Do chickens get fat?

[lengel]

Most of my hens look chubby to me. They are semi-free range (mostly free range but I lock them up periodically). Is there such a thing as a fat chicken? Or is it just preparation for winter? Frankly this is the first year I've noticed a seasonal change in appearance.

 

[zazouse]

How old are your chickens?

What breed are they?

It may be that they are reaching maturity.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Any animal can get fat if fed a fatty diet and/or not given enough exercise for the number of calories they are consuming. However, it is very uncommon for birds to get so fat that you can tell just by looking at them. Usually you have to determine that they are overweight/obese by actually putting your hands on them and feeling their body condition (how much "insulation" do they have over their keel bone? does the keel form a "v" or is it nice and rounded or is there "cleavage" because the breasts are so big that they bulge out past the keel bone?). My bet, given that your girls are semi-free range, is that they are not fat.

 

[lengel]

Thank you both. I think you're right about maturity zazouse. This is the first full year of maturity for most of my birds and many of the others, while older, were in pretty bad shape when I got them (stressed, thin, few feathers) so maybe this is the first time they look normal.

In any event, they can fly and are very active so I guess I shouldn't worry about it.