Chickens too thin?

[Sarah g 12]

My chickens are about 18 weeks old and they seem way too skinny. Does anyone know the average weight and size of a chicken, and anything I can do to make them fatter and healthier?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Some chickens will be more narrow than others. From what I read, many hatchery chickens are more narrow than heritage breeds. Keep in mind as well, that fatter does not always mean healthier. Are they exhibiting any behavior that causes you to worry about them?

 

[Sarah g 12]

No, but I read they're supposed to be six punds, and mine only feel like one or two.

 

[devora]

Your girls are young; give 'em time. Some breeds can be svelte. My Leghorns are skinny minnies.

Are you offering food 24/7? Are they eating? Scratching? Acting chickeny? If they seem healthy they probably are.

 

[donrae]

My sex links are more like 4-5 lbs, at two years old. First, if you're that worried, actually weigh them. At this age if they're three pounds or pretty close you're good. These birds are supposed to be lean and not eat a lot of food, that's what they're bred for. You're supposed to feel that keel bone on the chest, that's a healthy weight for them. Grocery store chickens with those huge breasts literally eat themselves to death, not what you want. They're also at that teenager stage where they're lean and gawky, they will fill out.

If they have a commercial food available and are alert and active, I woundn't worry about it. Don't want to start an epidemic of chickens with diabetes from being overweight!

 

[flowerchild59]

Parasites like round worms will make a chicken very unthrifty and not gain weight. Have you ever wormed them???
Read though my signature line link and one of the first clues I had to the parasites in my birds was poor weight gain.