Underweight and Emaciated Hens

[LaFleche]

How much crude protein does the feed you were giving them provide?

Aim for 18-20 % and provide crushed oyster shell on the side free choice.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They all are behaving perfectly normal with the only issue being that they are underweight.

Then I'm not sure if I would change anything, treat anything or add anything. Behaving Perfectly Normal - sounds great.

If I made any type of changes, I would drastically limit or cut out "treats" - the extra sunflower seeds, scratch, etc. and feed a higher protein feed as suggested previously. 18-20% all flock or layer feed.

 

[aart]

Then I'm not sure if I would change anything, treat anything or add anything. Behaving Perfectly Normal - sounds great.

If I made any type of changes, I would drastically limit or cut out "treats" - the extra sunflower seeds, scratch, etc. and feed a higher protein feed as suggested previously. 18-20% all flock or layer feed.

Ditto Dat.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Hi, another thought, you could try Nutridrench (the poultry variety). It's a liquid nutritional supplement. There could be some vitamin missing from the TSC feed.

That's a good idea. I've got some that I'll use

 

[FarmerGirl101]

How much crude protein does the feed you were giving them provide?

Aim for 18-20 % and provide crushed oyster shell on the side free choice.

16% as the 18% is a little too expensive in terms of price per pound. But I'll take a better look next time I'm at TSC

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Then I'm not sure if I would change anything, treat anything or add anything. Behaving Perfectly Normal - sounds great.

If I made any type of changes, I would drastically limit or cut out "treats" - the extra sunflower seeds, scratch, etc. and feed a higher protein feed as suggested previously. 18-20% all flock or layer feed.

Sounds good. They already don't get treats often (once in a blue moon) but they do free range. Should I keep them in the coop once a week so they eat only their feed or is the free ranging 24/7 ok?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Your Leghorn and possibly Ameraucana may naturally be fairly "skinny". The Leghorn especially is bred to spend her energy on making eggs, not growing meat. The Orp, Wyandotte, and New Hampshire should be heavier. I'm not that familiar with Turken.

I know it is June and you are in California, but are some of them molting? Things other than the fall days getting shorter can cause a molt. Some birds, like the Orpington, are really thick feathered. If they are going through a heavy molt they can look downright skinny. Are you seeing a lot of feathers flying around?

How old are they? Could they still be teenagers going through their last juvenile molt?

Getting a fecal count for worms is a great idea. Carrying a heavy worm load can cause them to lose weight. Oh, but you said you wormed them. See if that helps. Also check for mites and lice.

I also feed mine a 16% protein feed instead of a high protein feed and mine forage a lot. Mine do not grow so large that they are in danger of hurting their legs when they hop/fly down from the roost like some people worry about. Mine don't have any trouble flying up to a five feet high roost either. It is possible they just did not grow quite as big as they would have on a high protein diet. If they are acting healthy they just might be.

What is going on with the egg production? I'm not sure why you mentioned that. If they are healthy they should be laying about as many eggs as hens on a higher protein diet, the eggs just would not be quite as large.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds good. They already don't get treats often (once in a blue moon) but they do free range. Should I keep them in the coop once a week so they eat only their feed or is the free ranging 24/7 ok?

I'd let them range, just make feed available during waking hours.