Chickens losing weight!! Breast bones protruding!!

[rebrascora]

I would agree with @KikisGirls. My flock are just going through a heavy moult and during the early stages of it, they went right off their food and lost a massive amount of weight... not just feathers. I have not wormed them, but they have now started eating heartily again and piling the weight back on as well as growing new feathers. I have not witnessed such a drastic weight loss in previous years when they were free range, but this year being penned, it was very dramatic..... I think it may be that when they free ranged they found plenty of worms etc to boost their diet. I even tried changing from layer to grower but they were equally uninterested.

I'm another one for having a worm egg count done on a faecal sample rather than give them chemicals they may not need.

 

[BeanTater]

So, I have given them wazine17 and followed that with Hen Boost in the next batch of water. The Hen boost turned the water bright green!! Was I not supposed to put it in a metal waterer?? The package didn't say anything about this. I am feeding them 1/2 & 1/2 regular layer feed & higher protein feed for birds. Also giving them more meal worm treats for added protein- hoping to help them rebuild muscle.

I feel so terrible I let them get this way.

 

[rjohns39]

How are they eating now? What kind of feed is the higher protein?

 

[BeanTater]

How are they eating now? What kind of feed is the higher protein?

I'm not sure of the exact contents of the feed right now... But it is a 22% protein feed for poultry.

 

[rjohns39]

have they begun to eat well yet?

 

[BeanTater]

have they begun to eat well yet?

I don't think so... Its hard to tell. I had to work the last couple days 12 hour shifts. I'll watch them more closely tomorrow. I'm most concerned about the Hen Boost electrolytes / vitamins tuning the water green! Like neon green.

 

[rjohns39]

I've never used so I don't if that is normal or not. Most probiotic formulas turn the water a different color so that you know what solution you're looking at.

 

[rjohns39]

If you want to test it. Mix a small batch in a plastic or glass container and see if you get the same color.

 

[BeanTater]

If you want to test it. Mix a small batch in a plastic or glass container and see if you get the same color.

Duh! Why didn't I think of that!! Lol

 

[theblondeangler]

My whole flock of mixed breed chickens are all (most of them anyway) losing weight! I lost one a couple days ago.
I believe they have been losing weight for A while but I didn't think mutch about it at the time... Now I'm worried sick!

There are a few who have the runs (and it is clumped to the feathers below the vent) so I think possibly worms. I have read about doing roundworm treatment with Wazine17 first then follow up with Valbazen as to decrease the worm load gradually. Suggestions? Where can I get these meds?

Help!!

I had similar symptoms in one of my hens and turns out she had a bowel obstruction from something she ate.