lindi Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Hi I haven't been on the forum for a while but am very worried about our chickens and have found your suport and knowledge invaluable in the past. We have real problems with pecking and all have bumper bits on. When one drops off it hasn't seemd to have cured the problem as pecking is almost immediate. We have 5 out of 6 with pecked backs but the culprit has ben varied depending on who's bumper bit has fallen off. All currently have one on. The bare backs don't seem to be growing any new feathers. A few weeks back we took 2 to the vet because we were worried about bare backs and bald chests. The vet said they were on the thin side and that was why their chests were rubbing - not enough meat on them. She advised worming (which we have done with Vermex), feeding them a mixture of corn and layer pellets rather than using corn as a treat (we now feed half and half) and giving them a tonic (they were already on Battle's Poultry drink and now have pultry spice as well 3 times a week) and change the grit (they now have oyster shell grit). Added to that she said feed them up on carbohydrate so they get bread 3 - 4 times a week as well plus spaghetti as a treat - which they adore. They are happy in themselves - constantly stalking me in the garden. They don't get as much free range time now as it is dark in the evenings. They get time out at the weekends and once during the week. Their laying has dropped off a little but not much - we usually get between 2 and 5 eggs a day from the 6 of them. I don't know how they feed in the run but if I put treats on the garden they all eat. We have bought another grub box so if there are issues with the pecking order they can all get to the food. I feel we have done everything we were advised but they still looking bare and skinny and it is very upsetting. Has anyone got any other ideas? Sorry for such a long post but at my wits end! Lindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I would recommend that you give them a course of Flubenvet. Verm-X is pretty useless I have found and so have others. Corn isn't nutritious and doesn't have enough protein in it so I would suggest that you put them on layers pellets for a couple of weeks, and use the corn only as a treat, in small amounts. all it will do is fill them up with non nutritious food. A good quality brand of layers pellets should make quite a difference. Not sure why your vet recommended corn and layers pellets - half and half, that makes no sense to me at all, as it is completely inadequate nutritionally speaking. Feathers require a lot of protein, so I'd give them extra, not less. Good sources are tuna, rinsed (dolphin friendly) scrambled egg, chick crumbs or organic cat food (not poultry based). Try the above suggestions and I bet you'll see an improvement. Also, there is a theory that feather pecking is caused by inadequate amounts of protein in the diet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindi Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 Thanks for this. Do you have to not use the eggs if chickens are given Flubenvet? What you siad makes sense as I think they have got worse since we took them to the vets not better!! Lindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindi Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 Sorry forgot to ask on last post - what do you consider good layer pellets? We use the Oraganic Feed Company ones. Thanks, Lindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 **Marriages** or **Page and Allen** are good quality pellets and organic if you prefer to go down that route. I can't always get them so my girls sometimes have Golden Yolk layers pellets....and they seem to prefer them. Eggs don't have to be withdrawn with a normal dose of Flubenvet. Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindi Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 Thanks for the advice. Our layer pellets have 16% protein which is the same as Page and Allen and 1% less than Marriages. They seem pretty similar in composition with 1% extra fibre than the 2 you suggest but will try and get some of the others. They may have to have a bit of a mixture later on as we have a couple of sacks of the Organic Feed Company ones. Will also try some of the extra protein ideas as well. Will let you know how we get on. Thanks again, Lindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 the 2 most significant things for me were A) woming B)Access always to chick crumb I feed mash with mixed corn as a treat at night. & all the protein suggesstions were being used BEFORE A & B My 2 underweights are now gaining albeit slowley. Someone said cod liver oil stops them pecking feathers out, didn't work for me but the new feathers are stunningly glossy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 thought I read that too much bread might give them inpacted crop no idea how correct this might be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindi Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 Thanks for the info. Have stopped bread and your post has given me a reason not to continue. Have ordered Flubnevet so should get the worming sorted soon. How much cod liver oil did you give them? When you talk about chick crumbs I assume it doesn't matter that they are designed for chicks? Do you give them in a separate feeder? Gave them some tuna this afternoon - they did enjoy it Thanks Lindi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I just give them about the equivalent of a couple of teaspoonfuls a week, stirred into their pellets. They will hoover up the chick crumbs....no need to keep them separate, mix them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Hello Lindi, I don't know how well balanced our chicks diets are but they are round,glossy healthy birds. This is what we give them - am (as soon as they get up) layers mash made with hot water, marmite, garlic powder, poultry spice & limestone flour. afternoon (after 3ish) some kind of cereal (weetabax, shredded wheat or whatever is around ) made with hot water & yoghurt, sultanas etc. occasionally they get leftover rice, pasta & cooked potatoes. They free range for much of the day. Hope this helps. Allisonx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 well Sparkeysmum, helped me I do about the same, trying to fatten up & feather up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKH Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 i also had one skinny bald girl i tried tuna, bread soaked cod liver oil, grated cheese, cat food and sweetcorn now and again, she is still quite skinny but at least6 is now growing some faethers, even those they are the underneath ones not the brown top feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 thanks you start to think somethings wrong don't you until you hear others doing the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindi Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks very much for all the advice. A couple of people have mentioned layers mash. We have layers pellets - what is the difference? Is one better than the other? I don't think we can do the 2 feeds a day as we are both out at work - which is an issue at the moment as they aren't getting the free range time they had before due to dark nights but we will just have to do the best we can. I have heard of people feeding yoghurt to their hens and thought I'd try it but have never heard of marmite! Worth a try though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Mash and pellets are essentially the same thing presented in a different form. Mash is like dried flakes and can be served as it comes or with water added. They love it but it makes a heck of a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
