Cannibalizing

[aart]

Yes i did mean feet instead of inches, sorry, got the symbol mixed up. "The well" is indeed the ones who aren't sick or injured. Also, I do have roosts in there for the grazers that they use every night, none of them are sleeping on the ground, one or two even sleep in the rafters and a few sleep on the feeder even though the bottom roost is left empty.

Yes, Grazers are a meat bird, i can't remember what the full breed name is but my profile pic is a pic i took a few months ago of them. They would be about 5 months old by now. No, there aren't any predators, at least not ones that can get in, it's a 7' fence and there aren't any holes along the fence.

They are getting plain water and crushed wheat right now with whatever fruit, vegetable, or bread scraps or expired items when we have them. I could try to find some of this nutri-drench stuff, do i put it in a separate waterer? What would you suggest for protein supplements?

Thanks for clarifications.

I don't think they need nutridrench but a grower/starter/finisher chicken formulation with a protein level of 18-22%

I've never heard of 'grazers'... where did you get them...are you in the US?

 

[Techtronic]

Would this help them gain weight as well? I'm finding they are still rather light (2-4 lbs). And how often do they need it?

 

[aart]

Would this help them gain weight as well? I'm finding they are still rather light (2-4 lbs). And how often do they need it?

Every day, all day.

 

[Techtronic]

Is it just something i would mix a bit of into their normal feed? or do they need alot of it every day like a whole separate feeder?

 

[junebuggena]

They are getting plain water and crushed wheat right now with whatever fruit, vegetable, or bread scraps or expired items when we have them. I could try to find some of this nutri-drench stuff, do i put it in a separate waterer? What would you suggest for protein supplements?

First off, you have far too many birds in far too little space. Second, most meat birds reach processing size by 12 to 14 weeks. You are not feeding them properly. You are risking serious health problems with a diet of a single grain and scraps. To support their growth, you need to have them on a grower feed. Your choices in managing them has caused your problems. Space and diet are the two most important things when raising chickens. You need to address both, ASAP.

 

[Intheswamp]

What do you feed your layers and how many of them do you have?

 

[Techtronic]

my layers get the same crushed wheat and plain water as well as a smaller feeder with oyster shells in it. i have 50 at last count in a 8'x16' coop which is probably too small from what you guys are telling me.

 

[aart]

Is it just something i would mix a bit of into their normal feed? or do they need alot of it every day like a whole separate feeder?

No, it should BE their regular feed.
The wheat is not enough, especially without any premix(vitamins minerals, amino acids) in it.

What kind of meat birds are 5 months old...some heritage breed?
Are you in the United States?

Not understanding the context of your operation.

 

[Techtronic]

well i got both the young layers and meat chickens as chicks in May and i've been waiting for them to get to full grown. I live in southwest Manitoba, Canada. Dad probably has some oats somewhere that i could start feeding them and it looks like those are a bit higher in protein but, if i buy grower feed every day, I'm not going to have any profit left.

 

[junebuggena]

well i got both the young layers and meat chickens as chicks in May and i've been waiting for them to get to full grown. I live in southwest Manitoba, Canada. Dad probably has some oats somewhere that i could start feeding them and it looks like those are a bit higher in protein but, if i buy grower feed every day, I'm not going to have any profit left.

You need to get them on a balanced, nutritionally complete diet. Oats, wheat, and scraps are not going to cut it. Your layers should already be laying and your meat birds should already be well over processing size, if you had been feeding them properly from the start. But you haven't. Trying to skimp on nutrition is never a good idea. You end up having to spend more on feed because it takes them even longer to reach maturity/processing size.
Chicken feed is not that expensive. And it's essential if you want productive birds.