How can I get some meat on these girls?

[100AcreFarm]

My 17 week Black Australorps and Araucana's are staying pretty thin I think. I can feel their ribs and their keels are pretty sharp. They get Purina Layena available all day. I throw out a few handfuls of scratch about every other day. I've given them yogurt in their mash each morning. (a mash of layer crumbles and water with several spoonfuls of yogurt) They get watermelon rinds, grapes, oatmeal sometimes, grass clippings and a few mealworms now and then. I'm assuming they catch bugs that happen into their run. Watching them play keep-away with a grasshopper was a riot!

They still seem to stay bony feeling. I can see no lice or other parasites and their poo looks normal. Should I be worried about this? We're in Michigan and it gets majorly cold in the winter and I'm concerned that they won't be able to keep themselves warm. I'm terribly new at this.

What all can I feed them to help them plump up in a healthy way? It's a mystery to me since I swear I can gain weight on lettuce and water!

 

[ella]

Sounds like they have a great diet.

One thing I do to help them through the Minnesota winter is mix half and half layer and gamebird feed. Chick starter or meat bird feed would work too.

I've noticed they definately gain more weight on it. I always keep out a dish of oyster shell next to the waterer so have not had a problem with weak shells.

They're still growing at that age so probably won't be very heavy. As long as you have a good shelter for them they'll make it through the winter ok. They seem to do better with the cold than with heat oddly enough.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I always heard chickens lay better if they are not fat. I live in the South and don't have cold winters, though.

 

[100AcreFarm]

Thanks! I feel a bit more reassured now. I suppose they're still in that "growth spurt" stage. Every other animal on the planet seems gangly at that stage so I suppose chickens are no different. My 16 yr old son looks practically emaciated and yet is extremely healthy!

One of my girls had slowly gotten pushed out of the cafeteria line and got quite week in her legs. She'll eat if you put it in front of her. Otherwise she thinks its too much trouble and work to get herself to the food. She stays inside during the day and gets feed lots of good stuff and vitamins to hopefully build her back up. I told her last night that she has 2 more weeks to show me some marked improvement or she's toast. I work and am starting back to school and don't have time for perpetual hand feeding of an unhealthy one. Sounds harsh I know, but it is what it is.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Not that I'm an expert by any means....................

but I've noticed with mine that they really started filling out in the 21-24 weeks. It became really noticable, even with the "runt" (bottom of pecking order) RIR.

 

[100AcreFarm]

Quote:
I hope I see that too. I don't really want to take one on a "walk out back" but seriously, the good Lord knew what he was doing when he gave me healthy kids and animals. I just don't have the time or patience for running a prolonged ICU ward in my kitchen.