Solitary chicken - need advice

[Lizzie]

Hi

I am sure there has been a post on thsi subject before, but just wanted to clarify

Obviously ex batts are very thin and am trying to feed them up.

I have been giving them a treat after 12 noon (weetabix, spaghetti or rice) and then another smaller treat later in the day.

 

The little ones have not layed for a couple of days, (though they all did today) and little Lucy seemed a bit mopey.

Wilma laid a normal egg followed pretty much straight away by a soft egg the other day (seperate post).

Their poo also on occasions, was not quite right.

 

I came to the conclusion through reading the forum that they have too many treats and not eating enough of what they should be. I have cut down their treats from Saturday (11th) to just a small treat at the end of the day (sweetcorn, millworms).

Is this enough to bring them back to relatively good health and will they put on weight by just eating mash / pellets / pellett porridge or is there something else I can safely give them which doesn't upset their egg laying. I do give them various supplements to try and help them.

 

Should I worm them also as I have read that worms can decrease their egg laying.

We have had them for 6 weeks.

 

Any advice gratefully received as always

 

Regards

Liz

[Guest]

they're not used to any other food than layers mash so treats should be given sparingly at first and only in the afternoon/evening.

 

To bring them back to health try putting some 'life-guard' poultry tonic in their water and some 'poultry spice' in their food.

 

I know it's tempting to spoil them after where they've come from but

 

I'd leave the worming until about 3 months, it's unlikely they'll have been anywhere to pick up worms.

[Lizzie]

will do, have both

Many thanks

 

Regards

Liz

[Cazjohn]

Hi Liz,

 

I've just bought some of the new Ex-batts Mash, they absolutely love it!

 

Caroline

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have mixed feelings about the ex batts food, but my girls NEVER touch pellets but my new 4 came with a bit in a sack. My existing 2 actually eat them so there must be something there to make them taste good!

Meal worms never seemed to upset my girls tums, so I reckon they should be OK, you could give them some mixed corn in the afternoon. wouldn't have thought that would up set them either

[Chicken Licken]

I have a very thin girl at the moment and got a bag of the ex bat crumb to try and get some more calories into her. On its own she is not interested in it, but if I make a very small amount of porrige and then mix in half a cup of the crumbs, a spoonful of natural yoghurt and then a little bit of poultry spice and she then tucks into it. I am trying to give this to her when Primrose is laying so she tucks into it on her own without any help!!

 

She also has access to crumb, pellets and layers mash - just in case she fancies them at all - she seems to tuck into the layers mash most of all.

[Lizzie]

I have bought the ex batts crumb but they don't seem that interested.

I am going to stock up again on layers mash and pelllets, but will try the crumb porridge mix as suggested below. - sounds rather nice !

 

I took Flo to the vets last night as I didn't like the sound of her breathing (no signs of her being unwell or nasal discharge etc) - she has a chest infection which may have spread to her lungs, poor little thing, so antibiotic tablets to give her for 10 days. She seems very happy in herself though and the vet does not see why she should not make a full recovery.

 

Many thanks to all as always for your advice

 

Regards

Liz