[princesspoultry]

I just have a few things I have been meaning to ask everyone about.

  1.I give my hens Oyster shells,but do they need Grit too? Or are they the same thing?

 2. I have had a few hens that have lost a lot of weight,stoped eating and just kinda stood still with thier feathers puffed out.I gave them Terramycin and they are all doing better....Does anyone have any idea what could have caused that?

 3.I have 16 hens and some of them are big and full (like they should be) but others are 2 or 3 pounds under weight.They are acting fine and seem to be heathy.Any ideas???                 Thanks,
                               Princess Poultry

[jack russell]

Hi princess, I think i should take a look at the birds for myself before passing comment,  so if you would like me to pm you with my address for you to send the flight tickets etc. just let me know and I'll come straight away  

1.  I just give mine Poultry Oyster Shell
2.  Not too sure they could just have been under the weather :cry:
3.  Are they all getting there fair share of the food, how are they fed?

someone should be along soon with the correct answers

but will come straight over anyway

[Aunt Sally]

And don't forget a ticket for Aunty too  

1. Mine get oyster for calcium and grit to grind their food in their gizzard

2. As Terramycin  made them betterthey must have had some kind of infection.

3. Some hens just don't do as well as others.  As long as they are actice and eating/drinking well and laying, don't worry     Are they all the same breed or are the lighter ones different ?

[chickychick]

As I understand it from what I was told they need oyster grit AND ordinary grit to aid digestion because the oyster breaks down and is used for egg shell production where as the other grit stays in the digestive system to break down food.

If they havent been wormed I think I would try worming the whole flock just to be on the safe side, it might explain them not thriving, although it does sound as though they had an illness or infection if they stopped eating altogether.

[princesspoultry]

And don't forget a ticket for Aunty too  

1. Mine get oyster for calcium and grit to grind their food in their gizzard

2. As Terramycin  made them betterthey must have had some kind of infection.

3. Some hens just don't do as well as others.  As long as they are actice and eating/drinking well and laying, don't worry     Are they all the same breed or are the lighter ones different ?

  They are all different breeds....The ones that are the smallest are Barred Rocks...The one that I had to give Terramycin to is the smallest and I know by her personality that she always gets her fair share of food:)

[princesspoultry]

As I understand it from what I was told they need oyster grit AND ordinary grit to aid digestion because the oyster breaks down and is used for egg shell production where as the other grit stays in the digestive system to break down food.

If they havent been wormed I think I would try worming the whole flock just to be on the safe side, it might explain them not thriving, although it does sound as though they had an illness or infection if they stopped eating altogether.

        OK,Thanks!

[princesspoultry]

Hi princess, I think i should take a look at the birds for myself before passing comment,  so if you would like me to pm you with my address for you to send the flight tickets etc. just let me know and I'll come straight away  

1.  I just give mine Poultry Oyster Shell
2.  Not too sure they could just have been under the weather :cry:
3.  Are they all getting there fair share of the food, how are they fed?

someone should be along soon with the correct answers

but will come straight over anyway

   I put their food in two long feeders.