Bony chickens, 4months old, weighs 3lbs?

[Zinniah]

My chickens have all gotten skinny, they act normal except for eating less. Their keel bone is protruding. They have eaten about 1/2 of a 50lb bag of feed for a whole month. They are almost 4 months and the hens only weigh about 3lbs. The cockerel is almost pound heavier. I did change the brand of crumbles last month, but it shouldn't cause this right? The breed standard says they are suppose to be 7-8lb hens full grown. Since they are only half grown, i thought the weight was okay, but they are so bony! Any tests I can do at home to see if anythings wrong?

 

[Eggcessive]

What are you feeding them? Most feed stores sell different brands of feed, and usually there is only $1-2 difference in a 50 lb bag in a brand name feed that may contain pre- and probiotics, than the store brand that has the basics and may be powdery. If they seem to be eating and still losing weight, you can use some poultry vitamins or nutritional yeast that contains B complex vitamins which might stimulate their appetites. Have you started a worming regimen, since worms can cause weight loss. Make sure that your feed has probiotics, or you can add a vitamin/probiotic easily to their water 3 days a week. Placing multiple feed bowls around and water can also help.

 

[Zinniah]

What are you feeding them? Most feed stores sell different brands of feed, and usually there is only $1-2 difference in a 50 lb bag in a brand name feed that may contain pre- and probiotics, than the store brand that has the basics and may be powdery. If they seem to be eating and still losing weight, you can use some poultry vitamins or nutritional yeast that contains B complex vitamins which might stimulate their appetites. Have you started a worming regimen, since worms can cause weight loss. Make sure that your feed has probiotics, or you can add a vitamin/probiotic easily to their water 3 days a week. Placing multiple feed bowls around and water can also help.

They were on nutrena country chick starter grower. Then I changed them to nutrena or purina (cant remember which one) game bird chow growth and plumage, it was crumbles, they were out of the other stuff. What worm medicine should i try to give them? I got sul-met liquid from the feed store but t doesn't says for worms.

 

[Blooie]

I may be way off base here, but I thought game bird feed was significantly higher in protein than chicken formulas. Could that be why they are losing weight? Too high on the protein and not enough of the other stuff they need? Just pondering here.......

 

[Zinniah]

It is 30% compared to the 18% they were eating. The people at the store told me that's what their customers usually get for the chickens. I did some google searching and other people use it with no problems, though it isn't recommend for long term. Going to pick up the stuff i had before. They also get to run around the yard, and there is plenty of plants and bugs they eat. I think maybe they just don't like the taste of the food, when i first fed it to them they stared at it for many minute's before trying it. It has been raining a lot and the ground is a bit muddy, so i thought maybe they caught a bacteria or parasite from the mud, because they really like to get dirty and dig all around. I am going to try and inspect them close tomorrow for parasites like mites. Their poop looks fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

Valbazen or Safeguard Liquid Goat Wormer are excellent for worming chickens. Dosage is 1/2 ml orally, and repeat in 10 days. SafeGuard can also be given 1 ml daily for 5 days to get very stubborn worms such as gapeworm or capillaria worms.The gamebird feed should really help them, although you may want to mix it 1:1 or 1:2 to lower the protein level a bit. 20% is easily tolerated long term and slightly higher for shorter periods, so there is no need to throw it out. It can also be given as a treat.

 

[Zinniah]

Valbazen or Safeguard Liquid Goat Wormer are excellent for worming chickens. Dosage is 1/2 ml orally, and repeat in 10 days. SafeGuard can also be given 1 ml daily for 5 days to get very stubborn worms such as gapeworm or capillaria worms.The gamebird feed should really help them, although you may want to mix it 1:1 or 1:2 to lower the protein level a bit. 20% is easily tolerated long term and slightly higher for shorter periods, so there is no need to throw it out. It can also be given as a treat.

They didn't have valbazen or safeguard at the local place, i was able to find it online. It should be here in a few days, hopefully they will be okay until then. Thanks for the help!

 

[chickenshiha]

you can feed them bread and goat milk mix and give to them they will go crazy on it and pls don't feed them cow milk as it will make their poo watery and smelly this will make the hens go fat and milk for a bit calcium feed until back to normal I give as an emergency or a treat not an everyday diet you can also put some starter feed in the mix

 

[Zinniah]

you can feed them bread and goat milk mix and give to them they will go crazy on it and pls don't feed them cow milk as it will make their poo watery and smelly this will make the hens go fat and milk for a bit calcium feed until back to normal I give as an emergency or a treat not an everyday diet you can also put some starter feed in the mix

They are doing much better now, I think they could have had worms.