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Post by Sparkles on Jan 21, 2006 21:57:08 GMT 7
Hey guys - thought maybe you might have some suggestions for me. I have 2 chooks (was 3 but one died a couple months ago). They are Isa Browns - about 9 months old and have no meat on their bones at all. They have never really fattened up. They always have laying pellets available, they get fresh veges every couple days, they get food scraps from my meals and the lady next door, I buy bags of straw weekly from City Farmers for them to scratch around in, they have been wormed twice since i have had them and don't appear to have lice or anything. They look fat and healthy but under all their feathers they have no meat on their breast bones at all. Their crops always appear to be full. Their droppings are a combination of normal and runny (usually runny when they have spent the day out picking at the lawn). My chooks are strictly pets only so I am not asking about fattenting them up ready for next christmas! Does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong? I have noticed their breathing is fairly shallow - it has been for months now though and generally after warm days so I am assuming it is the weather. I just don't know! Oh and eggs - I used to get 3 a day. Now I am lucky to get 3 a week.  Any thoughts? |
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Post by Amanda on Jan 22, 2006 8:24:22 GMT 7
Well your doing everything right. If it's any consolation mine are runts too when it comes to the meat on their bones department. The runny poop is cause by either heat (they consume more water when it's hot) or fresh food. Do you know how old they are? They may be comming to retirement age. Poultry slow down their laying when the get too old. They can also slow laying when it gets too hot! I've gone from 3 eggs a day to 7 eggs a day from 4 chooks. Maybe Matt would know more reasons why.... being the poultry fan that he is  |
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Post by LittleBudgie2005 on Jan 22, 2006 8:28:49 GMT 7
My nanna's chooks were always fat (pet ofcourse) and she give the cheese everyday, aswell as many other things... Maybe you can give them sunflower seeds too? They are high in fat, I think chooks can eat them, I can see why not... Soz I not much help... |
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Post by Peter on Jan 22, 2006 14:54:24 GMT 7
if their feathers are looking very scraggy then they are probably going through a mault. when they do this they stop laying as much or all together. feel the chest bone under the chook, if it is really really pointy then they are skinny, but from the sounds of what you are doind they should be fine.
Only thing is, how and when did you last worm them?
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Post by Sparkles on Jan 22, 2006 20:53:22 GMT 7
They were 18 weeks when i got them back in May. They have been wormed twice in their water - which is a pain really cause you never know how much they get. I would love to get a wormer that can be administered by syringe because they will take it that way. Do you know of one?
I will start giving them some sunflower seed, etc.
yeh its their bones under them that I am going by the skinniness by - there appears to be NO meat on there at all. They are scruffy and losing a lot of feathers at the moment so you are probably right about the moult. However they have never beefed up even before now.
I just feel bad for them - like i should be doing more.
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Post by LittleBudgie2005 on Feb 1, 2006 9:19:21 GMT 7
It sounds like you are doing all you can B... Dont stress to much about it... |
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Post by Sparkles on Feb 3, 2006 20:42:29 GMT 7
OK now one of them is clucky! Does anyone know where in Perth I can get some fertilised eggs?
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Post by Matt on Feb 4, 2006 15:16:38 GMT 7
Sorry I missed this post somehow. I would recommend worming again to be sure as it sounds like they may have worms. Usually a well fed chook like yours should have a healthy weight, they do lose some condition when they moult but not that much that thier breast bone should feel pointy. I used to buy worm medication that was in the layer crumbles, but I think that is unavailable now so I use a water wormer. The trick is to administer it straight into their beaks 10 days apart. You must get a wormer that covers all types of worms, so it needs to have the folowing active ingredients to combat the whole spectrum of worms: Levamisole (or Oxfendazole) and Praziquantel. I recommend using Avitrol Plus syrup or Wormout gel (Vetafarm). They should provide directions on how much to administer to the beak tip. After they have been wormed 10 days apart they should be fine for about 3 months, then worm them again. I find it
I hear one is broody now, I think that if the bird is still in light condition I would remove her from the brood as it could be a large strain on her body. If you want her to set then make sure she gets off at least once a day (force her if you have to) to get a drink and some food. I dont know anywhere that sells eggs except altona hatchery I think that sell Isa Brown fertile eggs. Goodluck B!
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Post by Sparkles on Feb 4, 2006 20:38:23 GMT 7
Thanks for that Matt - yeh I have been keeping an eye on her because she seems to be always in the one same place each time I see them. She will get up for food when I feed them though so that is a bonus. I am not sure of the wormer I have but will check tomorrow and if it's not the ones you suggested or have the necessary requirements I will get one that you suggested. I was wanting to get more chooks but might hang off on the fertile eggs until I get these guys sorted out. Will let you know how it goes. |
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