Help! Chicken won't put on weight

[LilliBlom]

I have a one year old polish hen. She is very small and always has been. She's half the size of her sister who hatched at the same time as her. Recently, I have noticed how skinny and boney she is. She acts normal and she is eating, but looks really unhealthily underweight. Any suggestions?

 

[sourland]

Have you checked your flock for worms ?

 

[swamphiker]

I agree with @sourland, parasites seem like the most likely culprit. Is she skinner than usual, or just small in comparison to her sister?

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she is getting enough food. She may be more meek and afraid to approach the feeders. Take her aside if possible and feed her some wet chicken feed, scrambled egg, or even a little canned cat food to see if she will fill her crop. Her crop should be full by roost time and mostly empty by morning. Things that can prevent weight gain are worms or a chronic case of coccidiosis. Try worming with Valbazen or SafeGuard, and feeding separately.

Symptoms of coccidiosis are lethargy, diarrhea, poor appetite, and appearing puffed up. Corid in her water for 1 week is the treatment for coccidiosis. If a vet could test her droppings locally, you could rule out worms and coccidiosis.

 

[LilliBlom]

I agree with @sourland, parasites seem like the most likely culprit. Is she skinner than usual, or just small in comparison to her sister?

She is both

 

[LilliBlom]

Make sure that she is getting enough food. She may be more meek and afraid to approach the feeders. Take her aside if possible and feed her some wet chicken feed, scrambled egg, or even a little canned cat food to see if she will fill her crop. Her crop should be full by roost time and mostly empty by morning. Things that can prevent weight gain are worms or a chronic case of coccidiosis. Try worming with Valbazen or SafeGuard, and feeding separately.

Symptoms of coccidiosis are lethargy, diarrhea, poor appetite, and appearing puffed up. Corid in her water for 1 week is the treatment for coccidiosis. If a vet could test her droppings locally, you could rule out worms and coccidiosis.

She definitely does have an appetite, which is why it doesn't make sense that she's so thin. She's one of the bossier girls, not afraid of getting food or anything. And to make it more confusing, all of the other hens are completely fine. If it were worms or a spreadable illness wouldn't all of them have it?

 

[Eggcessive]

It is hard to know why she is so thin. You could try worming them all, or get some fresh combined droppings in a freezer bag to take in to your vet for a fecal float, but ask ahea if they will do that or send it off for you. There could be something else out of your control wrong with her. Just guessing, but a pituitary gland problem, or some other organ problem may have kept her small and her metabolism higher. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[LilliBlom]

It is hard to know why she is so thin. You could try worming them all, or get some fresh combined droppings in a freezer bag to take in to your vet for a fecal float, but ask ahea if they will do that or send it off for you. There could be something else out of your control wrong with her. Just guessing, but a pituitary gland problem, or some other organ problem may have kept her small and her metabolism higher. Let us know how she gets along.

Thank you