Can someone please help me identify the breed? I'm still new at this

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

It isn't because of them molting. It doesn't hurt them if you file them (as long as it isn't too short),just like filing your fingernails. Now if you cut half their beak off, I imagine it would be painful. I have seen ex battery hens that have had that done to them. Absolutley unbelievable what some people do. I am not sure why Nylah is not eating. This is definaltey something you want to substitute for a main food, but to get her interested in eating try scrambled get mixed with a little milk or some plain yogurt. She should love it. If she doesn't eat it I would say for some reason her appetite has gone away, why I don't know. Because any chicken I have will devour this. If she eats it you can start to mix actual chicken food in with it. Maybe her appetite will not come back, or to get her interested in eating you may always have to put a dab of her favorite treat in her food.

 

[senorita05]

I think you left out a word in the mixture? You said "try scrambled get mixed with a little milk or some plain yogurt" did you mean try scrambled eggs? I have no idea what her favourite treat is or what she has been eating this entire time. I wish I knew I think she ate some of the boiled rice. So I guess that progress

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I think you left out a word in the mixture? You said "try scrambled get mixed with a little milk or some plain yogurt" did you mean try scrambled eggs? I have no idea what her favourite treat is or what she has been eating this entire time. I wish I knew I think she ate some of the boiled rice. So I guess that progress

lol, miss type. It was suppose to say "try scrambled eggs mixed with a little milk or some plain yogurt". Try various fruits and vegtables also. Anything is better than nothing, just try and limit the "Junk" if you can

 

[senorita05]

Yeah I think I'm going to try some fruits with her. I'll definitely try the mixture. I'm worried for her. I guess its a trial and error process. Thanks for all the help

 

[craftiekids]

They seem to be hens and molting can come on from lack of nutrition or just that time of year. Each molt can be different for different birds. If they are under fed the molt can come on earlier. Not to worry, poultry are hardy, they can and will recover. Even older birds. We have red comets or red stars and a black star that looks just like that when she came to us. She has since recovered beautifully. The wght is another thing, healthy proteins like scrambled eggs are actually good for them. cold or warm makes no difference. I feed pellet food, when it's grain ground up together it's easier to digest and gives the hen more of the "good stuff." grains etc..... I also feed warm Beet Pulp in winter for a "Warm Tummy" to all my animals, pig, goat, horse...etc... (always add water never feed beet pulp dry * add Hot Water in Winter Cold in Summer cool water and feed the next day) I'm a bit nutty but it seems to work for me. Shots and worming are fantastic but feed well so it won't make them loose weight. It's Always encouraging when folks want to take care of our feathered friends!!!

Susie Q

 

[senorita05]

Thank you for all that advice Susie Q. I really appreciate it. I sincerely hope I can get Popcorn and Sunset to gain some weight. They are both just bones. I'm a bit worried that them laying eggs is taking a toll on them. Their eggs are larger than the ones we purchase at stores for normal consumption. So I'm really trying to feed them and get them back into normal shape. The fact that you managed to help your acquired hens healthy gives me hope for these two

I have another slight problem. Popcorn laid a soft gelatinous egg today and before anyone could stop her, she proceeded to eat it. She consumed all of it. I kept Sunset away while she was eating it because I don't want her to get into the habit of eating their own eggs. Is there a reason for Popcorn eating her own egg? And how can I stop this behaviour? I don't want my black sex link doing the same thing when they start mixing together.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Thank you for all that advice Susie Q. I really appreciate it. I sincerely hope I can get Popcorn and Sunset to gain some weight. They are both just bones. I'm a bit worried that them laying eggs is taking a toll on them. Their eggs are larger than the ones we purchase at stores for normal consumption. So I'm really trying to feed them and get them back into normal shape. The fact that you managed to help your acquired hens healthy gives me hope for these two

I have another slight problem. Popcorn laid a soft gelatinous egg today and before anyone could stop her, she proceeded to eat it. She consumed all of it. I kept Sunset away while she was eating it because I don't want her to get into the habit of eating their own eggs. Is there a reason for Popcorn eating her own egg? And how can I stop this behaviour? I don't want my black sex link doing the same thing when they start mixing together.

You need to give her the option to eat oyster shells for calcium. Just put it in a little dish off to the side. She probably just ate it because it looked like someone cracked an egg open for her, so free game. As long as you don't see her pecking open good eggs then you don't have a problem. It's not like you could do anything with the soft shelled egg anyways

 

[senorita05]

In the feed I give her, there are shells and when I go to give them more feed I see the shells are gone along with most of the feed. So I can naturally assume that she eats them too. That's true. I suppose I wouldn't have been able to do much with it. And it is a source of protein too. I don't think she can physically peck open a shell because of her filed down beak. I was just shocked to see her eat it. Its still new behaviour to me

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

you should still have some off to the side, becuase if they are eating it all and still laying soft shelled eggs, they must not be getting enough

 

[senorita05]

I see. Where can I get oyster shells?