rhode island red

[kamikaze59]

so im new to rhode island reds,ive had a hen and a rooster for about 4 months now.Ive had them in a coop with 4 cornish rock hens and feeding them meat feed to fatten the cornish hens! We butchered the hens and i started feeding my rhode island reds 16% feed to start the female laying and neither one will touch the food! What am i doing wrong? Or is it the wrong food for them?

 

[MysteryChicken]

so im new to rhode island reds,ive had a hen and a rooster for about 4 months now.Ive had them in a coop with 4 cornish rock hens and feeding them meat feed to fatten the cornish hens! We butchered the hens and i started feeding my rhode island reds 16% feed to start the female laying and neither one will touch the food! What am i doing wrong? Or is it the wrong food for them?

How high was the protein in the Meat Bird food?

How old are the RIRs?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Also, is the 16% Layer? If so, layer feed will cause kidney damage in roosters over along period.

So I'd recommend feeding a 20% All Flock Pellet, or crumble to all the birds, & put oyster shells in a separate container, or feeder for the ladies.

 

[aart]

i started feeding my rhode island reds 16% feed to start the female laying

Layer feed will not 'start' them laying.

So I'd recommend feeding a 20% All Flock Pellet, or crumble to all the birds, & put oyster shells in a separate container, or feeder for the ladies.

Ditto Dat!

 

[kamikaze59]

How high was the protein in the Meat Bird food?

How old are the RIRs?

i believe it was 16-20% protein,the rirs are approximatelty 4-5 months old

 

[rosemarythyme]

Layer feed is meant for active layers. You have a cockerel and a pullet not yet laying, so it's the wrong feed for both.

The main difference between layer feed and other feeds is a higher calcium level to aid in forming egg shells. That's it.

Unless you plan on eating the male sooner rather than later (so kidney problems are moot), better to feed them both all flock/flock raiser or grower or unmedicated starter.

 

[aart]

i believe it was 16-20% protein

Big difference there.....which was it?