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

[rouster78]

Hi All,

 

I am seriously questioning my ability to keep chickens.

 

In the last week I have had a very poorly lady but after four trips to the vets for injections and some TLC she seems to have made a full recovery

The vet mentioned that she seemed very thin so I'm trying to bulk her out abit although I think I may have made a rod for my own back, I have been soaking some of there layers pellets in warm water in the mornings and adding some oats and a handful of meal worms. They have been wolfing it down but are now not at all interested in there normal pellets. I haven't got the time every morning to do this, also after the vet mentioned about her being thin I looked at the others and I think they seem thin also. I can feel there breast bone although I have read this this is normal with hybrids but I am unsure. I have treated them with Verm X

I have been making up a selection of fruit, salad, corn, cake etc for the evening which they love but it's costing me a fortune. Can anyone suggest any ideas on a feed they will love but not make me bankrupt?

 

I'm seriously considering giving up and rehoming

 

Jo xxx

[Christian]

Hybrids do tend to be on the thin side as all their energy goes into producing eggs.

 

Mine have access to pellets all day and if I am around, I mix pellets with boiling water and frozen sweetcorn, let it cool and feed them that in the late afternoon. A handful of mixed corn is also thrown in the run a couple of hours before bedtime.

 

They will eat their pellets if they are hungry! I would stop all treats for a while and just feed them pellets. The pellets contain everything they need to lay well and stay healthy. You can add treats as and when, but stick to pellets for now. Mixed corn is inexpensive. I pay £8 for a 20kg sack which lasts for months.

 

Good luck and don't give up!

[Olly]

Don't lose heart - chickens do get sick, and that wasn't your fault, she probably lost weight due to her illness. Hybrid laying hens are normally fairly skinny - being able to feel the keel bone (breastbone) is normal. They aren't meant to carry lots of weight like meat birds, and if they're too fat they won't lay.

 

I agree with Christian - go back to a strict diet of just pellets for a couple of weeks to get them back in order. There is NO known case of anorexia in a chicken - if they're hungry they will eat! If your ill bird is still underweight, then I'd take her out and feed something extra, but she may just naturally be smaller and lighter than the others.

 

Don't give up hope, you sound as if you're doing a good job, we've all been through this at times. Your hens will be fine.

[Guest]

we all have ups and downs its not making the same missakes twice you seem to love them and want the best for them so keep your chin and and carry on

[The Dogmother]

I agree, you ought to be able to feel the breast bone on all but the fattest broiler birds, some chickens carry more weight than others - my RIR bantam is built like a racing snake but lays the loveliest eggs and is as healthy as anything. The only time you ought to worry is if a previously solid hen feels less weighty or looks off colour, and then only if she's under 2 years old as older hens tend to go a bit light anyway.

 

I'd worm them with Flubenvet, which is a licensed wormer, then (as Christian said above) give them only pellets, with a few greens and some corn in the evening.

[Dolly]

Don't give up, it sounds like you're doing a great job and obviously care for them. As for the ups and downs of chicken keeping, I think we've had every single thing going over the last couple of years but you get through it and as someone said earlier, you just learn from it - we wouldn't be without them now.

 

Our 2 new hybrid girls are like whippets, you can clearly feel their breastbones but they have access to all the food they could want and free range almost daily so also eat whatever they find on their travels.

We make sure all our girls are wormed every 3-4 months with Flubenvet, as a preventative.

 

Treats don't have to cost much, ours get things like mixed corn which is only a few quid for a big bag, fruit and veg that we didn't get round to eating (but never give them mouldy or food that's gone off), the odd piece of brocolli or cabbage hung up in the run for them to peck at and keep them entertained, canned sweetcorn (in water, not sweetened stuff) etc. Just remember treats are just that, they shouldn't make up a large part of their diet.

 

Good luck!

[Mercedes55]

Only one of our ex batts has any meat on her and she is the only one that has never laid since we got her nearly a year ago. The two others are very bony and the one we lost a little while ago was very bony too. We were also told by the vet that our girls were 'underweight' but like most people we give them access to good food every day, including treats, yet this is how they are so I don't worry about it anymore.

[The Dogmother]

Do bear in mind that not all vets are chicken savvy and know how a healthy chicken should feel. As a general rule, bluebelles, speckledys and white sussex usually carry a tad more weight, while white stars and RIR can be very skinny.

[Tweety]

I echo what the others have said. I can feel the breastbone on almost all of my girls, and they seem fit and well and can eat for Britain!

I think my vet has commented upon the weight of all the girls I have taken to him, at the same time as saying what glossy feathers they have and how well they look! I have stopped worrying about it now.

[jennym]

Only had mine a month but I did have a moment of panic when I managed to pick one up the first time - thought she was far too skinny! But I think they just don't have much meat on them - particularly if you're comparing them to table birds in the breast area.

 

Mine get only layers pellets (with some DE mixed in for worm prevention). I use an occasional handful of mealworms or sweetcorn if I'm trying to tempt them over to me or into the run. Two or three times a week I mix up a bit of bokashi bran with natural yogurt - I started that when one had very watery poos for a few days. Don't know if it made the difference of course, but she's fine now and they love it so I'll continue.

 

I've ordered some Flubenvet (ordered when I thought Lucy was too skinny & might have had worms ) as I've read about others (including vermex) and I'm not sure they are as effective. I'm sure other people will have different thoughts! I'll dose them with Flubenvet every 6 months or so, more often if I see evidence of worms.

 

Good luck with your ladies, I hope you don't give up!

[KimmyCustard]

Your responses have me feel better too! The amount of time I spend worrying about the girls - madness! They are all laying and seem to be fine, the feather pecking seems to be OK but I'll keep and eye on that. We are away this weekend and its the first time we've left them, the list of instructions for my poor neighbour is like War and Peace - poor man

 

Thanks ladies.

[Henergy]

I agree with everyone else. I would wonder if the vet has had much experience of chickens - perhaps he just assumed they would be bigger.

 

Mine are quite skinny too - and as someone said each breed is different. I saw some chickens the other day that made mine look like midgets !

 

In fact I went on a chicken course the other day with my children and was very surprised as how little a 'portion' of pellets actaully is. She also said that overfeeding can cause a chicken to stop laying.

 

So, deep breath, relax and emjoy. We all have off days - mine bit the mole on my back at the weekend & I didn't talk to her for a couple of days !!! We've made up now

 

On the treat side, I only do pm treats, giving a chance to eat their pellets in the morning. And even then, its a small handfull of corn, or some greens, or cooked veg leftovers.

 

Good luck

[The Dogmother]

So long as you worm then regularly (every quarter) with Flubenvet, make sure that 95% of their diet consists of layers feed, and none of them are being bullied away from the food, then they ought to be OK.