Weight loss whilst laying..?

[hali74]

Hi guys, I've noticed that my hens have started to lose weight .. Is this due to them laying? I'm constantly feeding them and feeling their crops which seem to be full a lot... And when I pick them up their breast bone (not sure if it is) but the bone that comes down the middle is sticking out a lot... Is that normal? I only notice the bone now as I keep picking them up..

Thanks

 

[Percheron chick]

Laying is going to take it out of them. If you also have cold weather, that will make them loose weight as well. Add a high calorie treat to get a few more calories into them.

 

[Happy Chooks]

No, that's not normal. That can be a sign of worms. Have you ever wormed your flock? Worms will rob them of their nutrients, causing them to lose weight.

 

[hali74]

No, that's not normal.  That can be a sign of worms.  Have you ever wormed your flock?  Worms will rob them of their nutrients, causing them to lose weight.

I don't think they've got worms - their eggs come out clean and they've been laying every day... I will put DE in their feed..

So is their bone not meant to stick out?

Thanks

 

[Happy Chooks]

They can still lay while having worms, and DE will not deworm them. You can take a fecal sample in to a vet and have it checked for worms.

A hen of a healthy weight will not have a protruding keel bone.

How old is your hen?

 

[hali74]

I think you're right I've never noticed the bone but I do now ... I've bought flubenvet should that do the trick? Ones 9 months and the other 8
Thanks

 

[hali74]

Also .. This might be a stupid question but they're constantly eating worms from the ground.. (Sometimes whole ones) Could these survive in my girls?

 

[hali74]

Also I thought dirty eggs meant worms? I'm always getting clean ones.. Could the weight loss be due to them not eating their pellets but eating porridge white boiled rice instead?

 

[hali74]

Anyone?!!!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Also .. This might be a stupid question but they're constantly eating worms from the ground.. (Sometimes whole ones) Could these survive in my girls?

No the earth worms will not take up residence inside your chickens but earth worms, crickets, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, and any of probably 1,000s of other invertebrates can and will pass on round worm or other internal parasite eggs to your hens.

If you want to you can look at it as the way that earth worms protect themselves from your chickens.

If they are raised in an area that is contaminated with chicken parasites then even meal worms can infest your birds with worms.