Zane Made REAL Progress (New Pics Pg 99)!RIP Lorelei...

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
How old were they when they started lightening up and when the wrinkling started?

They turned a year old last friday and have been laying the different eggs for the last few months. They were 15 weeks old when they started laying.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

How are Zane and the girls doing today?

 

[speckledhen]

Good morning, everyone. I haven't even been outside today yet. DH let everyone out. I'll let you know when I've checked on them how they all look.
Diana, no one in my flock has ever had any respiratory illness. I keep seeing reference to bronchitis, but unless they can have it and be completely asymptomatic, no, they have never had it. That article about shell color was good, too. I saw almost colorless eggs from both Lorelei and Ruby from time to time. I can't pick out anything from that list in the article that would cause it. There have been no attacks, therefore I don't know of anything that would have caused fear of that magnitude. They are locked up tight at night and nothing can get at them. They freerange most of every day, so there is no crowding. The watery whites in Ruby's eggs would almost indicate bronchitis, but how could she have that with no symptoms plus be the only one of 21 layers that has experienced it, too? I'm positive that is not the cause. You just can't have that in a flock and not know they're ill. I just am stumped.
Carrie, thank you for asking Missourichick to look in on this one. If anyone can shed any light on what is ravaging my girls, that would be great. I'll check back in after I've seen about Lorelei, Ruby, Rosemary and Zane.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Oh Cynthia, sending hugs your way.

I sure hope the mystery can be solved soon. Thinking of you & hope things get better soon. I wonder if they are all stressed from the change in the dynamic of the flock after Hawk Eyed died?

 

[LoneCowboy]

Hope it gets better soon. I've been following this post and worried for your fluffy kids. This isn't the kind of chicken experience anybody wants to gain.

Good luck!!

 

[Missouri chick]

Hi Cynthia, I do work for a vet, but she only does small animal. Gosh I wish I had anything to help!!!!! I'm new to chickens myself. I've been skimming through this thread and my heart is breaking. It's amazing how attached we get to our birds. I'm SO SORRY I don't have any answers.
Lori

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you anyway, Lori. I may just lose a few this year. I won't be getting too many more hatchery birds, but I just did buy two Wyandotte chicks from the feedstore for my broody Olivia to add to the one chick she hatched. I sure hope they aren't doomed to the same fate in two years that Lacy suffered and Lorelei seems to be headed for.

Ruby and Rosemary are moving very slowly this morning, as is Lorelei, but Lorelei quit laying or even trying to lay a month ago, so she may be at a different stage than they are. I just dont know what to think at this point. After hearing what others have said about theirs at this age, there may be nothing to be done. This may just be what we are doomed to suffer for the hatcheries breeding out natural broodiness in favor of extreme egg production, wearing them out way before their time. That's just plain sad.

 

[KrisRose]

Dang girl. You need several shots of Jim Beam. Sending best wishs for you and your flock.

 

[HenHaven]

Farmer Kitty wrote:

I'm wondering if the whole problem is the same reason as why we don't see so many broodies anymore. Hatcheries breed their birds for high production and maybe this push is just what is causing the problems.

I haven't had chickens long enough to evaluate hatchery vs. breeder birds, but in general, I think that the issue of production has definitely pushed the industry to meet that need, perhaps at the expense of longetivity and soundness.​

 

[HenHaven]

(((((((Hugs))))))) to my buddy, Cyn.