Some of my flock needs help-PLEASE READ!!

[logansmommy7]

I have a flock of 17 mostly healthy chickens. Originally I had a rooster a hen and three babies, then I got 7 chickens from a friend, 5 red sex links, and 2 white stars. They are great layers, friendly, but have always had feather loss on their backs-I'm not too worried about it but it really looks like it might be permanent. AND they are terribly scrawny. I feed them all the same thing and the others (the young ones I purchased after these seven) are beautiful, filled out, and just gorgeous chickens. What do I do to help them? I feed them plenty of layer crumbles, mixed with scratch daily, and lots of table goodies that we give them from what is leftover from our meals. They eat healthy, lay great, but just look terrible! What do I do??

 

[TaLani]

Do you think it's possible that they have worms as to why they're so skinny??

As to feather loss, could it be overmating - how many roos do you have out of the 17?

 

[Judy]

I would not mix scratch in with the layer. Scratch is rather low in nutritional value and best used as a treat in small quantities. Chickens need extra protein for feather growth, and the scratch is reducing the amount of protein they get.

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Get some cayenne pepper into their feed and some ACV in their water. That will take care of the parasites and keep them healthy. Has worked for me for years.

 

[logansmommy7]

I always put ACV in their water so that base is covered. The feather loss was present before I got them...I kind of took them in as a charity case, the person who I got them from was overloaded with chickens and I was just getting started, and like I said, they lay pretty well, just look haggard. I thought about worming them, but changed my mind. I will start not putting scratch in with their food. I was just trying to bulk them up a bit...

 

[jenjscott]

Laying breeds are going to be scrawny next to dual purpose breeds. Their backs will stay naked until they molt, and they they might grow them back in. Also depends on your roosters. If they were naked when you got them, it could have been your friends roosters. Since your other girls are not like this, I'm going to guess your friends roosters. You can put saddles on them if you want to protect their backs. As mentioned, it might be worth while to worm.