The over-population problem is solving itself. Today I found the little Blacktail hunched up in the coop, looking very poorly, limp and immobile, with eggy muck running out of her vent. Obviously peritonitis - I don't think she would have made it to the morning and was probably in great pain. So I took her out and culled her. That was only the second time had culled a hen myself, I usually take them to the vet, but it was obviously necessary and I was relieved at how easy it actually was. She was one of the two youngest hybrids, and the leghorn, the other one I bought at the same time from the same place, is still having problems with a mucky bum so I shall dispatch her as well. This will leave the three oldest hens, not really what was planned! Those three are all from Chalk Hill Poultry - all the birds I've had from them since 2009 have been really long-lived and healthy. The two who are on the way out are from somewhere else, normal mass-produced hybrids, OK for 2-3 years and then they seem to keel over. Chalk Hill is one of the very few farms who produce their own birds and run them on grass paddocks up to the point of sale, and it does seem to make a difference. I hope to be able to get replacements from them, but their website isn't online any more, they don't reply to messages on their facebook page, and I can't get anyone to answer the phone. I would go for some purebred CLB or RIR chicks, or else some of their own POLs if available this Spring.
