Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[hilda-and-evadne]

Roll on 2013.

 

The second POL hen bought from Surbiton Poultry in early September died today. She had been well-grown and bright-eyed and alert and beautiful, laid her first egg on 21 December, and was integrated with the older hens.

 

On Sunday she had an impacted crop. I massaged it and when I set her down by the garden pond she drank a lot. Then I gave her olive oil via a syringe and massaged some more. That seemed to shift the impacted food, her comb reddened again, but she didn't bounce back. Last night she appeared to have symptoms of sour crop so I gave her some probiotic yoghurt. This morning I drained her crop, and the liquid was pinkish and included grain that she ate on Saturday. (I am not certain that the liquid was pink due to blood, as I seem to remember that dead yeast is pinkish.) I then gave her water and a bit more olive oil. She was alert although not inclined to move around. I put her in the spare eglu to rest while I walked the dog. When I got back and went out with some sweetcorn and tuna to tempt her to eat, she was dead.

 

So in 2012 that's two lots of hatching eggs that failed (12 altogether, the second lot due to a malfunctioning incubator), and two new hens that have died within four months, after all the expense and work of integrating them. About a hundred quid's worth - hatching eggs and hens - not counting feed. I don't know how significant it is but I am now back to three Wernlas girls - one that I got nearly four years ago as a POL hen, and two that I hatched (together with a cockerell) from 6 eggs from Wernlas - none of whom has yet had a days's illness in their lives.

 

Sorry, just had to sound off. It is dispiriting when nothing you do makes any difference.

 

Am going to put cider vinegar in the hens' water, now, though. Don't want any more losses.

[Snowy]

So sorr to hear that, no wonder you are dispirited

Hopefully it was just a run of bad luck - I am sure you will be successful next season!

[Sue]

If your incubator is fixed and you want to have another try at hatching some eggs I could do with some test hatchings on mine and would send you some free to try. Just pm me as they are laying nicely at present.

 

They are bred to lay coloured eggs

 

 

Basket of eggs from my Miss Sugar'n'Spice pullets

[suebee]

What an awful chicken year you've had. Sorry to hear of your losses. Hope it's a very different story this time next year for you.

[mimi5]

It seems sometimes that's how it goes with chicken keeping I had at one point this year 5 boys!!! Thankfully managed to re-home all the baby boys (even my fav Marty Mcfly!) but sadly lost my beautiful cockerel to suspected Marek's 10 days ago Also have my best hen in her 3rd moult and very low ( have been to the vet and she's had a couple of jabs and 2nights inside with lots of TLC!!) So Really worried about her and had lost 2 girls already in the early part of the year (impcated crop and a mystery illness ) All this and much more ...red mite etc all in my first year of chicken keeping!!!!

 

So I feel for you!!!! I think we'll all feel better when spring gets here and or the rain stops!!!!!!

[Eggasperated]

So sorry to hear about your loss hilda , and all your problems this year.

I lost four of my girls this year - one only a few months old - and had a lot of ill health with others. I'm not sure if I will get any more as I've found the illness and death really distressing. Hopefully we will all have a better year next year.

[Purplemaniacs]

Sorry to hear about your loss and difficult chicken year.

 

I have lost a couple this year but have increased my numbers due to the hatchlings that I have kept.

 

Hilda and Eggasperated I hope next year is a better one for you both

 

Chrissie

 

[charly1979]

Hope next year is much better for you its awful losing our girlies

 

Mimi really hope your poorly one makes an improvement too xx