Luvachicken Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I took Lucie and Chloe to the vets on Tuesday - Lucie for a beak trim, again, and Chloe for a small lump above her eye - which turned out to be a cyst. The vet weighed them and said they had both lost weight compared to what was in her notes. Today I weighed them all and they have all lost weight - ranging from 100g to 150g They all seem fine and been doing chickeny things. They were wormed in August and I've just dusted them for now in case but didn't see any lice/mites. They have all been moulting really badly so I'm hoping their weight loss is down to that. Can lice make them lose weight ? The vet said she saw one but I cannot find any. I never used to weigh them until recently so I wouldn't know if they had lost that much weight when they've moulted before. What do you think ? I meant to add that they have lost the weight gradually over time since April not suddenly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 if their molting then they will lose a bit weight also laying hens will be a bit on the light side. put them on growers or breeders ration for the rest of the year the extra protein will help and give them a bit more mixed corn at night to keep them warm internally that will help them digest the feed better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 Thanks for that sjp I will get them some at the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I'm sure it's the moult Luvachicken - it takes a lot of energy to grow all those feathers back. Mine are never weighed but by eye (and it is difficult to say because they've lost so many feathers) they certainly look much scrawnier just after a moult. Mine are all on growers at the moment too. And ditto SJP - let them have a bit of extra corn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I never weigh mine. I just check them visually. We've had it quite hard over the past few months. Red mite, scaly leg, bad worms, broodiness, moulting. Did your vet recommend any kind of tonic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I think the moult really takes it out of them, I have a Pekin who looks really scrawny at the moment but has loads of new feathers growing. If you are worried about worms might be an idea to get a worm count done, it's only around £7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 Chickabee, my vet didn't say anything about tonic but I have had them on the poultry tonic since they started moulting. Thanks mollyripkim too. I suppose I've only ever noticed them looking scruffy before when they are moulting. It's only because I've weighed them that I've spotted what's happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 I've just been out to top up their food in their original Omlet grubs. I accidentally dropped some on the floor which made them very excited so I filled up their bowl with pellets that they had their fruit pops in during the summer. They think this is fab so I went to find them another bowl and filled that up too. They are all busy tucking into the pellets now. I don't get chickens sometimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 I don't get them either, mine did the same when I was transferring pellets to a storage container and spilled some, they went mad for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 they are funny. Mine were all chasing my white star the other day, I couldn't work out why. She suddenly turned round and started chasing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 they are funny. Mine were all chasing my white star the other day, I couldn't work out why. She suddenly turned round and started chasing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Ours lose a lot of weight when they moult Luvachicken. They seem to lose their appetite for a while, at completely the wrong time. We give them treats of Sunflower Hearts in that period to help them along. Part of the reason seems to be them eating and filling up on their own preened feather sheaths rather than pellets. This results in very watery poos for a while. Still, we haven't lost any this year and those that were underweight are now putting it back on in time for Winter. It's the late moulters that will be a problem, so they may need to come in at night as they won't have sufficient food in them to sustain their body heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 Thanks Beantree I did think it was the moulting that caused the problem. I will get them some sunflower hearts too. Can they be just normal sunflower hearts that you get for garden birds and how much should they have ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 My vet recommended feeding wet cat food to chickens in poor condition. I share a little sachet of catfood between my cat, the neighbours cat and the chickens. They all love it as a treat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Mine always get normal bird food sunflower hearts when I'm feeding the birds in winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Mine always get normal bird food sunflower hearts when I'm feeding the birds in winter I managed to get a bag from Pets At Home. It was meant to be 600g for £1.50 but the bag I picked up was quite fat. So I weighed it when I got home and it actually weighs 850g The girls have been so funny though. Each time I have given them some Gemma and Polly start chattering excitedly and then the others come running Such a sweet little noise they make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 I love it when they do that. Sometimes I swear Shelley does it and then goes 'Oh no! I didn't mean t say that it just came out - now they're all coming!' Bargain though - I usually get mine from Home Bargains Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 Bargain though - I usually get mine from Home Bargains Think there might be a Home Bargains somewhere near me. If not I'll get them by the scoop at the farm we go to for our chicken food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 18, 2016 Share Posted October 18, 2016 That's such a good idea, I'm going to get some sunflower hearts for my elderly little pekin. She has been fine all summer but has reverted to looking not so happy now it's got colder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 18, 2016 Author Share Posted October 18, 2016 That's such a good idea, I'm going to get some sunflower hearts for my elderly little pekin. She has been fine all summer but has reverted to looking not so happy now it's got colder. Is she the one that you were worried about last year ? How old is she now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
