How sharp should the keel bone feel?

[speckledhen]

Just know that it can take awhile for a very thin bird to gain weight back. Been there with my girls who have had reproductive infections and lost tons of weight. You always need to make sure you're paying attention to good nutrition, not just calories alone. As Cetawin says, many folks use the Calf Manna, but I dont have any experience with that.

 

[technodoll]

I'll be careful and patient

Again thanks for all your help and advice!

 

[Cornychick]

I noticed that when my girls were free ranging last summer, they did not eat much feed at all and felt thin like yours. Now they are in a run/coop most of the time and have filled out nicely. Good luck with yours. Are things still getting better your way with your coop struggles?

 

[technodoll]

I think it's going to be a long winter but as long as everyone is healthy and nicely "cushioned" against the cold, we should be fine...

However, I have two sick birds in the house, one of which I fear won't make it back to the coop as he's getting worse and I fear he will be a carrier for life and weak every time his system is a little stressed.

I never wanted to be faced with such a decision

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Thank you to the OP for posting this as I have been thinking the same about my birds. Just a quick question though. When feeding the BOSS do you feed it already shelled? I have never given it to my chickens before so just wondering.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, BOSS in the shell. Sometimes, I do buy bags of sunflower meats, too.

 

[technodoll]

My flock has recently discovered the tastiness of unsalted, shelled peanuts: half the birds will chew off my fingers to get at the little morsels of yum, the other half don't know what to make of it

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:
Thanks

I have plenty of that since I use it to feed the wild birds. I also gave the chickens a suet cake this morning, they went crazy over it.

 

[silkiechick05]

In my chickens the keel bone is very prominent also. They have all day access to food, and my barred rock gets special meals of layers with 1% milk along with other goodies (fruit) and a dash of wheat germ oil. I don't see any reason as to why hers is so pronounced because she eats well

Here is her picture

She looks healthy to me

My silkies also have this problem, but they don't like the special food that I give my girl

They (with the exception of one) are growing fine and are healthy. The silkies were born in Sept. so I haven't wormed them yet, trying to decide when. At this point I don't think they really need it.

Here's one of them:

 

[LynneP]

They probably burn off some weight when it's very cold- wild bird suet is good for that and if you have a hen insisting on molting, it gives her extra calories, soo!