies are doing great. The chicks we hatched a month ago are strong & healthy. I just dont get it at all. Do Welsummers not do well in some climates maby??? Any thoughts, advice, anything?? I REALLY want welsummers, or some breed that lays the super dark eggs, but I am getting very leary of trying again with them.

 

[tiki244]

I am thinking something that youre flock is immune to and when you introduced the new chickens, that they were not immune to the same things. This could happen even if they are all healthy.

Were the other chickens and the new chickens all in the same area?

 

[countrykidsx7]

this time yes but we ordered the Welsummers & Houdans at the same time. They came together from the hatchery. They was in our chick area which was not near any other chickens at the time they died.

Are Welsummers more sensitive to heat than some breeds? We are in the midst of a heat wave right now & both other time we lost chicks it was during heat waves too. they have plenty of water & shade but

 

[tiki244]

I think it may have been in the breeder flock of the Welsummers. Possibly passed chick to chick to a couple of Houdans. I would contact the hatchery and get a new shipment of Welsummers. The hatchery doesnt always get all their birds from the same sources. This happened earlier in the year with one hatchery that had some breeds that were dying like flies and others that were good.

The shipping of small chicks can be very stressful, and things like this happen. When the chicks are young mortality is greater than when they get older. But I think Welsummers are a hardy breed, and you just had a bad experience. Sorry to hear about that. :|

 

[tiki244]

MotherGoose has Welsummers and I think she sells eggs. Try the BYC thread on breeders and backyard hatcheries, I bet there are others who have eggs to sell. Especially now that it is cooling down a bit. Or maybe in a month. But it is harder to raise chicks in the winter for they are more prone to disease, withourt being able to be in the sun and fresh air. But it can be done.

I think Welsummers are a fine breed.