[Flump]

Hi all,I have a poorly hen.She is eating,but not as much as the others.She has been losing weight and passing watery poos and shell free eggs.The vet gave her some antibiotic yesterday and I have started worming her.I read somewhere that someone gave their chicken soya beans which perked them up,does anyone know where I can get these please?having a bit of trouble finding any,thanks.

[Foxy]

Hello Flump

Could you give a little more info please? age, breed, past history..eg how long have you had her? Then we could work out the best supplements for her. I haven't heard of any benefits of soya bean though?

[joyfull]

What did the vet say was wrong with her and do you know which antibiotic they gave her?

[Flump]

Hi Foxy,
 She is an ex battery hen.I have had her about 6 mths and she was probably around 18 mnths old when I had her.I feed them(4 of them) ex batt smallholder pellets,a tonic recently,sweetcorn,mixed corn,or greens and they love the odd tomato.They have the run of the garden.This chicken was the worst of the lot condition wise and she initially picked up and was laying well.The vet said it might be coccidiosis but unlikely as she isn't passing blooming poos and would probably be dead by now as she has been losing condition over the last couple of weeks.He gave her Amoxicillin I think and said to worm her.Otherwise he said it could be anything,internal damage from poor treatment as a battery hen.

[joyfull]

soya beans are usually found in health food shops and have to be soaked and then cooked, although I do think Birds eye or findus may now do some in their frozen range, but like Foxy said I also have never heard of any added benefit unless it's just to give them a high protein food.

[Flump]

 Yes,I think that's the idea ,the high protein levels.They work wonders for horses just not sure about chickens!any other suggestions welcomed!does anyone feed meal worms?

[joyfull]

most of us 
 but they do have a high fat content I think. Chickens usually adore them 

[Flump]

well that could be good then!Do you feed them dead or alive?

[joyfull]

Like I say you can find them frozen in your local tesc*s (soya beans that is not mealworms  ) so you may want to thaw them a few out
Mealworms can be given either way fresh or dead and mine love them 

[Flump]

thanks joyfull,
will try to get poor chuck some tomorrow!

[sgelder]

It's okay to give your chooks Soya, but not too much, it will make them very fat and fat hens don't lay too well. Thousands of tons of soya are imported every year to feed chickens, farm/battery alike. If you have ever had a mc'donalds meal, then the chicken would have been fed on soya. Just feed it as a treat through the winter months, late afternoon to help bulk them up and keep warm. Don't forget too much will make them fat.