pullet weight loss

[assafhes]

hi everyone. im new to byc. my cochin pullets aren't gaining much weight in the last few weeks. they eat and drink but much less than my other pullets, which are the same age but much more active and jumpy.
my cochins are maybe 3 months old, and some gain 30g in weight every week while some stay the same or even lose weight.
any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be just their breed, but scrambled eggs, chopped raw liver, tuna, or 24-28% gamebird feed would definately increase protein. Vitamins in their water may also help. Another though is they could be suffering from coccidosis, and a round of Corid (amprollium) might help. Do they have any diarrhea? Some strains of cocci cause blood in stools.

 

[assafhes]

it is possible that they have diarrhea. they live on straw bedding and I didn't notice large poo's that u can generally find.. whats corid? and how can I be sure they have coccidosis? I had 2 pullets that already died some time ago from the same pack. I checked one of them for worms after death but could find nothing

 

[Eggcessive]

Coccidiosis causes diarrhea, and sometimes it has blood in it, but not always (depends on the strain.) Corid (amprollium) will not harm them--it is a thiamine inhibitor, not an antibiotic. You can get their stools checked by your vet, but most chickens have a few cocci oocysts in their stools. Mostly you just watch their symptoms. They are at the age where they should be immune to the cocci strains in your environment, but even adult chickens get it if new strains are brought in on shoes, tires, or by new birds in the flock. Here is some info: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html and http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616