I want fatter chickens!!

[Chick1043]

How do I get fatter looking chickens? They just seem skinny to me..I don't want them to be broilers, just fatter..They are free ranged 24/7 and eat layena layer pellets, scraps, oyster shell, and grit...Any tips? Thanks

 

[ChicKat]

Do you have a regular worming program? Especially free range....they get exposed to a lot of things.

 

[Chick1043]

Do you have a regular worming program? Especially free range....they get exposed to a lot of things.

No..What do you recommend for that? Thanks!!

 

[Bulldogma]

Check out this thread - there is some good information in here!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/687792/worms

 

[bairo]

Do you have a regular worming program? Especially free range....they get exposed to a lot of things.

x2 on the worms. When worm free you can add a small amount of black oil sunflower seed to their scratch (if you give them scratch, since they free range)

Click on my "coop" page under my profile and look for the article on how to get and stay worm and pest free....dosing info is included

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Are they teenagers? When they are teenagers they go through a skinny awkward phase, then fatten up.

Otherwise, yes worms are notorious for making hens skinny. Good to consider it as a possibility if they are grown up. Feel along the breastbone in the front of the chest. You should feel some meat on either side...unless they are teenagers (they will be skinny).

 

[heidiandjeff]

Before deworming your chickens, take a fresh fecal sample to a vet. The veterinary diagnostic labs know what to look for in chicken samples, and the results will tell you if they need to be dewormed. Many deworming drugs cannot be used in laying hens because the drugs go into the eggs. If you sell or give away eggs, that could be trouble. Poultry vets do not recommend regular deworming for backyard flocks. I'm a vet, and while I'm not specially trained in poultry medicine, I consult with avian vets when I need to.

Are the hens laying? Often laying hens are not fat because they put a lot of calories into egg production, and not much into meat and fat.

Heidi

 

[cafarmgirl]

Before deworming your chickens, take a fresh fecal sample to a vet. The veterinary diagnostic labs know what to look for in chicken samples, and the results will tell you if they need to be dewormed. Many deworming drugs cannot be used in laying hens because the drugs go into the eggs. If you sell or give away eggs, that could be trouble. Poultry vets do not recommend regular deworming for backyard flocks. I'm a vet, and while I'm not specially trained in poultry medicine, I consult with avian vets when I need to.

Are the hens laying? Often laying hens are not fat because they put a lot of calories into egg production, and not much into meat and fat.

Heidi

I have a very experienced avian vet and he DOES recommend a regular deworming schedule for the backyard flocks. Most drugs used to deworm chickens are used off label, very few are labeled specifically for chickens, there is a 10 to 14 day egg withdrawal period for most. Well worth it a couple times a year to insure healthy, parasite free hens. Wazine of course is labled for chickens but is not broad spectrum enough to be very helpful.

 

[Chris09]

If you haven't done a good worming on them then that might be the first thing you'll want to do.
Hit them with a good wormer then 10 days later hit them again.

Most good wormers have a 5 -7 day with drawl.


Chris

 

[Chris09]

I have a very experienced avian vet and he DOES recommend a regular deworming schedule for the backyard flocks.

X2
I have a good friend that is a vet he also breeds and shows poultry, when I was talking to him about parasite he said the key is to worm and also treat for cocci on a regular bases.

Chris