AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

I can't seem to get feeding right, or else perhaps my chickens just are not good specimens.
I feed layer pellets in a hopper that they can help themselves. I fill it up more often than I think I should for two girls (because The pigeons help themselves too) but it is always available. They get "red hen" scratch grain/seed mix most days. They get shell grit, plus I also bake egg shells and crush and give them. They get (maybe once a week) a can of cat food or tuna. I also feed left overs veg and fruit scraps. Plus a meat meal protein powder from the fodder store.
I have problems with underweight chooks. I had four girls that were happy and healthy and good body condition given to me at approximately 1 year of age. They were fed layer pellets only by the previous owner, and we're confined to about 20 square metres. They laid well.
They settled in well. They loved their new found freedom roaming in approx 400 square metres, and I started giving them the "red hen" scratch mix, fruit and veg scraps and the above mentioned things. They laid well even throughout winter!! I was getting 5 eggs a day most days from the 4 hens for a long while!!
We then moved. They are now in approx 100 sq mtrs. Since moving have had all sorts of behavioural issues and two have died (both were quite skinny.) One of the remaining two is in good body condition (she is the head chook and a b*tch) and the other one is underweight and pecked at a lot. She has a big patch of feathers missing from her back and rump and it is very red where she is pecked at. They are both now approx 4yrs old and rarely lay - have not had much luck with eggs since moving.

I read somewhere on line someone wrote they feed their hens rabbit pellets and grains. Rabbit pellets are mostly Lucerne I think. Greens are good for chickens, right? They love my Bunny's mix. Should I try that instead of layer pellets?

I read on another post about winter mashes which I did last winter, so I will get some maize and crush and make a porridge.
I will try oats too as they are warming.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I feel like such a bad mother that my girls don't seem very happy and not good weight. I do fuss over my girls because I love them to bits. I think they have a reasonably good house and yard, although I admit it is overdue for an overhaul to perhaps create more interest. I have been unwell myself with quite a few health issues the last few years, so it has been tough.

Sam

What breed are your chooks Sam? Knowing that might help some of the more knowledgeable members give advice.

Four year old chooks might be getting on a bit if they are commercial laying types. If you are down to two why not grab a couple/few extras to bolster your flock.

hi Blak1,
Thanks.
I am not 100% sure of their breed. My friend who gave them to me thinks they are Rhode Island Red x. I am pretty sure they are the typical xbreeds bred for backyard layers. They might be the Rhode Island Red x New Hampshire type cross. When laying the eggs are light brown. Their feather colour is mainly lighter brown. One of them is a bit darker. The two chooks in my photo are mine - one is still alive, the other is dead.

Hi WickedWings,
Thanks.
I am not keen to add more girls. One of them, "Audrey" is horrible to the others. She constantly pecked Abby and Esme who both died, she constantly chased them too. She doesnt harass Esther, the other one still alive, as much but still enough to worry me. Esther constantly picked on Esme too when she alive. The dynamics have been very difficult. I did all I could to try and curb behaviour and help, but in hind sight perhaps I should have rehomed Esther and Audrey and maybe Abby and Esme would still be alive. Maybe I was being too selfish trying to sort them out instead of rehoming them. I also feel very responsible because my friend who gave them to me (because she was moving and couldn't take them, not because she didn't want them) trusted me.
I am very reluctant to get more because I cannot bear the thought of new chickens getting constantly harassed and being miserable. I have no way of knowing how it might work out introducing more. I have to admit I cannot bear the thought of it not working out and everyone is distressed, including me.
I would struggle with rehoming because I get so attached.

I see many chickens housed in much less than what mine have with extremely minimal space to roam and dont have their own space, filthy living conditions, dirty water, and they are ok!!!

I spend a lot of time stressing about the girls because I am so worried!!

Hi Sam

The girls in your picture look like they are Isa Browns.

They are notoriously aggressive birds, but also very loving to their owner. Isa's will not get fat. It is not in their genetic make up. You should alway be able to feel their keel (the bit just below their breast bone) protrude out when you pick them up.

My Becky goes to bed every night with a crop that looks like it is going to burst out of her chest and she is a constant 2.1kg.

Have you wormed them recently? That can help maintain a healthy body weight.

Also because Isas are a commercially bred breed they are genetically disposed to a really short life span because they are produced/made to pump out the eggs (approx300-320/yr) for about 2 years & then one day they will just keel over. Their little bodies just shut down after doing that much work. if you have 4 yr olds then they are way past their expiry date. Which is why you wouldnt be getting many eggs nowa days. This is the world of a commercial hen.

If you add more hens for your flock (after the quarantine period) and you are worried about Audrey being mean, then take her out for a couple of weeks & then reintroduce her to the flock. She will have to re-establish herself in the pecking order that way and maybe Ester will be able to rise to the top as boss hen. With only two you cant take Audrey out to reintroduce because there is no newbies. Also remember the older chooks will always be boss over the newbies until such time the old ones are too weak & feeble to give a good fight back. It's the whole mother nature thing. You know how it goes. I'm sure you've seen a National Geographic show or two in your time.

Sorry to hear you have not been well yourself.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Hi, Sam,

Sorry to read that you have been unwell, it makes life all the more challenging, though I am sure your animals bring you much pleasure and joy.

Don't feel guilty about the condition of your girls, it's not your fault that Abby and Esme died, some chooks are darn right vicious, also being commercial hybrid's they are well past their prime at 4 years old, they only stay at a commercial poultry farm until they are 18 months and then they are past the laying prime and either sold as ex layers or sent off on a truck...

I know too well and have had to rehome a psychotic hen and her partner as they were attacking the other hens and her partner attacking me. I tried very hard to work with both of them, but failed miserably and for the safety and well being of the others rehomed them in the end. I still feel very guilty to rehoming them but it was extremely stressful keeping them.

Add some molasses to their warm winter breakfast, it's great to encourage them to eat and builds up their condition, also a tin of homebrand fish based cat food, it has the highest fish content at .89c ,or, a tin of homebrand sardines .69c from Coles helps their condition improve especially during the colder months.

Possibly best to wait and start all over again with a new fresh flock, given Audrey's behaviour, new young girls will be easy picking for her.

Hi, Sam ,

You could rescue a couple of ex layers, they cost about $3, make sure that they aren't debeaked though, they will be older, and follow Chicka-Dee's advice on quarantine and sending Audrey to timeout. Maybe someone can adopt Audrey?

Sometimes we have to learn to let go...

Sorry that you have been unwell , animals have healing powers, they love you unconditionally and listen to your problems, and accept you for who you are.

Thanks everyone for your help and support

I do worm the girls every three months with ivomec liquid. They were last done April this year.

I had a mite problem 16 months ago, but that is all under control and I check them for mites now every day!!

I think I won't introduce any more girls at his stage. I think I will wait until Audrey and Esther have passed away and start again. I love having the girls, but I have to admit I would be nervous about more chickens because of the stress with their behaviour!!

Any recommendations for a good placid breed to have in the back yard?
I like having fresh eggs but would rather not have hens that are produced for short term high yield egg producing over a short life span. I would rather healthy girls who produce regularly but for a longer term so their little bodies are healthier and they enjoy a longer happier and less stressful life.

Anyone have any knowledge on feeding chickens rabbit pellets? (see my first post)

Thanks Sam

Hi, Sam ,

I did reply to this in your other post CopRice do a RSPCA vegetarian chook pellet.
http://www.coprice.com.au/lucky-layer-pellets

some nice breeds are:
Pekin (quite small lay little eggs and in a range of colours)
Auracana (ask Petite Poulet)
Sussex (very docile, also good foragers and that helps chooks put on weight, by showing them good food, etc..)
bantams (most are all extremely friendly and docile... for e.g: silkies, pekin bantams, etc...)
also, I have a small ISA, they get lots of health problems after 18 months, she used to be a bully, and will bully again each time a new chook comes in...
and yes those chooks in your photo look very much like ISA's

remember it also depends on the chook, they all have different personalities...

also favorolles are the BEST breed as I have read if you want a nice chookie, but they are hard to get,
it also comes down to the way you train your chooks, and when you get them.. (if you get them when they are chicks, they will bond with you, however fully grown hens won't as easily)
to help you with your rabbit pellet problem, I don't know.. rabbits are illegal as pets here in QLD


hope that helped,

Philip