Welp... I guess my son's flock is done for....

[DDnKyraJean]

What food are you feeding them including extras? What supplements? An adult bird should have no problem surviving dry fowl pox if being fed proper nutrition.

My son is using whatever Tractor Supply had with 15% protein and cracked corn. I am giving them broccoli and parsley. BaoBao is still alive...she doesn't want to eat but I have been wetting the layer food and feeding her and giving her water. She's not a sickly as Nacho was...the first bird to get pox. I am also putting garlic in their water. All the birds are now in the house. He has 2 adult birds and 4 youngsters. We are just learning about chickens. I am looking into the supplements.

 

[FrostRanger]

I would cut out the corn entirely and switch to an all flock with 20% protein. 15% is really low protein for a chicken feed and the corn is further reducing the amount of protein they're getting (corn only has 9% protein). It is admittedly unrelated to your birds having fowl pox, but too little protein causes a whole bunch of issues on its own and the extra carbohydrates in the corn is fattening and being overweight can also cause various health issues. Roosters also should not be on layer feed at all as the extra calcium is bad for them. Instead, provide oyster shell in a separate dish for any laying hens

 

[Eggcessive]

Chicks should not get layer feed due to their immature kidneys and not laying, and cracked corn is not a balanced diet. I also would feed either all flock feed or chick starter/grower. Put out some crushed oyster shell for the layers to get as they need it.

 

[Kiki]

I agree that the current feed set up is not good and it is more likely to kill a chick than fowl pox.

 

[DDnKyraJean]

I would cut out the corn entirely and switch to an all flock with 20% protein. 15% is really low protein for a chicken feed and the corn is further reducing the amount of protein they're getting (corn only has 9% protein). It is admittedly unrelated to your birds having fowl pox, but too little protein causes a whole bunch of issues on its own and the extra carbohydrates in the corn is fattening and being overweight can also cause various health issues. Roosters also should not be on layer feed at all as the extra calcium is bad for them. Instead, provide oyster shell in a separate dish for any laying hens

My son is hoping no roosters. Lol I understand the diet changes. Is there anything he can add for higher protein with the food he has?? He has a big bag.

 

[FrostRanger]

You can give them canned sardines in water, but after they finish that bag I'd switch to something else.
The actual brand doesn't matter much as long as the nutrition is there. I'd still do an all flock 'cause even if the chicks are all female, the extra calcium is still bad for them if they aren't laying yet

 

[DDnKyraJean]

You can give them canned sardines in water, but after they finish that bag I'd switch to something else.
The actual brand doesn't matter much as long as the nutrition is there. I'd still do an all flock 'cause even if the chicks are all female, the extra calcium is still bad for them if they aren't laying yet

Got it. I will get them sardines tomorrow. Will give me and the grand baby so.ething to do!!!! Can the "babies" have sardines too?

 

[FrostRanger]

Got it. I will get them sardines tomorrow. Will give me and the grand baby so.ething to do!!!! Can the "babies" have sardines too?

Yes, although for them I would actually buy a bag of chick feed if they aren't on it already as chicks really really should not be on layer feed at all. If you do give them some (don't give them much as they really need to be mostly eating their chick feed, moreso than the adults as they're still growing) make sure to provide chick grit or else they will get sick. Yhis goes for any food besides chick feed. if they eat anything besides chick feed they MUST have chick grit and it must specifically be chick grit, regular grit is too big for young chicks. Again, switch the chicks to chick feed immediately. Layer feed has way too much calcium and not enough other stuff for growing chicks. It's not just the protein that's the issue here

 

[DDnKyraJean]

Yes, although for them I would actually buy a bag of chick feed if they aren't on it already as chicks really really should not be on layer feed at all. If you do give them some (don't give them much as they really need to be mostly eating their chick feed, moreso than the adults as they're still growing) make sure to provide chick grit or else they will get sick. Yhis goes for any food besides chick feed. if they eat anything besides chick feed they MUST have chick grit and it must specifically be chick grit, regular grit is too big for young chicks. Again, switch the chicks to chick feed immediately. Layer feed has way too much calcium and not enough other stuff for growing chicks. It's not just the protein that's the issue here

The chick's are on chick feed. They do need grit tho. Is 20% protein too high for the adults??

 

[RoyalChick]

The chick's are on chick feed. They do need grit tho. Is 20% protein too high for the adults??

20% protein is fine for the adults. I feed mine that all the time.