Kee11
Songster
Hello,
We started with 4 silver-laced Wyandotte and 14 Easter egger chicks last March. (The Wyandottes were from Tractor Supply and the Easter eggers were from Tractor Supply and Rainbow Ag.)
We lost a Wyandotte mysteriously, suddenly, at 6 months. We didn't see it happen, and only discovered her under the coop (it is an open, covered area where they hang out) when she didn't come in at night. Then, just this morning (they are now 1 year old), we lost a second Wyandotte, where after much wing flapping, she just passed for no apparent reason.
Our care: The chickens are fed organic scratch and organic layer feed from Costco, are given a small flake of alfalfa to scratch through during the day, and a hentastic treat in the morning. They have 24-hour access to plenty of food, water, shell, coop space (80 sq.ft.), and roost space (18 linear ft.). Their enclosed, secure run space is large (around 650 sq.ft.) and they have an auto door that lets them out first thing every morning. Plus we give them additional semi-supervised time in the afternoon (we are home, around and about) to roam outside the run in a contained, mobile fenced area adjoining the run. There isn't anything harmful or poisonous in their environment.
Additionally, we lost a 3rd Wyandotte about 3 months ago, due to her being overly aggressive and pecking bloody/eating the backs of the other hens... we dispatched her for the health and safety of the rest of the flock. We are now left with only one Wyandotte, while all 14 Easter eggers are still healthy and well-behaved.
I'm wondering if certain breeds may be more predisposed to heart attack than others? It seems strange that out of only 4 Wyandottes in a group of 18, we lost two of them suddenly. Adding in the bad behavior of the other Wyandotte, I'm not sure I want to give this breed another try in the future.
Anyone else have a similar experience? Thanks!
We started with 4 silver-laced Wyandotte and 14 Easter egger chicks last March. (The Wyandottes were from Tractor Supply and the Easter eggers were from Tractor Supply and Rainbow Ag.)
We lost a Wyandotte mysteriously, suddenly, at 6 months. We didn't see it happen, and only discovered her under the coop (it is an open, covered area where they hang out) when she didn't come in at night. Then, just this morning (they are now 1 year old), we lost a second Wyandotte, where after much wing flapping, she just passed for no apparent reason.
Our care: The chickens are fed organic scratch and organic layer feed from Costco, are given a small flake of alfalfa to scratch through during the day, and a hentastic treat in the morning. They have 24-hour access to plenty of food, water, shell, coop space (80 sq.ft.), and roost space (18 linear ft.). Their enclosed, secure run space is large (around 650 sq.ft.) and they have an auto door that lets them out first thing every morning. Plus we give them additional semi-supervised time in the afternoon (we are home, around and about) to roam outside the run in a contained, mobile fenced area adjoining the run. There isn't anything harmful or poisonous in their environment.
Additionally, we lost a 3rd Wyandotte about 3 months ago, due to her being overly aggressive and pecking bloody/eating the backs of the other hens... we dispatched her for the health and safety of the rest of the flock. We are now left with only one Wyandotte, while all 14 Easter eggers are still healthy and well-behaved.
I'm wondering if certain breeds may be more predisposed to heart attack than others? It seems strange that out of only 4 Wyandottes in a group of 18, we lost two of them suddenly. Adding in the bad behavior of the other Wyandotte, I'm not sure I want to give this breed another try in the future.
Anyone else have a similar experience? Thanks!
