Very Scrawny Chicken

[tigmata]

We are new to chickens and got our birds this April. The salesman said to feed them chick starter for the first bag and then they would be old enough to eat scratch. The birds are "reds". We bought 7, and ended up with 3 roosters and 4 hens. They seem very active.

We butchered one of the roosters and were shocked that the dressed bird weighed 1.5 lbs at 20 weeks old.

Seems to us we are doing something wrong. The birds get scratch and water daily, vegetable garden scraps and any tasty looking bug that I catch or wanders into their 6' X 20' run.

I really have tried reading through the other posts and am at an informational overload. Is there a chart that will tell me "if the bird is X weeks old feed it Y amount of Z food"?

We really are trying to do the best for the birds considering we both saw our first chicken in a zoo.

ANY help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Amethyste]

Scratch is a treat. It doesnt have the nutrients they need...all it is is cracked corn/grains/whole oats. The chookies should be on the layer feed by now I would think at the age you are saying they are.

Scratch is the equivilent of junk food. They need the nutrients in the feed...sounds like they arent getting enough.

I have 10 birds (8 chicks and 2 adults) atm, but when i had my full flock of 10 adult birds (standard sized), they had a 5 gallon feeder full of layer feed that they would go thru within 2-3 days.

As for the size of the rooster... different breeds will weigh different. Bantams will weigh less for instance, and heavy breeds will weigh more than standard on average. I would get them on layer feed and only offer scratch occasionally. The greens are good tho! Oystershell and layer feed... good stuff for the birdies!

Scratch I put out as a treat for them to look for and peck at out side to prevent boredom, and I dont offer it really in the summer much at all. It tends to keep them warmer, cos of the digestion of the corn. That's why i give more in winter, to help them stay warm.

 

[tigmata]

Amethyste; Thank you very much for greatly appreciated help. The birds are now on layer crumbles and the difference is amazing! Before they were Ethiopian chickens: scrawny and fast running. They'd peck at anything that came within pecking distance, hands, feet, pant legs. Now they are very well behaved. I can fill up their feeder, change the water, toss in vegetable garden goodies and not fear for my life. We had joked about not falling into the chicken run because the chickens would eat you. No more! Calm birds, happy birds, happy me.

Thank you again. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my initial question.

Tigmata

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Great post, above. Some breeds are not good for eating.. By 'not good for eating' I mean, they will never be heavy weights! You'll just need to cook more of them! LOL

If you are feeding a good quaility food, for the age/type =chick food for babies, starter for teenagers, laying pellets or mash for layers, grower food for meat birds , etc and they aren't filling out...maybe they need worming or have mites...Check for each and treat IF needed...