How to fatten a chicken

[LordEvan5]

One of my polish hens got sick and although I nursed her back to health she lost weight now she is at a disadvantage with the other larger hens. If I were to separate her what would be the quickest way to bulk her up so the other don’t pick on her

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@EggSighted4Life

 

[EggSighted4Life]

One of my polish hens got sick and although I nursed her back to health she lost weight now she is at a disadvantage with the other larger hens. If I were to separate her what would be the quickest way to bulk her up so the other don’t pick on her

Sorry your hen was ill, did you identify the cause? What is her age and standard feed routine including treats and supplement? Have you actually taken a weight on her?

NO, separation is asking for more problems.. including decrease competition or loneliness/depression. Staying with her flock even if she is bottom of the pecking order is her best bet IF she isn't being brutalized. Adding in extra feed stations as well as some line of sight disruptions.. like a chair, hay bale, hanging curtain, etc.. I even make false walls with wire fence.. so they can see between it but escape around it if needed.

Chickens will eat to meet their energy need.. how much they are growing, how actively they are foraging, general body function including keeping warm at night. Using a FORMULATED ration is ALWAYS the best choice if it's an option. Be sure you aren't filling their crop capacity with LOW nutrient high volume snack like the ever popular lettuce.

Now I'm NOT talking about "fattening" a bird up which is NEVER a healthy choice. But if you want to pack as many nutrients (not calories) on board as you can to support her immune system and recovery.. Using a non medicated starter or flock raiser feed while avoiding "layer" will HELP accomplish this goal. And any "fattening" that takes place will be natural re- development of the diminished muscle strength/size

OR adding in nutrient supplement.. my top choices are..

For chicks- Poultry Nutri Drench Mixes well with water or direct dosed.

For immune support or hatching- Rooster Booster brand Poultry Cell product. Best mixed with small amount of moist feed.
~or~
Rooster Booster brand Poultry Booster product

It's true that you might be able to add in calories by increasing fat content since protein and carbs have the same energy value.. Protein will support muscle development a bit better.. and the differences I'm suggesting are truly about the AMINO ACIDS.

Is this making sense to you at all?

Hey, regarding your signature line.. I am having a fairly nice day. Thank you! I always like to say.. "Make it a nice day"!

ETA: If switching to starter or flock raiser.. oyster shell free choice on the side for active layers meets their needs.

 

[LordEvan5]

Thank you for such a nice informative answer I think she just got a cold it had rained steady for a few days and she was coughing and breathing poorly I had honestly thought she was going to die so I brought her in the house so at least she would die warm but after a day she bucked up a bit and I got some of that Perez stuff that either worked or she just got better from being in out of the cold (the coup has a heater and is draft free but I didn’t want to spread anything around either she was just not eating much for a week or so and has visibly lost weight she has a sister and they were the same size but she is much lighter now but has found a new love of flight Polish are not giant to begin with ok I’m rambling so I’ll stop here

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

One of my polish hens got sick and although I nursed her back to health she lost weight now she is at a disadvantage with the other larger hens. If I were to separate her what would be the quickest way to bulk her up so the other don’t pick on her

I don't know how big her coop is but could you put her and her sister in a large dog crate inside the coop and give them extra food that's more nutritious? That way they don't use up all their energy running around instead of gaining weight. That's what I'm currently doing with my three salmon faverolles who lost a lot of weight due to coccidiosis (they're not sick anymore just skinny.)

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

I don't know how big her coop is but could you put her and her sister in a large dog crate inside the coop and give them extra food that's more nutritious? That way they don't use up all their energy running around instead of gaining weight. That's what I'm currently doing with my three salmon faverolles who lost a lot of weight due to coccidiosis (they're not sick anymore just skinny.)

I just saw Eggsighted4life's post, that would great if your flock isn't as big as mine!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I don't know how big her coop is but could you put her and her sister in a large dog crate inside the coop and give them extra food that's more nutritious? That way they don't use up all their energy running around instead of gaining weight. That's what I'm currently doing with my three salmon faverolles who lost a lot of weight due to coccidiosis (they're not sick anymore just skinny.)

You miss the point.. locking them up diminishes muscle use and actually increases the likely hood of coccidiosis returning.. and energy consumption.. they'll just eat less feed, be more bored, less motivated to forage instinctively.. and get fatter/lazier instead of healthier... which is fine if your intent is to eat.. but if keeping long term for a layer/breeder flock.. let them grow at their natural pace.. instead of worrying about increasing weight demand on joint and bones of an already VERY large breed.. they can be SLOW growing.. and bony.. If the coccidiosis is gone.. don't over think it, giving yourself more work.

ETA: muscle not used.. converts to fat.. the bird will maintain it's same growth curve in accordance with it's genetics. ONCE time or growth has been lost.. it's exponential... in EARLY life.. if you're aiming to reach a specific harvest date.. OTHERWISE, they WILL still meet their end 2 year old standard.. NOTING most birds will NOT measure up to breed size standards.. especially hatchery birds. This is something folks breed to dial in.

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

You miss the point.. locking them up diminishes muscle use and actually increases the likely hood of coccidiosis returning.. and energy consumption.. they'll just eat less feed, be more bored, less motivated to forage instinctively.. and get fatter/lazier instead of healthier... which is fine if your intent is to eat.. but if keeping long term for a layer/breeder flock.. let them grow at their natural pace.. instead of worrying about increasing weight demand on joint and bones of an already VERY large breed.. they can be SLOW growing.. and bony.. If the coccidiosis is gone.. don't over think it, giving yourself more work.

Your right I did miss the point. I was concerned because the faverolles became extremely skinny though. They are gaining wait back slower than I expected so yeah I'll try allowing them to free range during the day again. Thanks!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I think she just got a cold it had rained steady for a few days and she was coughing and breathing poorly I had honestly thought she was going to die so I brought her in the house so at least she would die warm but after a day she bucked up a bit and I got some of that Perez stuff that either worked or she just got better from being in out of the cold (the coup has a heater

I'm not sure what Perez stuff is.

A coop heater.. under normal healthy condition is ill advised.. due to the difficulty adjusting to different extremes when wanting to leave the coop or if there is a power outage type thing. Birds are wearing down jackets essentially. As I type that I realize that rain isn't even freezing, below zero or anything that most consider extreme. It freezes a little here on clear night after the rain though. Keeping ventilation good.. and humidity down in the coop along with draft free should be good enough

A bird that's under the weather though, can indeed have trouble regulating body temperature.. It sounds like your loving care is what made the difference!

That previous time.. separation might have been very important.. so take each new situation under it's own advisement.

If it flares up again it might be worth looking at (researching) something like infectious bronchitis, chronic respiratory disease, mycoplasmosis, etc. Hopefully it's history though.