jmrogers1114
Hatching
Hello, I inherited a flock of chickens when I moved to my new small farm, estimated age about 2-3 years or so. Started with 8 and lost one due to "visceral gout". The department of agriculture vet thought the layer feed was too rich as she had stopped laying and the 16% protein feed overwhelmed her kidneys leading to the gout. I have 7 hens remaining, and they are laying about 30% of what they were last summer, some have stopped altogether. My question is, do I keep them on the 16% layer feed? Although I kept the flock all last winter, and they resumed laying this spring after a break over winter, I am not sure what I am going to do over this winter. I don't want to lose one or more to "gout", and may decide to move them on for the table and start fresh in the spring. This is my first flock of chickens so it's all new to me.
Thanks for any insights you may have.
Jan
Thanks for any insights you may have.
Jan