Puny Hens

I've been noticing that my hens are thin and small compared to the same breeds that I see on the net, and the hens down on the allotment.  Our hens free range, get a mixture of laying pellets and porridge in the mornings with a sprinkle of Poultry Spice. Mixed seeds in the afternoon.   I've been vigilant with their poo and haven't seen any tell tale signs of worms.  Hhhhmmmm . . .

The layers pellets are available all day?

Layers are meant to be lean... fat hens have problems laying eggs

I sometimes read the info on breeds on the Hendrix Genetics site.  They own the parent stocks of most of the hybrid breeds now.  hybrids hens range in weight from 1.6kgs to just over 2kgs

Not very heavy when you pick one up.  Like the others have said, many of them are very lean.

My girls are all on the slim side and spend a lot of time free ranging. It's always a shock picking up Pingu the cockerel after giving the girls a cuddle because he's just solid muscle, and compared the them, weighs a ton!