Lower Ranked Pullets Getting Thin

[micstrachan]

My two lowest ranked pullets are getting thin. I think they are being bullied from feed. Here are our details:

3 - second year hens
6 - first year pullets
Run: 10x16 plus 12x8 (conjoined runs)
Coop: 5x5 plus 3x5 (conjoined coops) plus an additionL mini pen/coop at 3x5 (so total daytime living space when confined to run is close to 290 sqare feet).
Now that the days are short, they only get (supervised) free range time on weekends, several hours both days on about 1.5 acres.
Diet: consists of organic layer crumble at 16% protein. I keep one feeder in each run, so both are available to nine birds.
Hardly any treats at all lately (a tiny bit of scratch if I get home from work before dark, plus got live mealworms yesterday when I noticed skinniness.) I’ve been too busy/lazy/disorganized to sprout wheatberries, which is a favorite winter treat when they’re confined to the run.
Thoughts? Are they getting everything they need? Why aren’t the higher ranked girls letting them eat? Should I provide more feeding stations? There are several water stations.
Thoughts and advice would be appreciated. I feel terrible for this sweet natured girl to be starving when the rest of them are so robust. I don’t think she is sick, but fear she will become so if she is malnourished. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[junebuggena]

You may want to try switching to a higher protein feed, and make sure the feeders are spaced far enough apart that the more dominant ones can't block access to both at the same time. Also putting one feeder out of sight may help.

 

[micstrachan]

Thank you. Do they make layer crumbles at higher protein? Or would I have to use grower with oyster shell on the side? They already have oyster shell on the side, but would need meed more.) An out of sight feeder is a good idea. The other two are far apart, but there are five or six birds who dominate the lowest two.

 

[junebuggena]

Thank you. Do they make layer crumbles at higher protein? Or would I have to use grower with oyster shell on the side? They already have oyster shell on the side, but would need meed more.) An out of sight feeder is a good idea. The other two are far apart, but there are five or six birds who dominate the lowest two.

It's a bit of a myth that you need to feed layer feed. There is no magic ingredient in it, just less protein and a whole lot more calcium. I don't even bother with the stuff. I prefer a 20% protein flock raiser, with oyster shell offered separately for when they need it. The higher protein content is better for birds that are molting. And if your hens aren't laying right now due to the shorter days of winter, the high calcium of layer feed can actually be causing kidney damage.

 

[micstrachan]

I’ve been wondering about organ damage when they take a break from laying. THANK YOU! I’ll check and see what’s available at the feed store in the morning. Will have to mix it at first, as they prefer the organic layer crumble from Costco and I just picked up a bag.

 

[Mrs. K]

Maybe set up some short walls, with a feed station behind it, so that while eating at that station a bird is out of sight of any other birds eating at the main station. Hide outs help, too, just make sure they are not traps - have two exits.

I have a pallet up on cement bricks on their sides, a full grown bird, can crawl under there, but it is miserable and slows her down. I often put feed there on the ground under it, so my smaller birds can eat out of reach of the bigger girls. If I supply feed at the same time in a more open area, the more dominant birds will eat there and not harass the smaller ones.

Mrs K

 

[Folly's place]

My coop/ run combination is in four sections, so birds can avoid each other at times. Right now my two youngest bantam pullets are spending time up on roosts to avoid everyone, but they are still growing and doing fine.
I too feed Flock Raiser, a 20% protein all-flock feed, with separate oyster shell, all year, to all birds.
I have four feeders, down from six, is separate areas of the coop, so there's plenty for everyone.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

good, so hard to always get a clear picture with just words.

 

[Folly's place]

Also, get out there at night with a flashlight, and look carefully for mites or lice, and treat everyone if you find any on even one bird! I find them on the roosters first, so make sure at look at them too.
Mary

 

[micstrachan]

Ok, so I’ve ordered a small bag of flock raiser from Amazon to see if they like it. I don’t think my regular feed store has it, but I’m sure I can find it elsewhere locally.