Respiratory Disease?

[sammi]

describe the droppings..color and consistency..

cut back on the treats..

you can make up the mix Miss Glenda posted.

in any case..cooked chopped egg mixed with plain yogurt, water soaked oatmeal (or cooked some) and enough layer feed to make it puffy..not soupy or gummy.
some poultry vitamins would help..

do you keep the feeders full, or do they go empty during the day?
always make sure they have clean fresh water.

they might need to be wormed..
Wazine 17 is easy to get and not expensive..and easy to give..
only treats round worms..which are common to chickens.

are the birds alert and perky?
eating good?

 

[caralouise1974]

I've been worrying recently that my two girls are thin, mainly because I can feel both breastbones. But, they eat well, have just been wormed with ivermectin topical drops, are bright and alert, have lovely lush feathering, show no signs of respiratory illness, and both lay lovely eggs daily.

In my mind, this means they must be pretty healthy and I should stop terrorising them every five minutes by grabbing their breastbones and feeling their crops - I'm upsetting them and feeding my paranoia!

I know we all love our girls, but I do sometimes think I create worries for myself - and so perhaps if there is nothing other than your friend's opinion to go on, and they seem well in every other respect (and have been wormed) you can relax a little.

 

[raroo]

You are supposed to be able to feel the breast bone! Like mypicklebird said, the bird is obese if you can't feel it. If there is a thick layer of fat covering the bone, the bird is too fat!