Layers not pluckers... hopefully lol

[Kiki]

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[ChickenCanoe]

RIR is a good breed if you are in it for lots of eggs. They are one of the most productive breeds.
However, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is a huge mistake to feed layer feed (4% calcium) to birds that young. By my calculation they were started on layer at about 7 or 8 weeks. They should have still been on starter feed then. (more protein, less calcium) That amount of calcium is for birds actively building egg shells. Hence the name 'Layer Feed'. Chicks (which is what yours were) are not layers, roosters ds not layers, molting hens are not layers and retired hens that have ceased to produce eggs are not layers regardless of sex. Birds that are currently laying eggs are layers.
That excessive calcium must be processed by the kidneys and will cause damage.
The function of the kidneys is to maintain fluid balance and to regulate and filter minerals in the bloodstream. When there is more of any mineral than the body needs, the kidneys are tasked to remove it.
A chicken has 2 kidneys with 3 segments each. As those segments become damaged and no longer function, a bird will continue to act normal and hens will continue to lay until one of the last two segments fails. Then the bird will die within 24 hours - often with no symptoms.
Should one die at an early age, have a necropsy done to ascertain cause of death. I bet they'll find non-functioning kidney segments. Most people don't do necropsies on dead birds so they just don't know.
My recommendation is to stop the layer feed immediately, switch back to starter or grower feed, make sure they never run out of water and it would probably be a good idea to mix the feed with water to insure they stay well hydrated. The idea is to flush the kidneys as much as possible. The problem is that damaged kidney segments don't regenerate.

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello Trey, and a warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! So glad you joined the flock.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Thank y’all happy chickening & may many eggs be in our future!!! Thanks in advance for your helpful advice!!!
Trey Hooker

Welcome Trey

Generally, growers feed is best until you get your first egg before giving layers feed. Combining your remaining layers feed with growers feed (to use the layers feed up) is perfectly fine.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens Trey, the pulse beat of the chicken community.

 

[Newlychickening]

Hi everyone thanks for all the positive helpful feedback!!! I got my mom to take me into TSC & got some Dumor grower finisher & immediately got it mixed into my Purina Layena Plus!!! Can’t wait to see how the next couple of weeks go!!!

I want to thank every single one of you taking the reply!!!
Trey Hooker

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm pleased you went right out and bought grower finisher which I know is 15% protein and 1-1.5% calcium. But I strongly encourage that you not mix it with Layena. If you mix them half and half, the result will be 2.5-2.75% calcium. That is still way too high for non-layers, especially those that have been getting a steady diet of 4% calcium since well before 10 weeks of age.
I recommend that you freeze or refrigerate the layer feed till you start getting eggs and feed the finisher only.

 

[Newlychickening]

After a long day of cleaning, washing clothes & a little tv watching for minutes mainly just letting in run in the background. I finally have time to reply to messages!!!

Howdy Trey and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
You might like to join us fellow Texans over on the 'Where am I? Where are you!' forum. Here's a link to the Texas thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas.44/

Thanks for joining our community!

Sean I definitely will thanks for the invite!!! How about this Texas weather lol you’ll either love it or hate it!!!

Hello, Trey, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I personally don't feed layer. It is to low on protein IMO and I don't want non-laying birds eating that much calcium. I feed an All Flock type feed with oyster shell on the side.

Good morning Troy and welcome to the BYC flock. I too don't feed only layer but I have a mix age flock. Do you supplement calcium on the side?

I don’t supplement calcium nor oyster shells as the Layena Plus already has oyster shell, calcium & manganese plus lots of other stuff & seems really complete at it’s point!!!

 

[Newlychickening]

After a long day of cleaning, washing clothes & a little tv watching for minutes mainly just letting in run in the background. I finally have time to reply to messages!!!

Howdy Trey and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
You might like to join us fellow Texans over on the 'Where am I? Where are you!' forum. Here's a link to the Texas thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas.44/

Thanks for joining our community! [/QUOTEI definitely will thanks for the invite!!! How about this Texas weather lol you’ll either love it or hate it!!!

Hello, Trey, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I personally don't feed layer. It is to low on protein IMO and I don't want non-laying birds eating that much calcium. I feed an All Flock type feed with oyster shell on the side.

Good morning Troy and welcome to the BYC flock. I too don't feed only layer but I have a mix age flock. Do you supplement calcium on the side?

DobieLover
Mybackyardpeeprer
Thanks for the questions it helps me learn!!! I don’t supplement calcium nor oyster shells as the Layena Plus already has oyster shell, calcium & manganese plus lots of other stuff & seems to be really complete at its price point just my opinion though!!!

WELCOME! Oh those girls should start laying soon! If dare say within a few weeks. Maybe two. . I was always one to start my pullets on layer feed early. They did really well.

Cynthia12
Thanks for the warm comments!!! I certainly hope so I can hardly wait for fresh eggs not that store bought junk!!!

Welcome to BYC.
We are glad you joined our flock!
Jump right in and make yourself at home.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

Coop Ideas:
Chicken Coops.

What exactly did you Google to get here? <<<<<<<<<<<

BYC has an APP!

Texas Kiki
I’m glad to be here also thanks for warm introduction the video was very helpful!!! Unfortunately at the moment I don’t have the money to have better chicken maybe someday though but this is how my brother raised his!!! Now I just need to figure out the best method for teaching them free range!!! We also have 2 dogs & a cat but the dogs are kennel kept so they shouldn’t be a problem!!! I actually first discovered the site looking at hatcheries & considering where to order from little did I my brother would order from TSC because he already has an account there!!! The Bing search my preferred search engine was I think Rhode Island Red Hens For Sale Near In Texas!!! Ironically most of the hatcheries were not in Texas though. lol This morning the search was broodiness in Rhode Island Reds but all lowercase again I use bing for my search engine BYC is pretty high up on the second search & considerably lower on the first!!! I have screenshots if you would like them but it’s from a cellphone so it may or may not help but I took them tonight in case you wanted them!!!

Well it getting late here so I’m off to bed good thing I like late nights anyway good night everyone!!!
Trey Hooker

 

[Newlychickening]

RIR is a good breed if you are in it for lots of eggs. They are one of the most productive breeds.
However, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it is a huge mistake to feed layer feed (4% calcium) to birds that young. By my calculation they were started on layer at about 7 or 8 weeks. They should have still been on starter feed then. (more protein, less calcium) That amount of calcium is for birds actively building egg shells. Hence the name 'Layer Feed'. Chicks (which is what yours were) are not layers, roosters ds not layers, molting hens are not layers and retired hens that have ceased to produce eggs are not layers regardless of sex. Birds that are currently laying eggs are layers.
That excessive calcium must be processed by the kidneys and will cause damage.
The function of the kidneys is to maintain fluid balance and to regulate and filter minerals in the bloodstream. When there is more of any mineral than the body needs, the kidneys are tasked to remove it.
A chicken has 2 kidneys with 3 segments each. As those segments become damaged and no longer function, a bird will continue to act normal and hens will continue to lay until one of the last two segments fails. Then the bird will die within 24 hours - often with no symptoms.
Should one die at an early age, have a necropsy done to ascertain cause of death. I bet they'll find non-functioning kidney segments. Most people don't do necropsies on dead birds so they just don't know.
My recommendation is to stop the layer feed immediately, switch back to starter or grower feed, make sure they never run out of water and it would probably be a good idea to mix the feed with water to insure they stay well hydrated. The idea is to flush the kidneys as much as possible. The problem is that damaged kidney segments don't regenerate.

I'm pleased you went right out and bought grower finisher which I know is 15% protein and 1-1.5% calcium. But I strongly encourage that you not mix it with Layena. If you mix them half and half, the result will be 2.5-2.75% calcium. That is still way too high for non-layers, especially those that have been getting a steady diet of 4% calcium since well before 10 weeks of age.
I recommend that you freeze or refrigerate the layer feed till you start getting eggs and feed the finisher only.

ChickenCanoe
Thank you for extensive knowledge you passed along to me in your post!!! I honestly do greatly appreciate it!!! However I started them on Layena Plus at 10-11 weeks old.

Hey Y’all,
I’m Trey & new to raising chickens my brother order 10 RIR chickens for Dad & myself we went in halfs with me paying Dad back!!! They came in around 2nd or 3rd week of April!!! Very excited about it & ready for them to start laying asap!!! I have RIR’s from TSC 7 of the 10 are still chickening!!! Is that even a thing or is it just me lol? I really love having them just watching them & such!!! Not the right breed but it’ll do?‍ So I got little ladies to to hobby farm eat, cleaner & hopefully be a little cheaper on eggs down road. Well that’s the plan anyway I keep telling folks raising chickens is a marathon & I’m in it for the long haul... but mister smarter than the bag ‍ yeah talking about myself started laying feed roughly 8-9 weeks ago just wondering if that’s a problem or not so much? Not getting eggs yet but by my calculation the chickens are 18-19 weeks old I thank God for them cause they really are fun!!! Have been feeding Purina Layena Plus since 10-11? Weeks hoping it wasn’t a mistake any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank y’all happy chickening & may many eggs be in our future!!! Thanks in advance for your helpful advice!!!
Trey Hooker

Probably could have put that a little clearer my fault. I agree RIR is a great breed & my grandpa had some when I kid & another breed I’m not exactly sure what they were!!! That’s one of the main things that got me interested in having laying hens of my own, remembering eating fresh fertile eggs at my grandpa’s house growing up!!! Although mine will not be fertile as I have no room for roster currently!!! Again I appreciate all the effort you put into the advice you gave me!!! Thank you for being so diligent!!!

Respectfully,
Trey Hooker