A Swede in France
Songster
Hi!
I'm not sure if this should be in flock management or disease and injuries but it's a general question not a specific case, so I'm putting it here.
I've had chickens for two years and started as a complete beginner. I have 13 hens and one roo, started with four but expanded pretty quickly.
In those two years, I feel like a lot of them died. I don't know if it's normal, or if I'm unlucky or mismanaging them!
One died very young and very suddenly of coccidiosis
One was taken by a buzzard - after which we built them a fortress.
One was taken by a fox - after which we fenced and electrified the whole yard.
They got sick with a very bad respiratory virus but everyone made it through.
Then a rooster died overnight
One had a prolapse and later became egg bound, but she's still with us 7 months later.
Two died of mysterious primarily gastric diseases but not cocci - we could probably have saved at least one if we'd gone to the vet sooner.
One got sick with a bacterial infection but made it and is doing great.
One lays only soft eggs and has done so for four months (!). She is also under treatment for bumble foot.
And tonight we took Penelope to the emergency vet after a very rapid decline, and found out she has a massive inflammation of all her internal organs and will most likely not make it. She also laid a fragile egg a few days ago and strained to lay today but nothing came - but it looks like the shell is broken inside her (the vet said this was not the source of the problem and the least of her worries now)
This is all so heartbreaking!
But is this what it's like? Do they die this often? What am I doing wrong?
That's 6 dead out of 19 who have passed through, with one more on the brink and the more who have had serious medical issues. That's more than 30% dead, and more than 50% sick or injured.
I'm a bit worried a lot of it is connected, and that the bad respiratory illness was infectious bronchitis that is still around wreaking havoc - like the sudden illnesses, the problems with laying, and now Penny's collapse.
What say you, are your chickens dying at this rate?
Also, love and prayers for Penelope who stayed in intensive care over night.
I'm not sure if this should be in flock management or disease and injuries but it's a general question not a specific case, so I'm putting it here.
I've had chickens for two years and started as a complete beginner. I have 13 hens and one roo, started with four but expanded pretty quickly.
In those two years, I feel like a lot of them died. I don't know if it's normal, or if I'm unlucky or mismanaging them!
One died very young and very suddenly of coccidiosis
One was taken by a buzzard - after which we built them a fortress.
One was taken by a fox - after which we fenced and electrified the whole yard.
They got sick with a very bad respiratory virus but everyone made it through.
Then a rooster died overnight
One had a prolapse and later became egg bound, but she's still with us 7 months later.
Two died of mysterious primarily gastric diseases but not cocci - we could probably have saved at least one if we'd gone to the vet sooner.
One got sick with a bacterial infection but made it and is doing great.
One lays only soft eggs and has done so for four months (!). She is also under treatment for bumble foot.
And tonight we took Penelope to the emergency vet after a very rapid decline, and found out she has a massive inflammation of all her internal organs and will most likely not make it. She also laid a fragile egg a few days ago and strained to lay today but nothing came - but it looks like the shell is broken inside her (the vet said this was not the source of the problem and the least of her worries now)
This is all so heartbreaking!
But is this what it's like? Do they die this often? What am I doing wrong?
That's 6 dead out of 19 who have passed through, with one more on the brink and the more who have had serious medical issues. That's more than 30% dead, and more than 50% sick or injured.
I'm a bit worried a lot of it is connected, and that the bad respiratory illness was infectious bronchitis that is still around wreaking havoc - like the sudden illnesses, the problems with laying, and now Penny's collapse.
What say you, are your chickens dying at this rate?
Also, love and prayers for Penelope who stayed in intensive care over night.
