Ok I am in a situation and I have had tons of advice but I don't know which is right.
I have 3 - 2 yr old laying hens in our coop with 30 - 2 month old Roos. The Roos we are raising as meat chickens. Sunday when we went out to clean the coop there were 2 dead roos and one that died when we are cleaning up. Then Monday there were 2 more dead Roos and one that was ill looking. I took the ill looking one to the Vet (take in account they don't really deal with poultry) That Roo died while it was at the vet. The vet did a post-mordem (sp?) The vet said the roo looked great other then he had a lot of food in his gizzard. He thought we were dealing with something bacterial and he gave me this liquid to put in the waterer 1 oz to every 2 gallons of water. I lost 2 more Roos today.
Here is my question: What the heck am I suppose to be feeding these chickens? The roos we got as chicks and they were on medicated feed. When we put them in the coop about 3 weeks ago we put them on scratch. I was then told the hens and roos should not be on scratch. So on Sunday we started feeding them layer. My vet said that layer was good for the roos because they are all heavy breeds and this way they won't grow so fast and develop joint problems. Before I called my vet about all of this I called McMurray and they said it was fine to have the Roos on layer feed beings there were meat chickens. They also get oyster shells.
Since all of this started I have been told no roos should be on a layer feed and they should be on grower, or they should be on medicated feed, or they should be on scratch. I am soooo confused and I also have the problem that I don't have way to seperate what I feed the hens verses the Roos. I might be able to feed the hens up higher where the roos can't get to it.
I can't see it was the scratch feed that killed them beings they have been on it for 3 weeks but obviously, what do I know?
If anyone could help me with the correct answer I would appreciate it. I am about ready to throw the towel in. I feel like I am doing nothing right at this point.
I have 3 - 2 yr old laying hens in our coop with 30 - 2 month old Roos. The Roos we are raising as meat chickens. Sunday when we went out to clean the coop there were 2 dead roos and one that died when we are cleaning up. Then Monday there were 2 more dead Roos and one that was ill looking. I took the ill looking one to the Vet (take in account they don't really deal with poultry) That Roo died while it was at the vet. The vet did a post-mordem (sp?) The vet said the roo looked great other then he had a lot of food in his gizzard. He thought we were dealing with something bacterial and he gave me this liquid to put in the waterer 1 oz to every 2 gallons of water. I lost 2 more Roos today.
Here is my question: What the heck am I suppose to be feeding these chickens? The roos we got as chicks and they were on medicated feed. When we put them in the coop about 3 weeks ago we put them on scratch. I was then told the hens and roos should not be on scratch. So on Sunday we started feeding them layer. My vet said that layer was good for the roos because they are all heavy breeds and this way they won't grow so fast and develop joint problems. Before I called my vet about all of this I called McMurray and they said it was fine to have the Roos on layer feed beings there were meat chickens. They also get oyster shells.
Since all of this started I have been told no roos should be on a layer feed and they should be on grower, or they should be on medicated feed, or they should be on scratch. I am soooo confused and I also have the problem that I don't have way to seperate what I feed the hens verses the Roos. I might be able to feed the hens up higher where the roos can't get to it.
I can't see it was the scratch feed that killed them beings they have been on it for 3 weeks but obviously, what do I know?
If anyone could help me with the correct answer I would appreciate it. I am about ready to throw the towel in. I feel like I am doing nothing right at this point.
