Really Fat Hen

[Katrinasofia]

I have a 4 month old Leghorn I think that is 5 times bigger than the other five chicks I am raising her with her with. She's actually seems like it's hard to walk. She also has no feathers on her sides. She really never did but it seems like they're thinning even more. I attach the picture any suggestions

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I can't tell with that view but I'm thinking it is a Cornish Cross and not a Leghorn.
That would explain the size and the dearth of feathers.
You said hen, are they over a year of age and have they all been laying?

 

[Peepsi]

I can't tell with that view but I'm thinking it is a Cornish Cross and not a Leghorn.
That would explain the size and the dearth of feathers.
You said hen, are they over a year of age and have they all been laying?

Was thinking the same thing. I don't know my chicken breeds all that well, but I do know Cornish Cross are often white, and grow fast, with as little feathering as the breeders can get away with. If it is a Cornish Cross, and you don't want to eat it, then you'll want to restrict its feed, so it doesn't get too fat to not be able to walk.

 

[Katrinasofia]

Was thinking the same thing. I don't know my chicken breeds all that well, but I do know Cornish Cross are often white, and grow fast, with as little feathering as the breeders can get away with. If it is a Cornish Cross, and you don't want to eat it, then you'll want to restrict its feed, so it doesn't get too fat to not be able to walk.

 

[Katrinasofia]

Oh boy. I really am just learning and I'm sure I didn't do this the right way but I've always been a little impulsive when it comes to animals. Okay so how in the world do I restrict her food and no I'm not sure it's a hen yet just guessing. Oh and also I'm not going to eat her no matter what. Will she lay eggs?

 

[Peepsi]

Oh boy. I really am just learning and I'm sure I didn't do this the right way but I've always been a little impulsive when it comes to animals. Okay so how in the world do I restrict her food and no I'm not sure it's a hen yet just guessing. Oh and also I'm not going to eat her no matter what. Will she lay eggs?

Well, when someone has a whole flock of Cornish, they simply go and feed just enough that the birds can eat in 15-20 minutes. There's some calculation for how much feed a cornish should get. I don't know it though. The problem is that you'll need to separate that one bird from the others as far as food goes, because the cornish isn't supposed to eat "freely" like the other birds, unless you are free-ranging it (so its getting exercise). As long as it is cooped up, it will gain weight faster than the others. I honestly don't know the best method to achieve restricted feed for one bird. You could trying exercising it I suppose. Maybe get a cat toy with a feather on the hen and let this hen chase it?

Perhaps someone with more experience can chime in!

 

[NatJ]

If the fat white one is that much bigger, maybe set up a space the others can get into but she can't, and put the feeder in there? (I'm thinking a small door or large-size wire mesh, that lets the others walk through but not the fat one.) Then give an appropriate amount for her once or twice a day, where she can reach it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you have all Leghorns and one meatie, you could just make sure it gets exercise. The leghorns will want to be out foraging and hopefully it will want to be out with its flock mates. That should solve the problem. Do you let them free range? You should if you can do so safely.
Where did you get the birds?

Can you get a picture of one of the leghorns and the bird in question side by side?

 

[Cryss]

Btw, for future reference, female chickens are not hens until they are 1 year old. Until their 1st birthday they are considered pullets. Even if it is laying eggs at 5 months old it's like human teenage girls that reach puberty without being considered women. As for males, less than a year old are called cockerels, 1year old they are roosters.