Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[nikkichick]

We picked up our girls last weekend so it may be me being an overprotective, worrying new mum but.....

 

Our rhode island red feels very very skinny when i pick her up. Her breast bone is very easy to feel under her feathers.

 

Having said that she has access to food all day (they all share very well) if anything she eats the most!

They get corn on the ground and other tit bits (potatoes, broccoli the occasional marmite on toast) in the afternoons.

Her crop goes big after eating and small in the morning so i don't think it's impacted.

 

At the moment she's the only one of the girls laying and we've had 1 egg a day since the day we brought her home. so there's been no drop in egg quality (no soft shells) or production.

 

She has lots of water during the day.

 

I began a verm x 3 day worm this morning.

 

Is there anything i can do or feed her or am i worrying for no reason??

 

Appreciate any ideas or comments! Thanks.

[chicken bark]

I'd keep an eye on her just like you are doing. Maybe she didn't get access to food as easily where she lived before and so it is taking time for her to build herself up.

 

My hens are all different weights and sizes, some I can feel the breast bone easier than others. I have just put it down to individual differences.

 

You could always try weighing her and then again in a few days time and see if she is losing weight.

[mollyripkim]

Hi, I know I worried initially that my girls are too thin too, I can feel their breastbone as well. I think that girls that are laying tend to be thinner and an overweight chicken may stop laying. I only started last year so hopefully someone with more experience will be along soon.

[Chucky Mama]

Laying hens to tend to be a little skinny. 'Real' are nothing like the plump breasted creatures that you buy in the supermarket I would expect her to be the thinnest if she is the only one laying. My best layer is like a whippet Make sure that she is getting plenty of pellets or mash to give her the correct nutrients to lay and keep condition - not too many treats or corn. You could worm them with Flubenvet which will ensure her good health

[keyhole kate]

It seems to me that you are doing everything right My RIR'S are much scrawnier than my my other girls I think thats just they way they are given they are bred for max egg production and not the table my OH calls them the scrag bags

[coco]

I can feel the breastbone on all my girls, especially the ex batts, all the hens are happy and healthy though.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I had a hen last year who was much skinnier than my ex batts, I acquired her from a neighbour and was quite surprised how light and skinny she felt with a breastbone like a razor! But after watching her eat like a horse while she was with us, I came to the conclusion that's just how she was! My ex batts seem surprisingly plump by comparison.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have 3 girls that feel very light and skinny too. I also have a big heifer of a girl who hasn't laid for months and months .

[lillybettybabs]

Betty has been laying most days during the winter and felt rather thin compare to the others.

I've just been given them a warm mash of their food with a handful of oats and some spices, She plumped

up a little now.

[nikkichick]

Thanks guys and gals! Advice greatly recieved!

 

Feel a little less worried now. I've wormed them all and she's still laying each day (barr on soft egg).

 

Maybe she;s just a skinny lady!

 

Been putting food up in the food ball (potatoes and broccoli) to make them all work for thier treats. They're all looking happy and all feeding well and drinking well.

 

Just waiting for the other 2 to start laying!

[Sageandonion]

Our rhode island from Golden Valley is the skinniest of our 3 but she's happy and healthy and has just started laying some good sized eggs