- Feb 19, 2013
- 48
- 1
- 36
I have five girls (a barred rock, brahma, speckled sussex, sex-link, and wyandotte). They are about 10 months old. They are huge birds but in the past week it looks like they are getting smaller. It's strange, I feel like my eyes may be deceiving me but every time I look at them they really look a little thinner. I've never weighed them so I can't check. The sussex is also losing feathers around her neck. She is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order and I've seen her get pecked several times but she now has a considerable bare patch encircling her neck. They eat a very nice layer mash, whenever they want, and since it has started getting cold at night (past few weeks) we've been giving them a cup or two of three grain scratch in the evening. I think it's corn, triticale, and wheat. They free-range in the yard for at least two hours, usually more, each day, so they are eating plenty of grass and bugs and dirt. I also have baked, crushed eggshell, oyster shell, and grit in their pen free choice. They get a bowl of kitchen scraps each morning as well. Their laying has slowed down some, I get 1 to 3 eggs a day which seems fair since we have fewer daylight hours, I'm not lighting their coop at all. Any ideas? I really hope they aren't sick! They seem pretty normal other than looking small.
Last edited: