Is my girl too skinny?

[albodean]

Hi All,

I have had my 3 Light Sussex pullets for 3 weeks now. They all seem healthy and active but I am worried that one of them, Bitsy, may be too skinny.

I have watched them all feed lots of times and they all share nicely, she doesn't seem like she is having less food than the other 2.

She is around 19 weeks old and has always been the skinniest since I have had them. Is this normal or should I do something about it?

Bitsy:

All three:

 

[minihorse927]

She looks ok in picture but the true test would be for you to pick her up and feel her breastbone. If there is no meat on it than she is too thin.

 

[albodean]

She looks ok in picture but the true test would be for you to pick her up and feel her breastbone. If there is no meat on it than she is too thin.

Thanks. She hates being handled so will be a challenge to feel her breastbone but I'll give it a go!

All being well and she has meat on her breastbone, will she fill out naturally as she gets older or is that just her build? All three are pure breed utility Light Sussex.

None of them are being eaten, just kept as pets & for eggs so as long as she's healthy I'm not worried about her being skinny.

 

[minihorse927]

They will fill out more as they are but not all birds are perfect models of their breed. Just like a human can be heavy or skinny so can a bird. It could be she is just a narrower body build while the other two have the other build like most Sussex.

 

[Trish1974]

Beautiful girls by the way!