- Aug 8, 2011
- 1,981
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hi,
I bought a small adult laying flock about 6 weeks ago, one rooster and 5 hens. Don't know what they are, the farmer I bought them from just shrugged when I asked, but they're standard sized, orange-red with a little tan in the neck feathers on some, and throughout the feathering on the others.
I was so excited to be getting gentle easily handled chickens that I didn't ask enough questions... like how old they are. my guess is they're not that young because their upper beaks are worn quite a bit, shorter and blunter than their lower beak. I'm getting 2-4 eggs aday, although they free range so I might not be getting all the eggs they lay.
here's my question... when I pick them up, they feel really thin to me... prominent breast bone and not nearly as much chicken under their feathers as I expect. What should I be looking for / doing to help get them up to a healty weight?
they're getting scratch and oystershell, and I just switched them from layer crumbles to game bird crumbles (the eggs are a little bigger after a week on game bird), free-range green pasture, and fruit and vegie table scraps. they will raid the cat's kibble if I don't prevent it. there are lots of bugs, grasshoppers are particularly abundant.
other than being thin, and not giving an egg every day, they look healty. feathers are good, they stay fluffy and groomed, they're active, alert, and their eyes look clear. they have the energy to chase after the flying grasshoppers we've got with enthusiasm and come running when I call.
but they're thin and I think that needs fixing. suggestions?
thanks!
I bought a small adult laying flock about 6 weeks ago, one rooster and 5 hens. Don't know what they are, the farmer I bought them from just shrugged when I asked, but they're standard sized, orange-red with a little tan in the neck feathers on some, and throughout the feathering on the others.
I was so excited to be getting gentle easily handled chickens that I didn't ask enough questions... like how old they are. my guess is they're not that young because their upper beaks are worn quite a bit, shorter and blunter than their lower beak. I'm getting 2-4 eggs aday, although they free range so I might not be getting all the eggs they lay.
here's my question... when I pick them up, they feel really thin to me... prominent breast bone and not nearly as much chicken under their feathers as I expect. What should I be looking for / doing to help get them up to a healty weight?
they're getting scratch and oystershell, and I just switched them from layer crumbles to game bird crumbles (the eggs are a little bigger after a week on game bird), free-range green pasture, and fruit and vegie table scraps. they will raid the cat's kibble if I don't prevent it. there are lots of bugs, grasshoppers are particularly abundant.
other than being thin, and not giving an egg every day, they look healty. feathers are good, they stay fluffy and groomed, they're active, alert, and their eyes look clear. they have the energy to chase after the flying grasshoppers we've got with enthusiasm and come running when I call.
but they're thin and I think that needs fixing. suggestions?
thanks!
