Roosters

Does anyone know if its ok to feed my Rooster Laying pellets and oyster shells. I have 19 Laying hens and 1 Rooster. They are all together and hard to feed my Rooster something Different. Thanks for any info.

Here's the thing - you *can* feed roosters layer ration, many do, but the scientific fact is that layer feed contains excessive calcium for a rooster's body to process and there *will* be damage to his internal systems as a result. The damage is a long-term thing so many of those that feed layer to their roosters see a bird that lives 3 years or so and then seem to decline and chalk it up to "old age' without realizing that that same bird, without the internal damage from calcium, would have actually lived 5-7 years in good health. Some are okay with that and don't care to get more than those three years out of a bird, so layer feed is okay with them.
An alternative feed program that meets the needs of all the birds without causing harm to any of them is to simply feed a grower type ration to all the birds and provide the calcium needed by actively laying birds with the provision of oyster shell. Another advantage to this is it not only benefits your male bird(s) but also simplifies feeding the flock during times you have young birds that are not yet laying or hens that stop laying due to molt, age, etc (those birds, too, stand to be damaged by the excessive calcium of layer ration)

^^^ X2. No need to add.

Ol Grey Mare said:

Here's the thing - you *can* feed roosters layer ration, many do, but the scientific fact is that layer feed contains excessive calcium for a rooster's body to process and there *will* be damage to his internal systems as a result.  The damage is a long-term thing so many of those that feed layer to their roosters see a bird that lives 3 years or so and then seem to decline and chalk it up to "old age' without realizing that that same bird, without the internal damage from calcium, would have actually lived 5-7 years in good health.  Some are okay with that and don't care to get more than those three years out of a bird, so layer feed is okay with them.
An alternative feed program that meets the needs of all the birds without causing harm to any of them is to simply feed a grower type ration to all the birds and provide the calcium needed by actively laying birds with the provision of oyster shell.  Another advantage to this is it not only benefits your male bird(s) but also simplifies feeding the flock during times you have young birds that are not yet laying or hens that stop laying due to molt, age, etc (those birds, too, stand to be damaged by the excessive calcium of layer ration)

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I agree!

Ol Grey Mare said:

Here's the thing - you *can* feed roosters layer ration, many do, but the scientific fact is that layer feed contains excessive calcium for a rooster's body to process and there *will* be damage to his internal systems as a result.  The damage is a long-term thing so many of those that feed layer to their roosters see a bird that lives 3 years or so and then seem to decline and chalk it up to "old age' without realizing that that same bird, without the internal damage from calcium, would have actually lived 5-7 years in good health.  Some are okay with that and don't care to get more than those three years out of a bird, so layer feed is okay with them.
An alternative feed program that meets the needs of all the birds without causing harm to any of them is to simply feed a grower type ration to all the birds and provide the calcium needed by actively laying birds with the provision of oyster shell.  Another advantage to this is it not only benefits your male bird(s) but also simplifies feeding the flock during times you have young birds that are not yet laying or hens that stop laying due to molt, age, etc (those birds, too, stand to be damaged by the excessive calcium of layer ration)

Click to expand...

A question.... if I give a grower ration to the whole flock and provide oyster shell, will just the layers consume the oyster shells? Will they get all the calcium they need?

Kidhenduckohmy said:

A question.... if I give a grower ration to the whole flock and provide oyster shell, will just the layers consume the oyster shells? Will they get all the calcium they need?

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yes, other birds in the flock may peck at it a couple of times or of curiosity and to see if it's something to eat, but the drive to actually consume it is unique to birds in production

Kidhenduckohmy said:

A question.... if I give a grower ration to the whole flock and provide oyster shell, will just the layers consume the oyster shells? Will they get all the calcium they need?

Click to expand...

Well, the perfect answer is "yes".....they all read the books and know which ones should eat the oyster shells and which ones shouldn't. But the truth is, they'll all hit the oyster shells, especially at first. Silly chickens! There is something in chicken mentality that tells them that if Ruthie Ann is over there eating something out of that container she shouldn't be allowed to have it all. So chicks and roosters will come running over to get their share. But for some reason I don't fully understand, once they've had a bit of it they decide that it isn't theirs and it's yuckky. They pretty much leave it alone after that, except on the days you replenish it. Then they have to start over. <sigh> The layers who need it, however, will continue to eat it. The roosters and chicks don't seem to eat enough of it to affect them.....they taste and go on to bigger and better things. The layers will continue to eat it.

How they know is beyond me. And you can supplement with other forms of calcium in addition to the oyster shells. All of mine love hard boiled eggs with the shells, all crushed up. Sure, the chicks and roos eat it too, but there's a world of difference between food with extra calcium added being the only food available to all and a supplement on the side.

Edited to add: One of these days I'm going to remember to click on that new unread post notice so I don't just repeat what's been said while I'm typing! I'm a nice lady - just not always the brightest crayon in the box. <sigh>

So . can i continue with the grower and feed them oyster shells and not use Laying Mash??

Absolutely. I do it when I have a mixed flock with no issues at all.

Thank you . I will do this