Skinny Chickens??

[henloverinmaine]

Maybe I worry to much abut my girls! I have 4 RIR's and a Buff Cochin roo. The girls seem thin to me. When I hold them I can feel their breast bone. They eat like pigs. They have access to laying feed all day, as well as roaming the yard for the stray bug, worm or whatever they can scratch up. They also get some scratch feed several times a week. Not to much, just enough to get them into the coop at the end of the day. Is it normal to feel the breast bone? I just figure they should be a bit more hefty considering the amount of food they eat!! What, if anything, am I doing wrong? Or should I stop worrying?
Thanks!

 

[stilwellchick]

How old are they? You could take a stool specimen in to the vet to check for worms.

 

[silkiechicken]

You should be able to feel a V/U of their keel, but not a Y if that makes any sense. Unless they are meat birds, they probably won't be like a _ over the keel like you would see on the birds that come in plastic wrap in the meat section.

If they are acting healthy they are probably fine. You can always get a fecal done if you are worring that much.

 

[hensdeliverthegoods]

Really good laying hens don't have much meat on their bones because most of their food energy goes into making eggs. If they seem otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about it. My girls seem a little thin to me too, but they sure are vigorous!