Telling if fowl are under weight

Peter16 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:56 pm

Hello everyone,
Just wondering what is the easiest way to tell if your chicken/duck,Guinea/turkey/peafowl etc... is under weight??? besides comparing it with birds of a similar age
What are your methods?
What methods would you suggest?
thanks
Peter

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Peter16, The breast bone will protrude on birds that are underweight, they should have even fat mass on both sides, if it varies from one side to the other, that's the first visual sign of a bird is loosing weight.

Thanks
P.A

Stt · **Joined:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 3006

yes i agree with P.A thats how i tell if my birds need to be fattened up or not :-D

stuart

Peter16 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:21 pm

and if a bird is under weight, what food would you suggest to faten her up
rice?

thanks
Peter

Tahir · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:34 pm

you can use a high protein diet such as broiler starter or turkey starter/grower.

Peter16 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:11 pm

Thanks tahir,
does anyone else have a suggestion?

Peter

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Peter16, you can add boiled eggs to Turkey Grower, this will help. Also bread products and grains like Oats.

Thanks
P.A :lol:

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

I like to give my roosters plenty of hammermilled corn when I fatten them up, Ian

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Ian, yes good suggestion, forgot that one! it's been a long day!!

Thanks
P.A :lol:

Muscovy J · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:55 pm

hi guys,
i think also if a birds been feed rubbish when there young thay never get a good size and condition about them ? . i have a muscovy girl i got of a meat breeder she if half the size of a normal muscovy girl . she was raised on just a bit of wheat when she could get it. i only got her because she was the best bronze girl i have seen in about 3 years looking for them. her ducklings where bigger than her at 2 to 3 months old . i feed all my birds from day 1 on pullet grower and scratch mix that has cracked corn not whole corn and also bread and grass . i got told of bb to use bread as he uses it on all his birds it puts good weight on them. also barastock pullet grower is great my ducklings get it until there at least 3 months old thay search it out before any other feed it puts the weight on them great . hope this helps

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Telling if fowl are under weight

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