Feed/skinny chickens

[Bulldog164]

Hi everyone,

I feed my chickens layers pellets and occasionally chuck out some mixed corn. They free range round our garden. They all seem quite skinny, when I hold them I can feel their breast bones quite sharp. Is there anything I'm doing wrong? They don't particularly lay well either. I worm them, and have done recently. They have poultry spice in their feed and apple cider vinegar in their water.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'd say they may still have a parasite. I'd at least get a fecal sample read by a vet or avian lab. Not all wormer meds work on all worms.

ETA

Since they're not laying well either, I'd probably switch from the layer feed to a higher protein grower feed and provide oyster shell on the side for those still laying.

How old are they and what breeds?

 

[Bulldog164]

Well today is the 7th day of having Flubenvet in the feed. They have a grit hopper next to feed but I'm not sure they actually use it.

Thanks for the advice, I will start feeding grower. When should I switch back to layers?

They are mixed ages, mixed breeds. Most of them can't be older than 2 I would have thought. Exchequer leghorn, gold speckledy, blue maran, light sussex, vorwerk mostly

 

[Percheron chick]

You don't ever have to switch them back. Just mix the layer with the grower to get rid of it and stick to the grower if you see positive results.

 

[Bulldog164]

Brilliant thank you so much I'll give it a go

 

[Bulldog164]

Hi, the grower feed has the same amount of protein as the layers...?

http://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/Products/Poultry/Poultry-Grower-Pellets.aspx

http://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/Products/Layers/Natural-Free-Range-Layer-Pellets-Meal.aspx

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's possible. Higher protein is usually for birds from 6-10 weeks. Layer is usually 16-17% and grower is from 16-18.

 

[Bulldog164]

Could you recommend a better feed?

 

[Bulldog164]

What about this? http://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/Products/Poultry/Turkey-Grower-Pellets.aspx