I think my birds are skinny

[Zahboo]

I feed 50/50 mix of scratch and Layena. I can feel their keel bone though. ALWAYS food available. I have water available all the time and they freerange too. There is different breeds and different ages andall I can feel the keel. Silkie chicks that just feel skinny and cochin adults that I can feel it but not as much. Can you normally feel the keel easily?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

When was the last time you wormed them?

 

[zazouse]

Most of mine are the same way, if i want fat chickens i pen them up, mine totaly free range and have feed at all times,they look healthy lay lots of perfect eggs for me, i think we are doing it right.

 

[Zahboo]

I haven't wormed then, but was told it wasn't neccessary as long as egglaying was normal and poo was normal. They used to just romp around and now are in breeder cages that I just built. I am trying to monitor their feed more. With this cage I can see how much is wasted and know what breeds are eating how much. No grass so I know they are eating their food

I just wanted to make sure they are okay because I wasnted to show for the first time in September.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Some of it has to do with what they're consuming, some with how active they are, what type of activity they're constatly doing (running here & there, jumping, etc...), and then you might consider a worming regimine, even if it's simple stuff like feeding raw pumpkin seeds & garlic. You may not see evidence in the fecal matter but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't carrying any. Usually only the large worms, like roundworms are visible. Oh, also make sure they don't have any external parasites, like lice & mites.

 

[Zahboo]

Quote:
We use DE and check regularly for mites, so far mite free. What wormers do you suggest that are easy to find but easy on the bird?

 

[Dogfish]

What type of bird?

 

[silkiechicken]

You'll always want to be able to feel the keel, you do not want the keel to feel like the back of a knife blade. If it does not feel like the back of a knife blade, meaning you can pinch the bone between your finers with very little muscle tissue, then they are too skinny.

The only thing I'd change with your current feed is to feed 100% layena and take out the scratch to use as treats only. Feed has lots of corn in it already, and corn is esentailly lots of sugar. If they preferentially eat just corn, they may get a nutritional imbalance. Formulated feeds are designed to be the primary rations.

 

[Kelso]

I had the same situation last year. I now add DE and whole fish to their feed twice a week and apple cider vinegar to their water twice a week on the same days with the DE and fish. Good heavy breasts, nice feathers, and they lay really good. Kelso

 

[Zahboo]

They are Mottled Cochins. I will take out the scratch the next time we buy feed