So sorry about your 'roo,but yes happy your flock wasn't put at risk. However, this reminded me of my old flock back in California. There was a small suburban homestead near Sacramento, Yellow Rose Ranch I think, anyway, she purposely introduced sick birds to her flock in order to breed disease resistant lines! The first few years she lost most of her flock, but each year, the survival rate improved! I just thought that was pretty cool.
As for eggs, we have Icelandic hens and while they stop laying while molting in the fall, they lay really well throughout the winter! In fact, I've noticed on the warmer days (40s) I'm getting less eggs! I really should document better so I know for certain, but they sure do seem to prefer the cold.
I hear a lot about that with breeders and I haven't decided how I felt about it. It seems wrong in many ways, but fine and makes sense in others. I am really on the fence about it. Because if someone had a non-infected flock, then potentially, by buying a bird from said resistance-breeder, they can infect and lose their whole flock.
I hear good things about the icelandic hens! They seem to be a little hard to get around here, and I haven't decided on them, but haven't looked too terribly hard either. Haha. That's crazy that they want to lay when it's so cold. But, is this their first winter?
Right now, either my hens are laying just slightly less, or they have started laying in a very well hidden spot that I can't seem to find... haha
Oh yes, the hiding eggs game! We used to have to stalk our ducks for that very reason! This is the hens' 2nd winter with us and we had the same results last year! Pretty sweet!
I think the disease resistant idea can be looked at from a couple angles. The anti-vaxx or the long term shtf. Different perspectives and I respect both. When we can strengthen our immune systems without outside help that is a pretty cool thing.
See that’s what makes me on the fence about it all! Hahah it’s a hard thing to think about for me.
I hope their hiding eggs... haha I’m constantly afraid somethings wrong with them!