Hello everyone from Victoria, Australia

[Taco - Feta]

Hi everyone,
My granddaughter brought some chicks home from kindergarten, 2 grew to become roosters and have been rehomed. The 2 hens have been brought out to Nana to look after. ( Taco and Feta) I think Feta may be a Leghorn, but have no idea what breed Taco is (she is black and more friendly than Feta)

This is my first time caring for chooks, we have a chook tracktor that is great for moving the girls around to a clean patch each day, it also keeps them warm and safe.

Taco is not in great health, we took her to the vet, the vet showed me that while she looks ok (other than her crown being flopped over) she was actually very under weight. Taco has completed a 5 day course of antibiotics and I am now making a porridge mix for her every morning (oats, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, mealworms and a vitamin supplement). She lost all of her tail feathers, but I have read that could be normal for her breed to malt in autumn. They do seem to be regrowing Is there anything else I can do for her?

Thank you
Leanne

 

[Kiki]

Welcome Leanne!
Can you not buy chicken feed where you are?

 

[sourland]

Hello, Leanne, and welcome to the BYC community. A little protein supplementation to their diet should help with feather regrowth.

 

[Taco - Feta]

Welcome Leanne!
Can you not buy chicken feed where you are?

Yes I do have a feed tube for keeping a commercial blend of chicken food for the girls to access as they need.
However, when the vet said that Taco was underweight and I often see the seed mix has been pulled out of the tube and dropped on the ground. I thought some supplementation of fresh food might help.

 

[Taco - Feta]

Hello, Leanne, and welcome to the BYC community. A little protein supplementation to their diet should help with feather regrowth.

Thanks, do you think that a few mealworms each day will be enough?

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, Leanne and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[LTAY1946]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to have you with us in this Poultry Loving Community.

 

[sourland]

Thanks, do you think that a few mealworms each day will be enough?

tuna fish, meat scraps or even dry cat food are all good protein sources.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Leanne, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
In addition to the protein sources @sourland suggested you can also offer sardines.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC, Leanne, and good luck with Taco!