Weight Gain Issues

[MyBabiesTheChickens]

We have our runs separated for rotation by age before they get introduced into the large hen run.......but I am having problems keeping all the chickens in the "pullet run", as we call it. They've been dewormed and gone through Coccidiosis treatment/prevention. They get double the amount of food recommended for them and they eat everything, having full crops, yet they keep losing weight and are so weak that they can't stick the landing when coming down from perches. Majority of the pullets/young Roos in this run are like this. Maybe 2 or 3 are fine but have also begun losing weight. Due to summer being so hot, they get electrolytes every few days for 12 hours and fresh herbs to eat(looked up which ones are okay). Anyone know what is wrong with them? I don't want to lose any as this bunch has a few we REALLY want to live. Thanks in advance!

 

[OreoH]

It sounds like the food may not be nutritious or filling enough. Have you thought about feeding fermented feed? Fermenting releases the nutrients in the feed.

 

[BigMamaRenee]

I would contact the local vet's office. They could have a parasite infection & you not know it. From the sounds of it..that's exactly what it sounds like. I feed all my chickens, until 1 yr of age, medicated feed. That seems to be the best thing for keeping them healthy...
If I run into issues, I call my local vet's office & explain to them over the phone what's going on & try to get their advice...sometimes that is all it takes but sometimes, I have to make the trip to the vet...
Plz keep me informed....

 

[hayley3]

We have our runs separated for rotation by age before they get introduced into the large hen run.......but I am having problems keeping all the chickens in the "pullet run", as we call it. They've been dewormed and gone through Coccidiosis treatment/prevention. They get double the amount of food recommended for them and they eat everything, having full crops, yet they keep losing weight and are so weak that they can't stick the landing when coming down from perches. Majority of the pullets/young Roos in this run are like this. Maybe 2 or 3 are fine but have also begun losing weight. Due to summer being so hot, they get electrolytes every few days for 12 hours and fresh herbs to eat(looked up which ones are okay). Anyone know what is wrong with them? I don't want to lose any as this bunch has a few we REALLY want to live. Thanks in advance!

What food are you feeding them?
Do they have shade? Are they panting? Is their poop normal or diarrhea?

 

[MyBabiesTheChickens]

What food are you feeding them?
Do they have shade? Are they panting? Is their poop normal or diarrhea?

They get the standard 16% Layer Feed if they don't get the Chick feed which is from hatch to first egg(keeps them nice and fat). They have ALL shade where the run was built, and I have no panting pullets/young Roos since I started adding an ice bottle to keep their water cool through the smoldering day and they get the occasional electrolyte.

 

[MyBabiesTheChickens]

I will try the fermenting technique. Re

It sounds like the food may not be nutritious or filling enough. Have you thought about feeding fermented feed? Fermenting releases the nutrients in the feed.

Reducing the cost of feed sounds great and is what we need right now with the slowing down of chick, chicken, and egg sales. Also really hoping they'll fatten up like everyone(in my research) have been saying.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

I would avoid fermented feed. There is very little science to back up any claims people that love it make. Chicken feed is meant to get them all of their nutrients dry and in the bag, so even if fermenting did increase nutrient levels that isn’t always a good thing.

 

[hayley3]

I will try the fermenting technique. Re
Reducing the cost of feed sounds great and is what we need right now with the slowing down of chick, chicken, and egg sales. Also really hoping they'll fatten up like everyone(in my research) have been saying.

I feel you need to figure out why they are losing weight first.

 

[hayley3]

We have our runs separated for rotation by age before they get introduced into the large hen run.......but I am having problems keeping all the chickens in the "pullet run", as we call it. They've been dewormed and gone through Coccidiosis treatment/prevention. They get double the amount of food recommended for them and they eat everything, having full crops, yet they keep losing weight and are so weak that they can't stick the landing when coming down from perches. Majority of the pullets/young Roos in this run are like this. Maybe 2 or 3 are fine but have also begun losing weight. Due to summer being so hot, they get electrolytes every few days for 12 hours and fresh herbs to eat(looked up which ones are okay). Anyone know what is wrong with them? I don't want to lose any as this bunch has a few we REALLY want to live. Thanks in advance!

Since you have dewormed, did you do it twice, 10 days apart? Which wormer did you use, I guess I should ask first?
Are the chickens on grass at all? Are they overcrowded?
Do they have a dust bathing area and have you checked they are free of lice/mites?
What does their poop look like?

 

[MyBabiesTheChickens]

Since you have dewormed, did you do it twice, 10 days apart? Which wormer did you use, I guess I should ask first?
Are the chickens on grass at all? Are they overcrowded?
Do they have a dust bathing area and have you checked they are free of lice/mites?
What does their poop look like?

Always have a dust bath available, we actually provide much more space than the recommended per chicken, they get grass clippings maybe once a month and we started free roaming them a few hours once or twice a week while we keep watch(due to relatively large group of birds of prey circling our property and a fox visiting nightly and a large owl making its home nearby.......), we dewormed them by instruction using Wazine, and most of their poop looks great but one chicken(young roo) had bubbly poo. Usually this indicates coccidiosis but they have recently been treated with the 5 day schedule refreshed daily as sole source of water(as per instruction). We've done everything by the book, but the only option we haven't tried is the fermenting. We took one chicken for a simple visit to the vet because of her breed rarity and was charged an outrageous price, so vet is not an option. Where we are at, they will find a way to avoid giving any information if we do not bring the chicken(s) in for a look just so they make an extra buck. Over here, its the money that counts not our pets' health.