[Prod]

I am not having much luck recently, what with Billie's eye and disappearing call ducks.  Las week I picked up a pair of rare Nankin chicks, that I had reserved ages ago, as I wanted a pair to breed.  I also took a really cute little Cuckoo Bantam Orpington. I went to the seller's house and everything was immaculate, they have been keeping chickens for years, her husband from a child, and they specialise in rarer breeds and tryingto raise the profile of the Nankin.  I took the 3 birds home and isolated them from all my others as you are supposed to do but48hrs later the I found the little Orpington dead.  Today the male nankin was 'off colour'  and he died while I was holding him at about 11.00am......   It's all very sad really.  The hen chick seems quite chirpy but....  who knows...

[loretta cluck]

It is very sad, and sorry this has happened to you and your birds. I wish i could offer some advice.  I'm sure one of the experts will be along with words of wisdom.  Sorry for your loss, and still watching your post on little Billie's progress.

[ANHBUC]

So sorry Prod.  Were they all kept together and what were they kept in?  How old were the chicks as you can get fatalities in the first week for no apparent reason?

I would contact the breeder to notify them and see if they have also had any problems.

[Prod]

So sorry Prod.  Were they all kept together and what were they kept in?  How old were the chicks as you can get fatalities in the first week for no apparent reason?

I would contact the breeder to notify them and see if they have also had any problems.

I bought them last weds and brought all three back together and kept them separate in a brooder box. They were about 4/5 weeks old.  I have contacted the breeder an she is very very upset. She had about 3 silkie chicks in with the 3 I bought but she has now sold them and not heard anything from the buyers. She has offered to take the hen back, but I think the stress of another long journey (its 60miles) would not help. She has also offered  me another cockerel  but he is a year old and that would be too soon.  I have agreed to keep the hen, isolated, and to see what happens. She asked if I had vaccinated birds, which I don't, of if any of my other birds are ill, which they are not.  I have some 6 week old legbars and 7 week old leghorns that I have had from a couple of days old and they are fine, they have been outside this week free ranging!! I guess we may never know  but it is still such a shame. I don't want to lose the hen too!!

[ANHBUC]

Did you have a thermometer to keep an eye on the heat in the brooder?  I know they don't like the temperature too high or too low.  It has been overly hot lately and it has been really difficult to keep a constant temperature for my quail chicks.