[Hawkins]

What would be a healthy weight for an ex-bat. My Poorly chicken Delilah seems loads better but I dont want to put her back with the others untill she is a nice weight.

Sorry dont know what she is at the moment but feels skinny. But shes alive and thinks shes a guinea pig.

thanks

[Foxy]

Well a healthy ex-bat should feel quite light being an intensive layer. The way I check if I suspect a bird is light is checking their "keel bone" a bone running underneath the chicken, it should be nicely covered and not feel sharp.

[Hawkins]

Its not covered at all, U could floss your teeth with it.

I will weigh her properly I think and then watch her get bigger. Shes not laying which doesnt matter so is there any kind of food I can buy to help her put on weight or just stick to the layers mash.

[Foxy]

I would give her a bit extra mixed corn, with a drop of cod liver oil and some poultry spice to ensure she gets all the minerals she needs,plus ACV in drinking water. As long as she is eating I wouldn't worry too much. One of my hens who lost a lost of weight with impacted crop, took a while probably a month to get back to the right weight.

[GrannieAnnie]

I've just looked on Hendrix Genetics website, they own the rights to all the ISA's and Bovans etc and most of them it says should weigh 2kg at 80 weeks.

[Hawkins]

Thanks guys thats brill advice, Going to give her a bit more TLC for a few days yet and go from there as soon as I see her weight increasing I will know she is on the mend.

Back to the vets tuesday for a check up.

Ive never been so happy to see solid poos in all my life.