Fat chickens can barely walk

[3KillerBs]

My chickens' universal favorite treat is a nice, juicy, green weed grubbed out of the garden and tossed over the fence.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

You haven't actually established that these birds are overweight. They are both large heavy breeds and could easily be normal build for their strain/cross. I've had HUGE Orpingtons and RIR crosses in the past.

The bumblefoot could be the main thing that is hindering their mobility. They must be in terrible pain not to be able to run away from a rapey rooster. How bad is it and what are you doing to treat their feet? Please post feet pics.

They could easily be elderly if they aren't laying, or have internal issues such as ascites which has been mentioned, and which will need treating. You haven't replied as to what their keels feel like, or whether they have water belly.

You also say you love them like family but talk about them as fat ugly and old . I'm a bit confused at that.

My flock free range, and have treats and leftovers and don't get fat. I never restrict their food. Chickens are mostly self regulating weight-wise and rarely need to be put on a diet. Why do you think they are too fat?

I will be checking their bellies and keels today, as I mentioned. My husband and I did bumblefoot surgery on them over a month ago. This is the second time for Red having it done. Buff (named Noodle) had a nickel sized one on the bottom of her foot as well as a dime sized red bulge on the top of her foot. It was a big stressful job over a week period! And yes, I believe she was in a terrible amount of pain. After they both healed, we coated their legs in NuStock for several days. Buffs legs are still very thick and scaly, which I think is still a remnant if the past scaly mites.

I love all chickens (that doesn’t count roosters). I’m afraid I am probably confusing you with my deep love for my other 14 hens. They are perfect and beautiful and happy and healthy. However; these 2 “big fat ugly” girls are still loved. They are still a part of our family, and we will not kill them. We always try to heal them. They are NOT friendly. They are extremely difficult to treat, and bumblefoot surgery was a nightmare. Their poopy butts are beyond gross and I did EVERYTHING (At that time, they had NO treats!) imaginable to fix that problem, to no avail. I have human family that are fat and ugly and poopy butts too, but I still love them.

 

[Painted Calls]

I will be checking their bellies and keels today, as I mentioned. My husband and I did bumblefoot surgery on them over a month ago. This is the second time for Red having it done. Buff (named Noodle) had a nickel sized one on the bottom of her foot as well as a dime sized red bulge on the top of her foot. It was a big stressful job over a week period! And yes, I believe she was in a terrible amount of pain. After they both healed, we coated their legs in NuStock for several days. Buffs legs are still very thick and scaly, which I think is still a remnant if the past scaly mites.

I love all chickens (that doesn’t count roosters). I’m afraid I am probably confusing you with my deep love for my other 14 hens. They are perfect and beautiful and happy and healthy. However; these 2 “big fat ugly” girls are still loved. They are still a part of our family, and we will not kill them. We always try to heal them. They are NOT friendly. They are extremely difficult to treat, and bumblefoot surgery was a nightmare. Their poopy butts are beyond gross and I did EVERYTHING (At that time, they had NO treats!) imaginable to fix that problem, to no avail. I have human family that are fat and ugly and poopy butts too, but I still love them.

If they still have poopy butts, you can give them a trim back there. Some chickens just aren't good at tucking those hiny feathers for a poop.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

If they still have poopy butts, you can give them a trim back there. Some chickens just aren't good at tucking those hiny feathers for a poop.

We tried that too. It resulted in less feathers available to be pooped on.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

They got checked this morning… It was very tough to even find the keel bone on either one! They are a 5 without a doubt. Their bellies both feel like the rest of their bodies. There is nothing squishy or abnormal feeling in that area. Everyone asks how I can tell they are fat… walking does not look painful to them (since bumblefoot has healed)… but It looks like a huge burden. That is the best way to describe it. They are very very slow and they lurch side to side. Not like a bubbly waddle! Like an extremely obese human might walk is the best I can say. There is no question.

As someone mentioned about the coop not being set up for their age and condition, I watched them jump off the roost this morning and it is indeed still too high! Should I will lower the back roost, and maybe just remove the front one? Also add another 6 inches of pine shavings for an even softer landing? This coop has been rearranged so many times!

Going to try all exercise recommendations as well.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would love to know their actual weights.
I found the easiest way to get that was to weigh myself then weigh again while holding the bird. That difference is the birds weight.

I have had Brahmas and my big girl was 11 pounds.

While your girls may be heavy they may not be quite that heavy.

 

[Painted Calls]

They got checked this morning… It was very tough to even find the keel bone on either one! They are a 5 without a doubt. Their bellies both feel like the rest of their bodies. There is nothing squishy or abnormal feeling in that area. Everyone asks how I can tell they are fat… walking does not look painful to them (since bumblefoot has healed)… but It looks like a huge burden. That is the best way to describe it. They are very very slow and they lurch side to side. Not like a bubbly waddle! Like an extremely obese human might walk is the best I can say. There is no question.

As someone mentioned about the coop not being set up for their age and condition, I watched them jump off the roost this morning and it is indeed still too high! Should I will lower the back roost, and maybe just remove the front one? Also add another 6 inches of pine shavings for an even softer landing? This coop has been rearranged so many times!

Going to try all exercise recommendations as well.
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I think all the things you asked about here would be a good idea to do. Remove one roost, making sure the one you leave is low. Add more shavings in the area they would land coming down.

If you can't find their keel, they are definitely overweight.

 

[6BeachChicks]

Just thought I’d add, it might be hard to tell if a chicken is overweight
if I looked at Tiny, she looks pretty hefty, but she is a perfect weight.
It varies as much from chicken to chicken as breed to breed sometimes. You need to check your flock using the chart posted earlier. Also, if they want treats, an occasional veggie like cucumber or watermelon or cabbage works great!

 

[aart]

I would love to know their actual weights.

about 13 - 14 pounds each.

I weighed every chicken a couple of months ago to give them the correct dose of ivermectin. My other girls were 3-9 pounds. The heaviest being Brahma. The fat girls were over 12 and 13. Bigger than the rooster. I wasn’t able to get pics or updated weights today but will try tomorrow!

 

[Ponypoor]

I have 17 chickens. I got these 2, which were very sick chickens, from a horrible person, and they were my first chickens ever. They have been unhealthy since I got them. Constant poopy butts, bouts of respiratory illness, severe bumble foot, scaly leg mites, and lice. Now this. They have been awful, but I still love them. My other 15 are healthy and vibrant. They do not seem to be at all overweight. They range from 4 months to 2 years.

Some of the “candy” I feed them is organic scratch purchased from a local farmer. Some is when I scramble them up some eggs. Some is when I bring them into the garden for bugs and tomatoes. I cook them things like broccoli and cauliflower if I can’t eat it all. Summer is full of watermelon. They line up at my patio door very early in the morning waiting for their fermented food. They free range over 1.5 fenced acres, which also has apple and pear trees. Everything they get is organic. Their food supply is not limited. Are you saying all of this has to stop for them?
I ADORE my chickens! They are not just my pets, they are my family.

These two old fat ladies have now been separated into a 4x8 coop with a small run (only 8 x15 plus underneath the coop). Isolation is also so the rooster cannot half break their legs while they try to support so much weight. They will only get 1/2 cup fermented food and 1.5 cups of layer feed to share throughout the day. I will monitor to make sure their food isn’t gone too early in the day. Going to check their chests and bellies tomorrow.

Do they still need layer food when they don’t lay eggs anymore? I so much appreciate everyone’s thoughts and advice!

I would say you have a splendid setup for your feathered friends. If I were a chicken I would be happy there

Take the comments from those who are less than diplomatic and thoroughly unhelpful with a grain a salt.

If these two have a history of health issues then o bet this a symptom of an other underlying health issue. One can theorize all sorts of things but at the end unless the r taken to a Vet you can only deal with what you can see.

Sounds like you r already taking action, and trying to reduce their weight. The bumblefoot could likely be causing their weight gain as they won't want to move around much. I have seen this with human patients when they have arthritis or other mobility limiting issues.

Will be following to see how you r getting along.