Are My Chickens Too Fat?

[ClareScifi]

That's what I'm thinking, too. As long as I make sure they have 1/2 cup each of 20% laying pellets available per day, plus calcium and grit, kale and some ground flax, and all the free-ranging they desire. I hate to cut back any on their feed for fear they need it for laying.

Problem is, I think they may be too fat to lay?

Do you notice in the picture of the two of them how one has orange legs? I don't think she's laying. She did at the beginning of March, when I was getting 3 eggs between the 2 of them for a few days (they didn't lay all winter here in cold Zone 5, Utah-- Barred Rocks are known for decreased egg laying in winter).

However, it's odd that she has stopped. Her sister's legs are white like a laying chickens are supposed to be.

I think the sister is the one who occasionally lays 2 eggs a day. Day before yesterday her 2d one had some roughness on one end and minor scratches, and she laid one egg today that had minor scratches at the end. Any idea what would cause that? I'm fearing some sort of egg gland trouble or an infection in her oviduct. I've read that if they're too fat this kind of thing can occur, so that is what I'm thinking. There were no eggs yesterday.

I don't have a rooster. The orange-legged chicken did go broody last fall, hiding under the house on unfertilized eggs, I think. It is slightly possible she might be laying eggs under the house now, but I don't really think so.

I am worried they may have developed peritonitis from me giving them too much fresh spinach. I didn't realize it depletes calcium from their bodies, making it harder to lay eggs. It can also make them anemic.

And too much fat can cause liver trouble that kills them, in addition to egg laying troubles. I just wonder whether it would do any good to take them to the vet?

 

[Pine Grove]

Quote:
I beg to differ...Probably 95% of everyones chickens on this board is to fat....

 

[annageckos]

I wonder if the chicken in the link you posted is a cornish X. It is stated right under the pic that they do not know what breed the hen is, and that she was found wondering. As far as fat birds, they can get fat. I once saw a morbidly obese parakeet. It was sad, the poor thing could hardly get around. Most pets (including chickens) are overweight. If you are worried, weight them. Ration out their food and get them out free ranging(if you can).

 

[Minniechickmama]

ClareSciFi - Several people here have told you there is nothing wrong with your hens. They look great. You are worrying about nothing, dear.
As for their leg color, that happens as they get older, but yours don't seem to be old enough for you to worry about that either. Maybe one is just taking a break. It has been said that laying an egg is like a woman giving birth to a 9-pound baby. Would you want to do that every day?
Chillax, as my daughter puts it, you are going to blow something. Feed them normal chicken feed, let them eat grass and bugs, and they will be happy and healthy.

 

[ClareScifi]

Minnie,

I hope they aren't too fat. Several books say chicken obesity can cause prolapse, peritonitis, and all sorts of bad things. I read that looks can be deceiving, that they can appear the right size but still be overweight, so I guess posting the pictures of them is kind of pointless. Like some have suggested, I need to weigh them, but they don't really like being picked up, so that will be a hassle. I actually tried to weigh them yesterday afternoon, but I couldn't find a level enough place to put the scale.

And, if they are too fat, all I can do is get them to exercise and cut out their treats, which I am doing anyway, so maybe it's just as well not to know whether they are too fat. I'd just worry more. If they weren't too fat, maybe I could give them more of their beloved treats, but then they might truly get fat, so I think I'm at peace with this decision to just let them free-range a whole lot and stay off treats.

I sure wish I knew what their calcium levels were, though. I think I overdid it on the spinach, not realizing it is bad for them (oxalates bind the calcium, depleting it from their bones and making it hard for them to lay eggs). They loved eating it so much. I wonder how long it would take them to get their calcium levels back up to where they should be with free-choice access to oystershell, or would those have enough calcium in them to get their calcium back up to where it should be? They really snarfed raw spinach last month. And shortly after that, the egg laying stopped. They'd been laying very well until I started giving them the spinach. I guess that's my main worry. After eating the spinach they got the poopy butts-- I think it triggered a diarrhea type thing because they ate too much. After I discontinued the spinach, the diarrhea stopped.

Yes, I realize how hard egg laying is. I wish egg laying wasn't necessary at all. I'd just as soon have them as pets, and I wish they didn't have to go through that stress and strain. It worries me, because so many things can go wrong with such a delicate process. I've never had children, and they are my babies. I don't even eat eggs. They are sure fun to find, all beautiful and warm from laying, and I do enjoy giving them away, but the whole process worries me. I read too many articles about things that can go wrong, I guess.

Anyway, thank you all for your support and for giving me your feedback. I appreciate each and every response. I posted their pictures in another chicken group, asking folks in it whether they appear too fat, and not a single person responded! That made me wonder. Whether they didn't want to hurt my feelings by saying they do look too fat, or whether they were afraid to comment because they weren't sure and didn't want to mislead me? So your willingness to give me your feedback means a lot.

 

[Minniechickmama]

You are definitely over thinking this chicken thing, Honey.
If you are feeding a good lay feed mix, you are probably already giving them plenty of calcium. They will know what is too much though of the oyster shell if you have it free choice.
Weigh them, set your mind at ease and then get back to enjoying them. They can fool you the other way too, they get all fluffed up and can look way bigger than they really are.
Worrying can make you sick, literally. Let yourself relax.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks, Minnie. Good advice. I know you are right.

Even if they do die, I've had the pleasure of enjoying them for 13 months, and that has been a huge privilege. They are so beautiful and have such darling personalities!

Clare

 

[schellie69]

Quote:
I have 2 BR and trust me their feathers make them seem bigger then they are. I would stop worrying so much. Give them a good layer, some oyster shell let them free range and give them a hand full of scratch and veggie scraps, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons. squash, any of those are great for them. Here is a picture of my BR I can get better picture later but she is good weight. Take a step back, and relax, stop reading. Go out side and just watch your girls you will see that they are just fine.

 

[ClareScifi]

Thanks for the picture. Your Barred Rock is beautiful, though she does look much smaller than my girls. :>)

I went to a fun chicken class tonight. The speaker wasn't aware that chickens can get too fat. I was pleased someone recommended Gail Damerow's book, The Storey Guide to Raising Chickens. It discusses how chickens can be too fat and how that can interfere with their laying abilities.

The speaker said he thinks my girl may just not be a layer anymore. It will be interesting to me to see whether she will start laying again if I limit the scratch and make sure she gets lots of good free-ranging exercise.

Clare

 

[vickiecampbellusa]

Quote:
I am concerned too... What do you do with a fat chicken (and don't say eat it please)

I have the same question... about two of our leghorn roosters. We haven't tried to weigh them. They are only 12 weeks old and one in particular is really fat!!!
Over 5 pounds for sure... maybe closer to 10!!! The second one is beginning to show signs of getting too fat also! Someone mentioned that this breed, unfortunately, has been bred to grow quickly and to be big... so much so that some even have heart attacks and die! Is this true??? The hen is seemingly normal. I need to post some photos... I only have video clips at the moment.