Young Birds lost appetite

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chickenfan

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I have a group of 5 young birds 14 weeks old that have lost their appetite. They look well, but I'm concerned about this. I am now worming them and have apple cider vinegar in the water. I don't know why they are not more interested in their food, and are going to bed with little in their crop.
 
They shouldn't need worming this early Chickenfan. Adding stuff to the water can be counter-productive as they may be distracted from drinking. Normally they would be eating like mad so is the food bad? Are they too cold or damp -there is a reason and you need to find it.
 
Thankyou Chris. The food looks fine, but they prefer wheat and scrambled egg, which I'm giving now they aren't eating much. I'll try getting another bag of food. Difficult because I know my vet will not have a clue if I took them there.
 
I agree with chris, they shouldn't need worming at this stage and it's not good to have sdditives constantly in the water such as cider vinegar.

They will be OK on wheat or mixed corn.
 
Thank you. However, they aren't eating even much wheat, and I remain worried what's the matter. I have had rats and wonder if this has caused a problem. But its strange its just this group of youngsters gone off their food, and no other birds. Perhaps I will try them on layers pellets.
 
Don't do that Chickenfan. The Calcium content is too high and they still can't tolerate it at such a young age. Shouldn't go to layers until they do lay.
 
There is scope for trying them om layers pellets to see if they eat better. Mixed corn or wheat in the diet will even out any excess or deficiency. I have fed growers on layers pellets for years after they came off chick crumb.
 
Have got very desperate about my beautiful youngsters. They still aren't eating and sit around preening under shrubs instead of being busy foraging, and they are losing weight. They have a choice of layers pellets and two different types of growers pellets and wheat in eve. Sometimes they have loose droppings, so I've put them on cocci blue medication today, which has firmed up the droppings but not improved their appetite. The only thing they eat well is scrambled egg, but I don't have many spare eggs, although I could buy some.

I have caught them eating Azalea flowers and holly berries so I will fence them off from these. However, these plants have always been in the garden and not proved a problem before. I'm not sure what to do if this doesn't work.
 
Our pet goes through phases of not wanting to eat. At the moment he is being tempted with wild strawberries, chopped apple or tomato. Once he has eaten them he gets his appetite back and starts on the pellets. Perhaps some fresh fruit treats would help. Once they have a crop full they will be reminded of what a full crop is.
 
My girls eat mash, mixed with a little warm water, won't eat pellets. Remember to give fresh daily though, as it spoils once wet.
 
Thank you Chris and Baby Bantam. I'll try getting their crops full on fruit. I'm grateful for your logical ideas.
 
My young birds started eating again when I moved them nearer the house, away from the magpies and crows.
 
That's good news Chickenfan. So they were being bullied off the feeder?

Must add feeding chickens wild strawberries is bad news. They go off so fast the result is sour crop, which we have had to deal with in two bad cases. Of course I should have realised there was a potential problem if I had asked myself the simple question "why aren't the wild birds and mice eating them?"
 
Yes I've found they will eat more readily if you make them a warm damp mash of pellets, perhaps with some corn and mealworms mixed in. They seem to fight for this even when ignoring the same stuff in the pellet feeder. I don't know if its the texture thgey prefer, or maybe the mouistrure and warmth increases the smell and taste, but it seems to work.
Getting yours to feed wont cure whatever is the underlying problem, if there is one, but it will help as they should be eating well to grow, at that stage.
 
Thank you Chris and Marigold. They are all eating well and laying eggs now. Interesting about the wild strawberries. One of my young bantams gorged herself on wild strawberries and was very quiet for a couple of days. This must have been the reason. I shall try your mix Marigold. It sounds very tempting.
 
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