How do you put weight on your birds?

[Three Cedars Silkies]

I weighed a couple of my silkie pullets (10 months old...laying since mid-Jan) and they only weigh about 26 ounces each. The standard call for 32 oz. for a hen.

I feed them Purina layer free choice, throw a handful of calf manna in with about 2 cups of scratch every afternoon, free choice oyster shell and clean water everyday. I wormed them when they were 6 months old...need to do that again, but I check their poop most every day and don't see any visible parasites. They don't have lice or mites.........

....SO WHAT GIVES????

Edited to add: I just bought gamebird feed and will switch them over to it this weekend. Think that will help??

 

[chickenlady08]

I would also like to know this as well. I have some of what I think are to thin. They don't eat layer food, they eat the grower finisher food. Grit, calcuim, I buy big bags of Mustard Greens, Collard greens and Turnip greens with lot of vitamin in there. They get leftovers as well. They free range at least 2 hours a day. ( I only let them free range when I can be outside with them so they are safe).

I hope someone helps you out though, sorry I can't....

 

[silkiechicken]

If they are eating well and healthy... it's genetics. Not all silkies will be at the "standard" weight, each individual is different. Plus, she's got 2 more months before shes technically a "hen" (12 mo old) and birds often wont reach "full size" till their second year, about 18+ months old.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Quote:
So this is what I'm thinking...and banking on! I do like my silkies to be true bantams...just not as wild about the larger lines of them. They just feel a little bit thin to me.

Would you feed them the higher protein feed?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I use Purina Flock Raiser (20% protein) with everything that's old enough not to need chick starter. My birds seem to find it more palatable than Layena and they eat it better.

.....Alan.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

OK, thanks for that tip Alan. We'll make the switch on the LF girls and I'll put the silkies on the gamebird and see how they do.