An employee at TSC suggested Meatbird for my teeny tiny girl, but I'm going to stick with their usual feed and take the advice provided from all of you amazing folks. Thank you all so very much!
It's always good to get second, third, or even fourth opinion... I have seen an employee tell someone if they don't feed their chicks "layer" they will die... And so many other awful pieces of advice. Though the meat bird suggestion isn't terrible, it isn't the wisest.
FWIW, (logistically speaking via my own reasonable deduction).. a chicken will eat to meet it's energy needs... aka calories regardless of nutrients whether those calories come from protein, fat, or carbs including fiber.
They do also however have a certain volume to fill that triggers the I'm full satiation.. this is taken into account by the feed manufacturers to get the correct energy and nutrient level into the correct volume of feed for healthy animals.
Protein and carbs being equal in energy and volume... 4 calories per gram... increasing caloric intake in the same feed volume would need added fat at 9 calories per gram...
Presuming you have taken care of or don't have internal or external parasites limiting your gals growth potential, and also that treats are not given in excess.. I would suspect that she IS at a HEALTHY weight and will continue to fill in throughout the next year when she reaches full maturity. While in the US we have only 1 size of recognized Silkies, that being bantam... in the UK, they have both bantam and standard. Too many folks aren't selecting for smaller size here in the US and some folks are even trying to breed "Giant" Silkies. I understand that they can seem so fragile and even tiny compared to flock mates, especially her male counterparts. That isn't the same as unhealthy or under weight. Getting a weight on her, and keeping track might help to ease (or confirm) your worry.
If you want to add extra nutrients without changing feed... consider an
occasional supplement of Poultry Nutri Drench in the water. Or Rooster Booster (brand) Poultry Cell (product), if used I prefer mixed into a small amount of mash as it separates in the water.
One last comment... please remember no matter what a company calls their product they are all basically the same with varying amount of protein, calcium, and amino acids. Everything else is minor (except medicated). Layer, meat bird, starter, grower, all flock, breeder, flock raiser, finisher, broiler, blah blah blah... all confusing terms without much meaning as each company calls theirs' what they want.. to give consumers lots of choices. Most every other animal feed... cat, dog, game bird... all have caloric content printed on the bag. For some reason... chicken feed does not, that I have seen.
Ya, just food for thought.
Thanks!
