Chickens are underweight

[Sarajane330]

We got some chickens from a guy who was moving. We got some hens and a couple roosters. They are quit thin. Does anyone have suggestions on how to get them to gain a good amount of heathy weight?
They always have feed and water. I’m hoping there is some tips and tricks to help my flock out.

 

[BlueBaby]

You could take some of the feed and add enough water to it to dampen it up nicely. Mine seem to like that pretty good. Sometime's I will even add some chopped up boiled egg's to it or other different thing's that they like to eat. That way they don't just eat the treat and leave the feed.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Scrambled eggs is always a favorite and rather nutritious!

For now do exactly as you are and make sure they have access to food and water 24/7!

 

[Sarajane330]

If you feed eggs to them do they tend to eat the eggs they lay?

 

[Acre4Me]

Get chick or turkey starter, or buy an all flock with higher protein. You’ll need to provide Oyster shell on the side for Calcium, if they are laying age.

you can provide wet mash -feed with water added to a consistency they like (Mine like it like a pancake batter). Mix in canned meat (watch the salt), or cooked eggs If you want.

stick to primarily feed, but buy some higher quality feed with a higher protein content for at least a month.

keep them confined for a few hours in the morning so they will fill up on the feed before any free-ranging.

 

[mandelyn]

I would worm them. After that a probiotic in the water to help them get the nutrients from the feed. I second offering a higher protein feed, starter or all-flock. A little bit of cracked corn in the evening would also help get some fat on them.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

If you feed eggs to them do they tend to eat the eggs they lay?

Not true at all as long as you only feed them cooked eggs.

 

[Sarajane330]

Do they eat more when the food is in a mash form? I have 2 feeders of laying pellets in the run. I give them a little bit of scratch a couple times a week. I also put grit and oyster shells in the run.

 

[Acre4Me]

Do they eat more when the food is in a mash form? I have 2 feeders of laying pellets in the run. I give them a little bit of scratch a couple times a week. I also put grit and oyster shells in the run.

no, it’s not that they will eat more. But, you should boost the nutritional content of what you are giving them, that is why a grower feed or all-flock feed was suggested. They will have higher protein content. If it’s in crumble form, a wet mash will cut down on the mess.

you are looking to get them back into a healthy laying form, so limit treats and free ranging for a bit so they are eating the formulated feed more, and it’s not getting diluted by scratch Or treats.