Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: LittleRedHen on February 14, 2011, 12:10
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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 . . .
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Hi
Maybe your girls are working off any extra weight by being allowed to free range and run around a bit. :)
You could always worm them just to be on the safe side.
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The layers pellets are available all day?
Layers are meant to be lean... fat hens have problems laying eggs ;)
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Mine free range and also seem to be thinner than others until they get to the age of 3 then they fill out. Free ranging hens do seem to be more slender (must try it myself sometime ;)) :D
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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.
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Thank you everyone! Our hens are only about 1 and a half years old and are very active. I know that our new neighbours are pleased with their eggs. So rock on!
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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!