Help With Chicken Weight

RealFolkBlue · 08-18-2008, 09:28 PM

At my barn there is a flock of chickens. They are free range eaters. Most of them feel skinny. I can really feel the breast bone, when I hold them. They just feel too light for being large chickens.

I don't know too much about chickens. So, what is a good way to help them gain weight? There are 4 roosters, and 6 egg laying hens.

llarryllama373 · 08-18-2008, 09:31 PM

You know, Ive never even THOUGHT about chickens being under weight or over weight...

Maybe just increasing their feed or getting better quality feeds... But I am really no help, I know nothing about chickens. Good luck!

Sunlei · 08-18-2008, 11:55 PM

The chickens I have are Rhode island reds. They have free feed of all the layena pellets food they want and are free range too. They lay large brown eggs. They have pretty feathers all glossie and seem bright eyed and healthy. They are skinny birds under all those feathers.

My sister has a mixed flock with some breeds that are for meat. Some of her chickens get so meaty they have troubles walking by a year of age. She's had some that stop walking at 6 months because they get so fat. I think the egg layers just run a lighter weight.

hawk · 08-19-2008, 12:07 AM

give them a couple of full cups of dry corn???

what do I know? I dont own chickens.

Ferronsgranny · 08-19-2008, 02:33 PM

I was told to check their gullets at the end of the day after free ranging. If they are full they are getting enough to eat. Just remeber chickens have to be wormed at least once a year. I put a teaspoon of cheyene(sp) pepper for each 2 chickens in their feed. That way you can continue to eat the eggs. If you give them a commercial worner, you can't eat the eggs they lay for 6 weeks. What a waste of eggs.
Here is a good site:
http://members3.boardhost.com/shilal...1140567112.top

Shepdog · 08-19-2008, 03:17 PM

Oh, hey, I do kind of have an answer to this one, because I was in the same boat recently and had to ask someone else!

First of all, worm them if you haven't. If that's not the issue (and it wasn't with mine) I now give my flock four cups of Black Oil Sunflower seeds a day, and boy, did they pack the pounds on and look much better.

All that running and pecking and egg laying seems to take the weight off fast... the sunflower seeds add rich calories.

RealFolkBlue · 08-23-2008, 11:42 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I will give them a shot and see what happens.

crittermom · 09-03-2008, 09:43 PM

FG---you always have such interesting links. Thanks.

I will try the sunflower seeds with mine too.

Keep in mind, that most chickens only weigh about 6 lbs. and that is not very heavy.

Sunlei · 09-04-2008, 04:49 PM

Much thanks from me aswell for the tips and link. I got some black oil sunflower seeds for my skinny layers and they love them! It's so funny the way chickens come a running when they see me walking up with a surprise!

I have never had chickens before in my life. Hens are very nice animals to own, enjoyable and fun to watch. The eggs are tasty so fresh...I hope I never have to buy store eggs again.

I love to crack a egg and smell the inside of the empty shell. that smell of freshness, lthe light smell like a faint citrus-meadow-sunshine smell. No bug smell thank goodness, cause they sure hunt a lot of bugs.

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08-18-2008, 09:28 PM
RealFolkBlue Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bowling Green, OH Posts: 746	Help With Chicken Weight At my barn there is a flock of chickens. They are free range eaters. Most of them feel skinny. I can really feel the breast bone, when I hold them. They just feel too light for being large chickens. I don't know too much about chickens. So, what is a good way to help them gain weight? There are 4 roosters, and 6 egg laying hens. __________________ Owned by Diego and Moontahr Last edited by RealFolkBlue : 08-18-2008 at 09:31 PM. Reason: Fix Title

08-18-2008, 09:31 PM
llarryllama373 Halter broke Join Date: May 2007 Location: California, USA Posts: 88	You know, Ive never even THOUGHT about chickens being under weight or over weight... Maybe just increasing their feed or getting better quality feeds... But I am really no help, I know nothing about chickens. Good luck!

08-18-2008, 11:55 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	The chickens I have are Rhode island reds. They have free feed of all the layena pellets food they want and are free range too. They lay large brown eggs. They have pretty feathers all glossie and seem bright eyed and healthy. They are skinny birds under all those feathers. My sister has a mixed flock with some breeds that are for meat. Some of her chickens get so meaty they have troubles walking by a year of age. She's had some that stop walking at 6 months because they get so fat. I think the egg layers just run a lighter weight.

08-19-2008, 12:07 AM
hawk Halter broke Join Date: May 2008 Location: brampton Posts: 177	give them a couple of full cups of dry corn??? what do I know? I dont own chickens.

08-19-2008, 02:33 PM
Ferronsgranny Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Big Creek, MS Posts: 2,050	I was told to check their gullets at the end of the day after free ranging. If they are full they are getting enough to eat. Just remeber chickens have to be wormed at least once a year. I put a teaspoon of cheyene(sp) pepper for each 2 chickens in their feed. That way you can continue to eat the eggs. If you give them a commercial worner, you can't eat the eggs they lay for 6 weeks. What a waste of eggs. Here is a good site: http://members3.boardhost.com/shilal...1140567112.top __________________ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

08-19-2008, 03:17 PM
Shepdog Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In the doghouse... no, literally. Posts: 646	Oh, hey, I do kind of have an answer to this one, because I was in the same boat recently and had to ask someone else! First of all, worm them if you haven't. If that's not the issue (and it wasn't with mine) I now give my flock four cups of Black Oil Sunflower seeds a day, and boy, did they pack the pounds on and look much better. All that running and pecking and egg laying seems to take the weight off fast... the sunflower seeds add rich calories. __________________ No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.

08-23-2008, 11:42 AM
RealFolkBlue Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bowling Green, OH Posts: 746	Thanks for all the suggestions. I will give them a shot and see what happens. __________________ Owned by Diego and Moontahr

09-03-2008, 09:43 PM
crittermom Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,528	FG---you always have such interesting links. Thanks. I will try the sunflower seeds with mine too. Keep in mind, that most chickens only weigh about 6 lbs. and that is not very heavy. __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

09-04-2008, 04:49 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	Much thanks from me aswell for the tips and link. I got some black oil sunflower seeds for my skinny layers and they love them! It's so funny the way chickens come a running when they see me walking up with a surprise! I have never had chickens before in my life. Hens are very nice animals to own, enjoyable and fun to watch. The eggs are tasty so fresh...I hope I never have to buy store eggs again. I love to crack a egg and smell the inside of the empty shell. that smell of freshness, lthe light smell like a faint citrus-meadow-sunshine smell. No bug smell thank goodness, cause they sure hunt a lot of bugs.