Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[redcharlie43]

I need some advice on Fatty one of my ex-batts. Ironically when I first got her she seemed much bigger than the other two who were almost oven ready when they arrived hence her name. But we have since lost one who never really recovered from her previous life and I have noticed that under her feathers Fatty is really rather skinny too. She has just had a mini moult but her tummy is still bald even though her neck has now feathered up. We have had her a year now.

She seems very happy. Is always eating and drinking. She's the first out in the morning and last back into the cube at night. She runs around all the time and is not bottom of the pecking order so not really being bullied (Except by Bully the top of the flock!). She has been wormed and there are no signs of mites and lice. I am feeding her on a mash as they all went off the ex-batts feed, with poultry spice and poultry vinegar in the water. She gets some corn sometimes in the afternoon with grit and her dropping look normal. She always layed thin shelled eggs and stopped laying about 5 months ago. There is no signs that she is ill other than she is thin. her comb is not very red but it is not pale pink as it was when she arrived and is not floppy. The chickens stay in the cage when I am at work but at other times get to FR.

Does anyone have any ideas what I can do to fatten her up? I only noticed she is thin as Bully my other ex-batt who was oven ready when she arrived now has a splendid set of feather and is now huge.

[Snowy]

If you pick up Bully and feel under her feathers, you may well find that she is still skin and bone, they just look much fatter when fully feathered. Ginger layers really never put any weight on, they were bred to eat little, stay thin and churn out eggs. If Fatty is happy and alert, and feels a similar weight to Bully, I wouldn't worry.

[redcharlie43]

Thanks for the advice. The thing is Bully is really much fatter. I have had a look and it's not just that she has feathered up. I would says she is twice as heavy as Fatty now. Fattys breast bone is jutting right out. Can you get skinny chickens like skinny people.

[Snowy]

Maybe Bully is also Greedy?

Yes, they are definitely all different! Most of the gingers I have had have been very skinny, and yes the breast bone does protrude, not at all like the chicken breasts you see on a roast. If you are worried, check her crop in the evening - it should be nice and full, which will tell you that she is eating. Check again in th emorning, it should be empty - if still full, she could have a blockage that would stop her digesting the food and putting on weight. You say that she eats normally through the day, and runs around a lot. More active hens will definitely be thinner than one who is not as active (or manic!)

Going through a moult can take it out of them a bit, so she may benefit from some higher protein treats until she has refeathered.

[redcharlie43]

Thanks Snowy. You have put my mind at rest a bit. Her crop if definately full in the evening as I gave her a cuddle yesterday and checked. It was soft and not hard so I don't think she has problems digesting her food. She is definately very active and escaped twice yesterday Unfortunately she is my favorite and likes to follow me around and have cuddles so am probably worrying too much. Bully however is very Greedy and definately a bully so aptly named! I have noticed now I think about it that Bully and Bluebell who are both quite fat are not as active as my the othertwo who are both very active and excellent escape artists

[Snowy]

A bit like kids - they all have their own personalities!

[NouveauChick]

We have a skinny chicken too- not that you can see by looking at her, just when I pick her up I can feel the breast bone quite prominently. She is a light sussex-cross-rhode island red, I have been worried about her, as all the others feel much plumper.... I thought it may be because she was the first to start laying, and as yet only 1 other is laying?

They all eat loads! Haven't felt her crop though- how would I do this?

[Snowy]

If you look at her, head on, at the end of the day, you should be able to see that the left side of her chest is much fuller and plumper. That is the crop bulging with food. It is broken down overnight so she should appear more flat chested again in the morning.

[Lewis]

What did you worm them with?

 

You can try to give them a bit of protein to build them up - either rinsed tuna, or Mealworms are 60% protein.

Maybe have a couple of feeders dotted around so a bully can't stop her eating, but they do tend to be skinny, she should be fine!