Afraid I'm somehow (accidentally) killing my pullets!

[MarySue]

You can treat for cocci it won't hurt them. Just make sure this is the only water available during the 5-7day treatment period. Make a fresh batch at least every day.

You mention you provided chick grit up until they began going outside.  If they are eating grass, bugs, etc. outside then make grit available free choice. Just place it in a dish near their feeder.

I'd consider treating them for Cocci with Corid as Wyorp Rock suggested. I had it in my flock of over 20, mostly adults and they were eating and drinking and foraging as normal. Only signs that I had a problem were some (not all) nasty poops and one of my 3yr old Brahmas had pink comb and waddles which is when I caught it. Vet said on the scale of 1-4 for Cocci present, my girl was 4+. It won't hurt and will give you piece of mind, at least on that score.

 

[timebider]

Yes, I hesitate to offer too much of an opinion as I am kind of new, but my instinct was the same as these two posts -- they kind of sound normal skinny for their age, and it is a good sign that they are acting normal and healthy. I get being worried, though! I thought sending pics might allow you to get more reassurance.

I really hope I'm being paranoid and they're "normal" skinny for their age (10 weeks today), but this one girl...it was too dark last night but I was able to get some (not very good) pics this morning. All of their combs are this color—haven't turned red yet. While I may be paranoid/imagining things, I want to say they were maybe a bit pinker than this before free-ranging began. I got some Corid powder first thing and am trying to work out the dosage now. Here she is this morning (and wondering why she's stuck in a pen in the garage):

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks normal to me.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

Looks normal to me.

Again, @oldhenlikesdogs is much more of an expert than I am, but I agree that she looks just like mine did at 10 weeks in terms of body size and weight.

Also, re combs -- that comb looks normal for 10 weeks as well. You are still a ways off from point of lay and their combs significantly changing. In my own experience, comb color will casually lighten and darken over the course of a day or a few days in response to various non-problematic factors. I don't think you need to worry that they looked pinker before.

I totally understand worrying -- I asked a lot of questions when I first got started, and I think @oldhenlikesdogs reassured me back then, too! But from my limited expertise, I think she looks OK. She looks like she is standing and walking normally, tail fine, etc. She's very pretty!

 

[timebider]

The feathers standing out down her middle are where her keel bone (?) is sticking out.

 

[Ballerina Bird]

The feathers standing out down her middle are where her keel bone (?) is sticking out.

That has always happened on mine, too, and they are almost three years old and full of beans. She is quite a beauty! Love the dark eyes. If I were you, I would take her out of isolation and let her have fun. But you should also totally take the advice of others more experienced than I am if they think otherwise.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

At their age they should have zero fat on them. Even one an adult chicken of laying or dual purpose breeds the keel bone can be felt and can feel sharp. Too much fat is deadly to chickens. You only need to raise some Cornish cross chickens to see how unhealthy being fat is.

 

[timebider]

Thank you so much! Almost want to cry with relief—ridiculous. I could NOT reconcile how active she was, running all over the place with her little flock, clear eyes, etc., but losing weight so fast. That bone standing out so much is really disturbing! Going to put her and her garaged buddy back out this morning. A friend last night advised me to separate her from the others, but he's as much a newbie as I am, and of course everything looks more dire after dark. Going to try to stop worrying about her (and to a lesser degree, the others). Hopefully I'll be looking back on this laughing at myself when she's a big, fat, healthy hen!

 

[timebider]

...oh good grief, somehow posted the same pic twice. Sorry about that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I judge my birds by their behavior first. A sick bird will try not to look sick, but will still look sick if you watch them for a time. Sitting a lot, feathers fluffed out, head tucked short so they don't have a neck, eyes closing often, pretending to eat but not actually eating, are all signs something is not right.

Yours probably appear thinner because they are growing, similar to children with knobby knees and elbows, or puppies with giant feet. Things get out of proportion as animals grow. Your best bet is to feed them good feed for their age and let them run and do chicken things.