Flock health

[Lewischickenmama]

I have a flock of 35 chickens-my oldest group of girls are a little over a year. It’s summer and obviously much warmer. We also added to the flock a few months ago with a huge new coop and new large run, but they free range from morning to evening and return to the coop at dark. My question is with the older girls, they eat/drink normally, laying normally. They seem to have different poops, sometimes diarrhea, sometimes normal. They also seem to have lost a little weight, nothing significant they are out and about running in the yard daily so maybe where they are running around a lot? They are also losing some feathers around their head area. I don’t see any signs of mites (they dust bathe daily) also in stool no sign of worms or anything. My general concern is the weight loss, is that normal for summer? Also the loss of feathers around the head a lot of them are missing feathers around the head. Potentially a bully hen (no Roos)? Should I not be concerned until more symptoms arise? They have a cool clean coop, clean feed, water and they get probiotics and electrolytes. Just looking for some advice.

 

[Sussex19]

Can you take a poop sample to a vet or someone to test for worms? Here the local farm shop does it, I believe.

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC!
First..what exactly do you feed? What feed and do you feed treats?

Remember electrolytes are not meant for daily use.
Once in awhile is ok.

Have you ever dewormed your flock?

Are you weighing them or just guessing about the weight loss?
Can you feel the keel bone?

 

[Lewischickenmama]

Welcome to BYC!
First..what exactly do you feed? What feed and do you feed treats?

Remember electrolytes are not meant for daily use.
Once in awhile is ok.

Have you ever dewormed your flock?

Are you weighing them or just guessing about the weight loss?
Can you feel the keel bone?

Well where we had to intergrate the young girls with the big girls they are on unmedicated starter feed with oyster shell supplement in separate bowl. The brand is purina. Treats they get happy hen treats I believe the green poop could be related to the treats which is in moderation but they are green herb balls and mealworms, seed mix. When they don’t have those treats stool color is normal. I have guessed on weight because I feel the breastbone and used to not. I haven’t wormed them before because we didn’t have any indication of worms but I did get zyfend which they said is for gut health people said it works as a “wormer” but not labeled as a wormer. I do know electrolytes are in moderation.

 

[Kiki]

Well where we had to intergrate the young girls with the big girls they are on unmedicated starter feed with oyster shell supplement in separate bowl. The brand is purina. Treats they get happy hen treats I believe the green poop could be related to the treats which is in moderation but they are green herb balls and mealworms, seed mix. When they don’t have those treats stool color is normal. I have guessed on weight because I feel the breastbone and used to not. I haven’t wormed them before because we didn’t have any indication of worms but I did get zyfend which they said is for gut health people said it works as a “wormer” but not labeled as a wormer. I do know electrolytes are in moderation.

Thanks.
Are you giving the Happy hen treats and the balls daily?

The Zyfend will not rid worms nor prevent them.

 

[Mrs. K]

The birds look good to me. If they are active, laying, bright eyed and have good feathers, I consider them to be healthy and don't worry about it. As for the feather loss, I would watch carefully to see what is actually going on. Molt often times starts near the head, but they don't look like molt to me.

Could they be sticking their head in something, and rubbing off feathers?

Poop in chicken is in several different forms. Again, they look heathy to me. They are much more active for longer periods of daylength in the summer. Mine roost up by 4:30 in the winter.

How are you feeding them? You might lock them in in the morning, with just the good layer feed. Let them out later on, and stop adding treats - the free ranging this time of year is enough treats for them.

Mrs K