Chicken losing weight

[laurenhope98]

One of my chickens has been losing weight and I’m not sure why. She’s eating and drinking normal, she’s still laying every day and I see no signs or fleas/mites or worms that I know of. They eat kalmbach 17% layer feed and all the chickens have been doing great on it except her with her recent weight loss. She seems pretty healthy so I’m not sure why she would be losing weight. They also haven’t molted yet I don’t think? I’ve seen no signs of molting and they are 7 months old. I have attached a picture of her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is her crop emptying by morning? Does she lay eggs with normal hard shells? Have you wormed her? If not I would worm her with Valbazen 1/2 ml (0.5 ml) orally and then repeat it in 10 days. If you cannot get that, then I would use SafeGuard liquid goat wormer or the equine paste, and give 1.25 ml orally for 5 consecutive days.

 

[laurenhope98]

Is her crop emptying by morning? Does she lay eggs with normal hard shells? Have you wormed her? If not I would worm her with Valbazen 1/2 ml (0.5 ml) orally and then repeat it in 10 days. If you cannot get that, then I would use SafeGuard liquid goat wormer or the equine paste, and give 1.25 ml orally for 5 consecutive days.

Thank you! Her crop does empty in the mornings (I’m 99% sure. I will check tomorrow morning) and she’s acting fine and eating/drinking fine. We haven’t wormed the chickens yet..should this be done routinely like once or twice a year?? If so, do I use what you recommend? We’ve only had them since April and got them as chicks from tractor supply.

 

[laurenhope98]

Thank you! Her crop does empty in the mornings (I’m 99% sure. I will check tomorrow morning) and she’s acting fine and eating/drinking fine. We haven’t wormed the chickens yet..should this be done routinely like once or twice a year?? If so, do I use what you recommend? We’ve only had them since April and got them as chicks from tractor supply.

And eggs are normal and very hard and healthy shell!

 

[Eggcessive]

Some people never worm. Worms are in the soil where chickens are. It depends on your climate. Chickens can get exposed to round worms, cecal, capillary/thread worms, and gapeworms. Eye worms are more rare. If you live in a more arid cool climate you may not need to worm your chickens often. In tropical, warm or humid climates many worm often. But when you have a younger chicken losing weight who is not suffering a crop problem, bullying and being kept from food, parasites may be a problem. A vet can do a fecal float on fresh droppings if they are willing, and can rule out coccidiosis and worms.

 

[laurenhope98]

Some people never worm. Worms are in the soil where chickens are. It depends on your climate. Chickens can get exposed to round worms, cecal, capillary/thread worms, and gapeworms. Eye worms are more rare. If you live in a more arid cool climate you may not need to worm your chickens often. In tropical, warm or humid climates many worm often. But when you have a younger chicken losing weight who is not suffering a crop problem, bullying and being kept from food, parasites may be a problem. A vet can do a fecal float on fresh droppings if they are willing, and can rule out coccidiosis and worms.

Thank you! We live in the Dallas Fort Worth area so it can get humid sometimes but they don’t free range that often either. I would say they free range 3-4/7 days a week if that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my chickens has been losing weight and I’m not sure why. She’s eating and drinking normal, she’s still laying every day and I see no signs or fleas/mites or worms that I know of. They eat kalmbach 17% layer feed and all the chickens have been doing great on it except her with her recent weight loss. She seems pretty healthy so I’m not sure why she would be losing weight. They also haven’t molted yet I don’t think? I’ve seen no signs of molting and they are 7 months old. I have attached a picture of her.

Thank you! Her crop does empty in the mornings (I’m 99% sure. I will check tomorrow morning) and she’s acting fine and eating/drinking fine.

And eggs are normal and very hard and healthy shell!

How much weight has she lost? What was her baseline weight before and what is it now, how many weeks have you tracked the weight? Pounds/ounces.

 

[laurenhope98]

How much weight has she lost? What was her baseline weight before and what is it now, how many weeks have you tracked the weight? Pounds/ounces.

I’m not sure how much she’s lost but she seems slightly skinnier than usual. I just noticed it this week.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’m not sure how much she’s lost but she seems slightly skinnier than usual. I just noticed it this week.

She's a bright, lovely pullet.
If you do feel like she's losing weight, then weigh her this week and track it for a few weeks to see how much she is losing.

If she's losing significantly, then consider deworming as suggested or go back over what she's eating to make sure she's getting enough nutrition and protein. Watch to make sure she's not being kept from food by the others, this can sometimes happen too. If that's the case, add another feed station.

She looks to be a production breed so will be more on the "slender" side compared to full bodied/heavier heritage breeds like Plymouth Rocks or Orpingtons.

 

[laurenhope98]

She's a bright, lovely pullet.
If you do feel like she's losing weight, then weigh her this week and track it for a few weeks to see how much she is losing.

If she's losing significantly, then consider deworming as suggested or go back over what she's eating to make sure she's getting enough nutrition and protein. Watch to make sure she's not being kept from food by the others, this can sometimes happen too. If that's the case, add another feed station.

She looks to be a production breed so will be more on the "slender" side compared to full bodied/heavier heritage breeds like Plymouth Rocks or Orpingtons.

Thank you so much!! She lays every day. She’s a hard worker and a super happy chicken so I worry about her…should I also up their protein? One of the chickens was pecking at her butt all day today…