What can i feed my elderly chicken

[Marie2020]

She has been moulting recently and has completely gone off her layers or crumble feed.

She started too pass wet white but this is starting too get a little more solid.

She has been foraging during the week in the grass but not today as it's both been windy and raining. When she is eating grass her poop went a little green, to be expected.

I've been trying my best to give her layer or the crumble wet and dry but as I said above but she doesn't want it at all in any forms I serve it, maybe there is too much calcium for her as she's no longer laying eggs, that was suggested by a byc friend

My question is would anyone have any ideas of what else I can feed her besides fruit and streamed vegetables.

My main goal is to firm up her and try to keep her as healthy as possible

Here is her toilet from today

 

[coach723]

Try giving her some cooked chopped, or scrambled egg. See if she will eat that. Sometimes molting birds don't eat well because they don't feel very good, molt can be hard on them. If she will eat the eggs, that's a good sign. A flock raiser, all flock, or even a grower feed is better when you have a flock of mixed ages (and sexes). That way the birds that don't need the calcium don't get it. Roosters, older birds that no longer lay, and birds out of lay for molt or the winter don't need all that calcium. It can cause kidney problems long term. Just make sure to offer oyster shell or a mix of oyster shell and crushed egg shells, in a separate feeder (or feeders depending on how many birds you have) and those that need it will take what they need. I find mixing in my saved egg shells ground up 50/50 seems to make it more palatable for them. If she will eat the egg, you can try mixing that into a dish of the new feed, either dry or mixed with water to make a mash, whichever she seems to prefer. I will often give a bird having a hard time with molt an egg a day, to supplement and get them eating. Some will eat canned tuna, or even cat food. Whatever works, it should be a higher protein, rather than a carb. It's a good idea to monitor the weight on those ones.

 

[FrostRanger]

I'd switch her to an all flock feed. Since she's no longer laying she absolutely doesn't need the extra calcium. Just provide calcium for your layers by giving free choice oyster shell. Your layers would benefit from the higher protein in all flock especially since we're heading into molting season (I have a flock of layers and feed all flock with oyster shell on the side. Eggs shells are hard and the birds are happy and healthy)

 

[Marie2020]

@coach723 & @FrostRanger

Thank you both for coming back.

I'm going to cook up a little egg for her now thanks

The calcium is a confusing one for me, she needs some for her bones but I'm also am aware it can cause more problems as they age.

Sadly I only have one old girl now and she's been really content up until this last molt

This was what she was eating up until last week

 

[coach723]

All flock, flock raiser, grower, etc. contains all the vitamins and minerals that a non-laying bird needs to be healthy. They only need additional calcium if they are making eggs. Egg shells take a lot of calcium and if they aren't getting it, it could weaken their bones. You would probably see shell quality issues first. The brand you are using probably (hopefully) also makes one that doesn't contain that much calcium. I have several brands available where I live, some organic, some not. If they are out of all flock or flock raiser, I will switch to a grower til they get the other in. I look for an 18-20% protein, all my birds do better on that, and layer is usually 16% protein. I promise, if you switch ALL your birds to one of those feeds, and provide the calcium separately, they will all be fine. I've been feeding that way for a very long time. I don't use layer at all. I don't have shell quality issues, and my birds are all fine. I have old birds, young birds, middle aged birds, hens and roosters, I often hatch here. Baby chicks can't have layer feed either, it has too much calcium and can damage their organs, if you are feeding an all flock or grower to everyone, it makes things a lot simpler. My chicks get one bag of chick starter, and then they are switched to the other that everyone gets. I've never, ever had a problem.