Weight of chickens

[popularfurball]

One of my hens got poorly and the vet advised she was underweight and put her to sleep as she was so poorly.

It got me thinking though about my others

Skyline
Cuckoo maran
White leghorn

The skyline is pretty hefty and bigger than the other two (about 33 weeks)

The maran is next biggest but notably lighter than the skyline (she's 20ish weeks)

The leghorn is tiny - she is laying bigger eggs than the maran but she is very light and small (and flighty!) she is also 20ish weeks.

What bits should be checked to see if they are fat enough? They all eat plenty and there is a little bit of stealing food from each other but nothing of concern.

 

[Judy]

That might be quite normal. Look at whether the keel (breastbone) is sticking out and feels bony and sharp, or whether it feels more "meaty" around it.

What did he say about what the cause might be?

 

[popularfurball]

He thought she had some long standing issue - possibly tumour - I didn't realise she was underweight as she ate as well as the other - just assumed she was smaller Build under her feathers. She had an eye that shut without apparent cause which I bathed and then took to the vet - she doesn't travel well and by time we got there she couldn't stand up. She had been merrily eating and drinking up to then just cautious as she couldn't see properly. She only ever laid one tiny egg and was 35 ISh weeks No signs of the others bein sick and they are all laying happily - he couldn't really explain it

 

[Judy]

Leghorns are a smaller build and she should be smaller than the Marans. One chart gives an average adult hen weight for Leghorns as 4.5 lbs, and for Marans as 6.5 lbs, about 2 and 3 kg respectively (just in case you'd have to convert, as I do!) I'm not familiar with Skylines and didn't find much on them. I couldn't find an average hen weight.

I guess the next question is, what do you feed them? Do they mostly eat a standard layer or flock raiser type of formula? If they eat plenty but it is not a balanced diet, that could be a problem. If you feed a lot of something like greens or fruit, for example, they could be coming up short on protein. If they mostly eat feed and forage, the diet should be fine, even if you add a few table or veggie scraps.

Having said all that, the thing is, if neither of the others seem underweight, It's not likely that how you feed them is the problem.

 

[popularfurball]

I think the maran is possibly a little underweight as she is not far off skyline in size but much lighter and can feel her breast bone - the other two are nicely covered on breast bone bit.

They always have access to layers pellets, and free range (in a limited sense) during the day 3-5 days per week on a plain old garden lawn. They get scraps (very varied and not that much as dog gets most!) and once or twice a week a cabbage or similar tied up also always access to grit and oyster shell.

 

[Judy]

Then diet shouldn't be a problem. A bit of animal source protein now and then might be a good idea, but it also might make no visible difference. I like to give mine some, just because feeds are usually vegetarian and of course chickens aren't. I worm mine once a year, some people do it more often, and worms will take weight off them -- but again, yours are a bit young to start that. Layer feeds usually run 14-16% protein which actually isn't very high. Now I am far from a nutrition expert. But I've read that protein levels are kept on the modest side for layers because they at least sometimes will lay fewer eggs on a high protein diet. But maybe for some reason yours could use a bit more. You could get a bag of game bird feed and maybe give a bit as a treat each day. Usually it is higher protein. Or you could try a bag of black oil sunflower seeds. They are only 15% protein but 28% fat which might very well put some weight on them. Mine love them -- after they stopped being afraid of them, haha! I give them a handful just because they love them so well.

Good luck!

 

[Noobchick]

How underweight was she? How did the vet determine whether she was underweight? Compared to what?

Egg layers are not as "meaty" as meat chickens are, and definitely not as heavy as most people think. I really hope your girl wasn't put down out of the vet's ignorance.

Were you able to feel her breastbone area before she was put to sleep?

An odd situation.

 

[popularfurball]

This was kind of why I was asking as I don't know (and didn't think to ask) how he knew she was underweight.

She was considerably lighter than mrs skyline and yes a prominent breast bone. There were other issues (shut eye, swollen side of face and then on arrival at vets she couldn't hold her head straight or stand very well. This was over approx 7 days - he initially jabbe her intending to send her home with anti biotics but felt it was unlikely to help her. He had only laid one tiny egg and had always been very quiet and timid and pecked her own feathers out.

I will look at getting some BOSS for the girls - I'm not too worried about them I just wasn't sure how to tell of they're the correct weight other than paying the vet to look at! I have ponies and there is a full condition scoring system with different points to look at and what to look for! Can't find the same for chickens!!!!!

I have just wormed the girls with flubenvet and flea/mite etc them as a precaution as I was introducing to new girls so did them altogether with the dog also!