Storms and chickens

[Janey4]

Hi All

A bit of advice please...... we have lost two girls (the last of which was last night) over the last two months and now left with one Pekin Bantam. They were both approx 18months old. ☹️

Both hens seemed a bit up and down before they died. Yesterday our Silkie was out happily eating sweet corn and this morning she was dead, although had looked a bit sorry for herself in the afternoon and I had put her into the house in the evening. Neither had ever laid many eggs and our Silkie had been having a few ‘yolky’ poos, but was still quite perky most of the time.

They had all been wormed, the last time was late June and I’m forever puffing their house with mite powder and hadn’t found any mites on the girls , but I did read to check them at night which I will do with the remaining hen tonight. 

Ive looked at ‘spot on’ treatment for mites/worms which I’m going to do in the future too and clean the house/run regularly and use sanitising powder but I’m really worried about our remaining hen getting poorly and also her being on her own. But don’t want to get more hens for them to get ill too. 

I feel like the worlds worst chicken owner and feel like I should be doing more.

Ive just checked on Binky and she’s sunning herself on the lawn, bless her and has laid an egg this morning too. She’s always been the most feisty of our hens and I really don’t want her to lose her sparkle. 

Thanks for reading. Jx 

[mullethunter]

That’s a horrible thing and I’m sorry to hear about your girls - don’t feel bad though, you’re obviously a very conscientious chicken keeper and it sounds like those two probably had something going on that you couldn’t control.

Others may disagree, but if I were in your position, I would clean everything within an inch of its life this weekend, treat your pekin now with ivermectin (not licenced  for poultry) then next weekend buy two POL bantams to live with your remaining pekin. I know what you mean about not wanting to risk any new birds getting whatever it is that killed your previous two, but I would risk it once if, as you say, your remaining pekin seems healthy. As she’s on home turf she will hopefully do ok on her own with two younger incomers. 

Good luck x

[AndyRoo]

I'd literally do what MH says. And, as sad as it is, sometimes these things just happen - and with hens it's not always obvious what caused them to pass away. The two we've lost in the last 6 months have seemingly just decided it was their time to go! I'm not sure what it's like with Silkies and Bantams - but hybrids don't tend to be very long lived. Ours are nearly 3 now and my MiL who also keeps them was quite impressed as a few of hers have only lasted 18 months or so, even though they were seemingly in perfect health.

[Janey4]

Thank you both for taking the time to reply.

And I think what you have suggested sounds like a good plan....I really love my girls being around (as does my daughter) and I would be so sad not to try again with them. 

I just sometimes feel a little out of my depth with them if things don't quite go to plan.....which I know sounds a bit daft seeing as I have an actual human child and have had horses, cats, dogs etc all my life, but chickens are funny things and I'm just not as experienced as I am with them as the rest of my herd, daughter included!

 

[The Dogmother]

I agree with MH - perhaps the 2 you lost were form the same breeder and there was a rogue strain in their breeding; I would get new hens.

On 8/31/2019 at 7:56 PM, Janey4 said:

I just sometimes feel a little out of my depth with them if things don't quite go to plan.....

You need to come on one of my courses! 

[rachel84]

I lost two in the last couple of months as well, both were 3 - 3 1/2 year old hybrids - one had recurring peritonitis and I made the decision it was her time and poor Betty just fell off her perch quite literally I think. She was a little quiet earlier that day but otherwise had been fit and healthy until then so I put it down to old age.

I took the plunge and picked up 3 newbies on Saturday and they are currently in a tense truce with my remaining 3 hens and 1 cockerel - they normally settle and sort themselves into a more coherent group after a couple of weeks. I would think as you just have 1 left any integration will be much easier. It is easy to doubt yourself but you have taken every precaution and sometimes things just don't go to plan.

[Janey4]

On 9/3/2019 at 8:11 AM, The Dogmother said:

I agree with MH - perhaps the 2 you lost were form the same breeder and there was a rogue strain in their breeding; I would get new hens.

You need to come on one of my courses! 

I might just do that actually!

We are bit of drive away up in Cheshire, but think it would be beneficial......you have however already helped me dealing with our first broody after watching your video on YouTube, so thank you!!