chooklady Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 Does anyone weigh their chickens and are there any guidelines on how much different chickens should weigh. Our Bluebelle is 5lb 4oz, she is massive, she doesn't stop eating all day. The Gingernut is 2lb 11oz a skinny little thing, we need to build her up a bit and the other one needs to go on a diet, she is just very greedy. The others apart from the new ones who I thought would proabaly freak out if we tried to weigh them are around the 4lb mark give or take a few ounces. Would be interested to hear what others peoples choks weigh. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 I have never weighed my chickens. My kitchen scales aren't big enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted October 5, 2008 Author Share Posted October 5, 2008 That made me smile, it was quite funny getting them to stand on the scales! Then we couldn't read what it said because the chicken was shading the display and we were having to use a torch. It was my daughter's idea because Blossom is big she wanted to know how heavy she was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Yes I do, only because of past experiance with them losing too much during the moult, and being unwell etc etc. Their weight 2kg (approx 4lb 7oz) apparentley they should never lose more than 10% of their body weight. Confession - I use baby scales from work (covered in a bin bag and throughly disinfected, I should add) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Sue is huge and needs to diet! Jaffa is the smallest but lays everyday- so I presume she is happy and healthy! We would Never catch Fi after the fox incident; but the other POLS are happy to be wrapped in a towel if needs be or "mauled" by my son Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I only weighed my Dorkings as they looked huge and guess what, they were. 12lb each. They are lighter now that they have started laying regular, now around 9lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Just thought I'd mention that my ISA Warren (similar to the Gingernut Ranger) is the smallest and oldest of my girls she is 3 yo and the other girls are just babies. So she may never get as big as the other hybrids. When I bought my Bluebelle the breeder told me she was going to be the biggest of the 3 new girls so its obviously something in their genes that makes them grow more. I haven't weighed them but think I will as its a good tip about knowing what they weigh when in top condition so you know how much weight they have lost if they are unwell. All those feathers hide a lot don't they Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piptiddlepip Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 If you can't get your chooks to stand on the scales, do what I do when weighing Violet (our female cat who is on the chunky side). Stand on scales, weigh yourself. Then hold chook, stand on scales and weigh yourself again. The difference is what the chook weighs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 If you can't get your chooks to stand on the scales, do what I do when weighing Violet (our female cat who is on the chunky side). Stand on scales, weigh yourself. Then hold chook, stand on scales and weigh yourself again. The difference is what the chook weighs. This is also a great way to weigh small fidgety children- rather than in a mesh shopping bag as my dad did to my son lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Tarpey Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 no not really the thought never occured to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 As weighing myself would be too stressful , I think I'll try and weigh my cat carrier with and without a girlie inside and use the difference as their weight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I have never weighed mine. It does seem like a good idea but for me, too much hassle. I really don't want to be trying to arrange chickens on my kitchen scales on a regular basis. I tend to go for the pick them up and estimate approach Sounds a bit mad, but I think if you regularly handle them you get used to the size and weight of them. I think I would notice if one of them was getting too fat / thin. My Gingernut is the smallest, and I think my Amber Star has finally stopped growing and is now bigger than my Pepperpot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I only weighed my Dorkings as they looked huge and guess what, they were. 12lb each. They are lighter now that they have started laying regular, now around 9lbs. Wow! 12lb that is big! . Have you any photos, with anything next to them that shows how big they were? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 i need to get some scales! Just got 2 new girls, they are about the same size but one is 3 times the weight of the other. As for the 2 girls (ahem) i already have (ok so one maybe a boy we are still waiting....) they wont let me catch them except at night when i can sneak up on them lol. Would be interesting to know tho! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 I had to do it i borrowed my sisters bathroom scales, put them into a clear plastic bag and weighed myself....then i weighed the new girls. Unfortunatly the scales only do to the nearest half pound So Bunny weighs a sad 2lb and Smeegal weighs in at 4lb! but thats kind of a rough weigh in. Havent weighed the others yet lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
