boney chicken help

[ntprfctjst4gvn]

From a distance my Chickie's look great but once you pick them up they feel real boney. They are loose in the backyard so not in coop but not large area free range. We feed laying pellets & scratch. & they get in the goat feed too. I just bought diatemaceous (sp?) Earth & started that this week. Any suggestions for getting weight on them?

 

[kubota girl]

try to feed them a little more every day and you can also try kitchen scraps just put a bag by the trash can and after supper have everyone put their scraps in it... the chickens will love you!! so easy!

 

[cafarmgirl]

How old are these birds and have they ever been dewormed? A heavy load of intestinal parasites will cause weight loss, general poor condition and eventually death. A healthy chicken won't need to be encouraged to eat more to keep weight on.

 

[Den in Penn]

What breed and are they hatchery? A Leghorn will always feel Bone compared to a heritage Dual Purpose, let alone the CornishX you buy in the supermarket.

 

[donrae]

What breed and are they hatchery? A Leghorn will always feel Bone compared to a heritage Dual Purpose, let alone the CornishX you buy in the supermarket.

I agree, what birds are we talking here? I always advise someone who's concerned about their birds being too skinny to actually weigh the bird. Lots of folks don't know what a laying hen should feel like, and expect a big meaty breast like a grocery store chicken. Depending on breed, if your hatchery layer weighs 4 lbs I'd say you're good to go.

Also, always take into account how the bird looks/acts in general. Are they alert, active, glossy feathers? Are you having disease or parasite issues persistently? How are they laying (if appropriate)? If you answer yes, no and well, then your birds are just fine. I believe birds have different bodies just like humans and other animals do, as long as you're healthy there is a range of weights you can be.