Aggressive RIR hen beating up docile EE - ugly photos

[akhadley]

Question to you.

Whenever feeding a range of feeds or feed items in a restricted manner, make certain the base diet is higher than the optimum with respect to protein content. Your layer feed is typically a low protein formulation and everything else with the exception of the mealworms is much lower and could dilute protein intake. Protein levels and nutrient levels in general being low can cause problems like you are observing.

Consider upping protein by use of a grower diet or if money not a concern then hit them with more mealworms.

Okay, I would prefer giving them mealworms but I don't have access to them locally (have to buy online). I can handle that, but if for any reason that didn't work out can I mix the broiler grower with layer feed? Will feeding them grower limit their egg production at all?

 

[enola]

Grower feed has more protein and less calcium than layer pellets. Simply balance this out by adding oyster shell to the hens so they have sufficient calcium in their diet.