Weight Gain

[lfoose]

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to make your hen gain weight? Safely?

She seems healthy, active and eats but is still pretty boney.

 

[McChix]

Hi, lfoose.

Have you wormed your hen? Is she maybe weight-appropriate for her breed?

I have a bird similar to what you describe - she's a 6 m/o white leghorn, seems healthy, is active, good appetite and a good layer (25 eggs in Oct!) but so skinny compared to the other girls (1 RIR, 1 Ameraucana). Folks tell me that leghorns ARE skinny birds. I'm keeping a close eye on her condition and am considering ivomec eprinex after having read about it here.

 

[FutureChickenMan]

leghorns are skinny birds, they're egg machines.. that's what their blood line was bred for. make lots of eggs eat a little amount of food.

 

[silkiechicken]

If she is active, eats, and shows no sickness... no need to do anything. She may just be alight breed. Chickens should not be fat and nothing should be done to make them gain weight, unless their loss of weight is due to pests or diseases. Even at that, get rid of the problem and let them regain their weight normally. Leghorns are very light. My hen is only about 3.5 lbs and she is now 18 months old. I have 11.5 week old cochin crosses who weigh more than she does.

 

[lfoose]

Ok, thank you. I wasn't sure if I should be concerned since I can't feel alot of meat around her breastbone. The hen is a Silkie mix.

 

[speckledhen]

Mine tend to lose weight when they molt. I had one that was just a bag of bones, but now she's fat and sassy again. How old is she? Could she be molting?

 

[picklespickles]

i also tend to have some that remain smaller than the others. always ones that fly, too. don't know if that's related or not.

 

[silkiechicken]

Hmm, silkie mix. I know my silkie girl is a big fat puff ball, but she's under two lbs of meat... and when she get's wet, she's about the size of a child's nerf foot ball on legs.