Am I overfeeding my chickens?

[tammyd57]

Buff Orpingtons should look fat. But it's mostly all those really puffy feathers they have. If you feel their body, they will just feel solid, not skinny or fat.

 

[Tala]

Orpingtons are BIG chickens, mostly fluff, but it makes them look "fat" when compared to say, skinny little Leghorns.
If you're feeding them free choice pellets and not gorging them on treats such as corn, then they are FINE!!!!! Corn DOES make them fat, but a cup of scratch before bed isn't gonna kill them either. Greens and veggies are good for them!

 

[Tamrajh]

I've been wondering about this too. Thanks!

 

[Young Sauterelle]

Thanks for all the reassurance, y'all. Just to clarify, the pictures posted above aren't my chickens, but another BYC'ers. Here are my two big, beautiful chickens (BBCs). How ironic that in the only photo I have of them, they are gorging themselves on leftover tortilla chips, a one time treat which they still dream of. But they are pretty spoiled; had a spoonful of yogurt each and some clover today with their pellets.

 

[PunkinPeep]

When people tell me i have fat chickens, i assume they're giving a compliment, like "look at those nice fat chickens." They don't know whether my chickens are fat. No one does unless they pick them up and feel their breast bone.

Someone here once gave me this guide.

Pick up your chicken and try to feel the breast bone.

If you can pinch the actual bone - not meat on the bone - with your full finger and thumb, you chicken is skinny.

If you find that your chicken has "cleavage"

she is fat.

If you find something in between, she's pretty good.

I feel really comfortable if i can just barely feel the breast bone of my chickens. When they're growing pullets and free ranging, they tend to be a little thinner than my ideal, but they're not unhealthy; they're just growing and well exercised.

I think that if you're feeding your chickens a normal chicken food, you're not likely to get fat chickens.

I hope this guide helps.

 

[dipence71]

WOW if your BO is fat mine are extremely obese!!!