Ruffled feather chicks

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm a random person with a similar question: if I have adult birds who free range most of the day and get lots of table scraps(squash, cucumber, meat, tomato, potato, bread, berries), is it ok to give them Cracked Corn instead of Layer Feed?

I would stick with a nutritionally balanced poultry feed (layer or all flock is fine).

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm a random person with a similar question: if I have adult birds who free range most of the day and get lots of table scraps(squash, cucumber, meat, tomato, potato, bread, berries), is it ok to give them Cracked Corn instead of Layer Feed?

No. They need balanced nutrition they get from the layer feed or all flock (with oyster shell on the side).

Once I heard and saw the necropsies people had done showing the damaged livers and other organs, surrounded by fat, caused in part by feeding them so much corn, I quit it completely. These don't even get scratch per se. I buy Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve which is an expensive layer feed but they think it's a treat, so that's their scratch. Much, much healthier.

If you want to give them cracked corn for a treat, that's fine but they need 90% or so of their daily intake to be their feed. Otherwise, they aren't as healthy, might get sick easier, have laying issues, egg issues, health issues, etc. down the road.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

My first batch of chicks didn’t go outside until six weeks old and their feathers were fine so i don’t think that’s it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This is a picture of one in particular because she looked worse than the rest. she had ruffled feathers, dirty feathers, and blue eyelids.
the second picture is her a week after eating chick starter. non medicated.
her feathers are no longer ruffled, dirty looking, and a majority of the blue on her eyelids have went away.
she and the rest are doing so much better. i’m glad I got that chicken food.
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Thank you for the update and photos!

What difference it makes giving the nutrients they needed. I'm glad you were able to get a bag of Chick Starter too! They look much better.

 

[mindy012]

My first batch of chicks didn’t go outside until six weeks old and their feathers were fine so i don’t think that’s it.

yeah it turns out it was because they weren’t getting enough nutrients. I had them on house scraps unfortunately and that’s why they looked so strange. now, I have them on chick starter and they’re much better. they’ve even grown a lot since, they’re getting so big

 

[Sinadrea]

yeah it turns out it was because they weren’t getting enough nutrients. I had them on house scraps unfortunately and that’s why they looked so strange. now, I have them on chick starter and they’re much better. they’ve even grown a lot since, they’re getting so big

They get big quick. Mine are 7 weeks and almost as big as my Polish hen.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

yeah it turns out it was because they weren’t getting enough nutrients. I had them on house scraps unfortunately and that’s why they looked so strange. now, I have them on chick starter and they’re much better. they’ve even grown a lot since, they’re getting so big

I’m glad they are doing better!