Fattening chickens up?

[doodlebug0310]

Hi all! I have roughly 24 chickens. They are in a 50x50 run. I regularly deworm them. I recently had a fecal via vet on one of my hens and she was negative for parasites. They are also external parasite free. I just did a sevin dust regimen for lice. They are free range a majority of the day. I have food out 24/7 in PVC pipe feeders. I give them a mixture of Dumor layer feed, cracked corn, small sunflowers, and oats. They have fresh water daily. Sometimes I add extra vitamins and electrolytes. They also get table scraps and the occasional goat pellet food. With all this you'd think they'd be fat, but they aren't. They don't look thin outwardly, but if you pick them up they barely have any fat at all. I would like to fatten my chickens up the best I can. I don't know what else to do! I don't know if it's because it's so darn hot out here... I'm south GA weather (so 90-100+). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FowlWitch]

Hi all! I have roughly 24 chickens. They are in a 50x50 run. I regularly deworm them. I recently had a fecal via vet on one of my hens and she was negative for parasites. They are also external parasite free. I just did a sevin dust regimen for lice. They are free range a majority of the day. I have food out 24/7 in PVC pipe feeders. I give them a mixture of Dumor layer feed, cracked corn, small sunflowers, and oats. They have fresh water daily. Sometimes I add extra vitamins and electrolytes. They also get table scraps and the occasional goat pellet food. With all this you'd think they'd be fat, but they aren't. They don't look thin outwardly, but if you pick them up they barely have any fat at all. I would like to fatten my chickens up the best I can. I don't know what else to do! I don't know if it's because it's so darn hot out here... I'm south GA weather (so 90-100+). Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I think corn is used pretty regularly to help fatten livestock. I know wax worms are used to fatten up reptiles, so maybe they might work for birds, too? And you can also give a feed with a higher protein content

 

[trumpeting_angel]

How old are they? Mine are nothing but bones, feathers and attitude, but they are just 14 weeks.

 

[doodlebug0310]

How old are they? Mine are nothing but bones, feathers and attitude, but they are just 14 weeks.

They are fairly young. I got them as chicks in April.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

They are fairly young. I got them as chicks in April.

Me too! They have more growing to do!

 

[Jealous Gypsy]

What kind are they? I got my cornish in may and most of them are pretty big. The amber links we did not realize were mixed in are thin though. I just give them 2x coffee containers of organic flock raiser ftom the local milling /supply store. I give them treats like banana and cantelope every few days and let them free range & forage for the most part. I have 11 cornish 28 chickens total 44 birds total including poults ducks & guineas

 

[doodlebug0310]

What kind are they? I got my cornish in may and most of them are pretty big. The amber links we did not realize were mixed in are thin though. I just give them 2x coffee containers of organic flock raiser ftom the local milling /supply store. I give them treats like banana and cantelope every few days and let them free range & forage for the most part. I have 11 cornish 28 chickens total 44 birds total including poults ducks & guineas

Oh geez where to begin... lol. I've got 5 americaunas (1 rooster), 2 cuckoo maran, one black copper maran rooster, 3 buff orpingtons, 1 frizzle silkie, 2 turkens, 1 small duckwing bantam mix, 2 russian orloffs, and 2 sapphire gems. I have 3 adult chickens 1 silkie mix, I polish frizzle, and 1 bantam cochin (she's currently got two chicks. So along with the dumor layer crushed/pellets, cracked corn, oats, and sunflowers, they are also getting chick feed... plus they free range a majority of the day along with scraps).

 

[doodlebug0310]

I think corn is used pretty regularly to help fatten livestock. I know wax worms are used to fatten up reptiles, so maybe they might work for birds, too? And you can also give a feed with a higher protein content

Any feed suggestions with higher protein? They eat plenty of bugs and small reptiles/snakes while they free range. They are probably out 5+ hours a day. I have them on Dumor Pellet/ crumble feed, oats, cracked corn, and sunflowers. I worm them with wazine. It's super hot here. I'm not sure if that contributes. I lost a older polish hen to the heat. There were days over 100° here. It makes everything miserable.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I don’t think your April birds are too small. My Buff Orps, Australorp, and Gold Laced Wyandotte are all very skinny. Still plenty of growing to do!

Cracked corn is high in carbs, and the seeds are high in fat. So if they eat less of those and more feed, they will get more protein. But it sounds like yours are getting bugs and snakes and all sorts of protein outdoors. They are probably doing just what they are supposed to!