Really skinny flock

[Seriph]

I have a large mixed flock of chickens (various breeds, ages, sizes), turkey (also above variables), ducks (same age 6 months, various breeds) and geese (6 months, all Chinese). The chickens all seem extremely skinny, bony skinny. The turkey are also slim but not bony. The geese and ducks don’t seem to have lost any weight. While they are not as heavy as I think they should be, I cannot feel their breast bone readily. They are all free range, but the chickens and turkey are fed separately from the ducks and geese. I have a large number of birds, I’m not exactly how many. I’d say maybe around 50. I feed twice a day in six troughs fermented feed which consists of nutrena layer pellet, whole corn, fish food, millet, black oilers, brown rice (only a cup/5gal bucket), cayenne, chili powder, oregano, fennel seed, DE, alfalfa, and beet pulp. I feed enough to make sure everyone’s crops are full twice a day. They also get table scraps and I’m sure consume bugs and plants throughout the day. No one is lethargic, no droopy wings, no sneezing, or other signs of illness. They act perfectly fine, egg production (in the hens who aren’t moulting) is normal, combs aren’t pale, no excessive drinking, poops are normal. I’m guessing maybe worms but I’ve never had skinny chickens before so I’ve never wormed. What should I use (if this could indeed be worms)? I’m guessing I’ll have to treat for more than one kind. What’s the best economic way to treat a large flock? Thanks in advance for any advice or recommendations!

 

[snow5164]

You feed a lot of other things in their ff, it’s good stuff but it all waters down the nutrition of the feed , your 16% protein could become 15% for example.

Also not sure where you are , but this has been a really hot year and grass is very skinny and dry. Our meat birds on pasture are going over a month longer to reach the desired weight this year.


So I’d suggest feeding them just their feed ... ferment continue with the apple cider vinegar and the herbs you are using but leave out the rest.

Have you seen any unusual poop? If you have I give mine raw pumpkin seeds and garlic.... I won’t used drugs unless absolutely necessary.

Good luck ,
You’re doing great ,
I’d love to see a picture of your amazing flock

 

[silkiemother]

try giving them some apple chunks,peas,corn,rasberries,bannanas,any kind of fruit /vegetables that theiy can have.it can help give them the nutrients that they need and also just give them free range choices,alfalfa and chicken feed without the added stuff for a while.

 

[50-45-1]

Do you have free choice grit?
A chicken can literally starve to death with feeders full of they have no grit to digest there food with.

 

[snow5164]

try giving them some apple chunks,peas,corn,rasberries,bannanas,any kind of fruit /vegetables that theiy can have.it can help give them the nutrients that they need

I totally disagree the last thing they need is more treats... getting birds to put on weight requires the correct nutritional food , anyone can make them fat but you want them to gain muscle mass and some fat .

 

[Seriph]

Here are some of the hens and small turkey. We had to move everyone to higher ground when the rains from Florence hit. We are in western pa and have had a pretty wet year. The vegetation has been growing uncontrollably this year. There is also whole crushed garlic in their ff. As far as grit goes, they are free range so they have access to plenty of stones. Including my pea gravel walkway which has always been a favorite picking spot for them. They also have constant access to a bin with crushed oyster shell. No unusual poops. I’ve been checking My husband thinks I’m crazy lol

 

[Amer]

I totally disagree the last thing they need is more treats... getting birds to put on weight requires the correct nutritional food , anyone can make them fat but you want them to gain muscle mass and some fat .

I do say to give them meat though. It adds extra protein. Ours love hambones and (I know, I know) poultry, which are good sources of lean meat. A chicken in the wild eats a lot more meat than you think, and have no morals when it comes to cannibalism, so if you feel feeding them chickens is wrong, don't feed it to them. Ours also usually eat vegetables. Those aren't necessary but I think they make good additions.
Worms are often cause of skinniness, shame on me, that isn't a word.
Apple cider vinegar and whatever other home remedies just aren't going to cut it. Give the flock dewormer and take the withdrawal period.
Deworming my really skinny cat who had worms turned her to the normal weight of seven to eight pounds. Which sounds small but she is a very petite cat. Her weight isn't very different, but she looks better.
I doubt that apple cider vinegar would have gotten rid of her worms.

 

[Seriph]

I do say to give them meat though. It adds extra protein. Ours love hambones and (I know, I know) poultry, which are good sources of lean meat. A chicken in the wild eats a lot more meat than you think, and have no morals when it comes to cannibalism, so if you feel feeding them chickens is wrong, don't feed it to them. Ours also usually eat vegetables. Those aren't necessary but I think they make good additions.
Worms are often cause of skinniness, shame on me, that isn't a word.
Apple cider vinegar and whatever other home remedies just aren't going to cut it. Give the flock dewormer and take the withdrawal period.
Deworming my really skinny cat who had worms turned her to the normal weight of seven to eight pounds. Which sounds small but she is a very petite cat. Her weight isn't very different, but she looks better.
I doubt that apple cider vinegar would have gotten rid of her worms.

What wormer would you recommend? I’ve seen a slew of different opinions from Wyzine (spelling?) to fish medications.

 

[Amer]

What wormer would you recommend? I’ve seen a slew of different opinions from Wyzine (spelling?) to fish medications.

Invectrin however you spell that.

 

[rebrascora]

Are you sure that it is not just that they are moulting? Chickens always tend to look thin and scraggly when they are moulting.

With such a large flock, worming them individually would be a big task and there will be an egg withdrawal period as a result of using a chemical dewormer, so I would want to be sure it was necessary before spending time and money and wasting eggs. A vet or state diagnostics lab can do a faecal float test to look for roundworms or coccidia. You should be able to mail a small sample of poop from your flock.... either a group sample (several mixed) or an individual sample from the poorest looking bird.... to your state lab to do the test and it should be under $20. You should also be on the look out for tape worm segments in their poop, which look like tiny moving grains of rice.... tapeworm eggs are not often picked up by a faecal float test so examining poop is a good habit to develop. Ivermectin will not treat tapeworms and neither will Wazine, so it is quite important to know which worms you are trying to target if indeed worms are a problem at all, before buying and administering a product.