Beige white clumps on silkie roosters comb?

ConnieA said:

Could you please let us know what studies you are quoting? I could not find any actual study online that said this, just lots of opinions. I looked at the Merck Veterinary manual online for effects of calcium in feed:
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultr...t-poultry/nutritional-requirements-of-poultry

I don't see that they call out a danger of excess calcium, but they do discuss the phosphorus to calcium ratio.

We live in an area of Missouri with lots of limestone and my chickens have had access to the local rocks and soil and water, which all have more than average amounts of calcium, according to the soil and water testing we did when we first purchased our property over twenty years ago. Most of my roosters live well over seven, and I have quite a few show winners among my breeders. I don't have Silkies, but I do have breeds with pea combs and rose combs.

I would be interested to see what studies you have found on cockerels consuming layer ration.

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There is a lot of research out there that t calcium can cause roosters to have kidney disease since they don’t need the calcium to make egg shells.
Some people believe this and had experience with this so they feed flock raiser to their flock.
While others continue to use layer feed with their entire flock.
It just comes down to choice. What ever you choose, it is your choice.

ConnieA said:

Could you please let us know what studies you are quoting? I could not find any actual study online that said this, just lots of opinions. I looked at the Merck Veterinary manual online for effects of calcium in feed:
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultr...t-poultry/nutritional-requirements-of-poultry

I don't see that they call out a danger of excess calcium, but they do discuss the phosphorus to calcium ratio.

We live in an area of Missouri with lots of limestone and my chickens have had access to the local rocks and soil and water, which all have more than average amounts of calcium, according to the soil and water testing we did when we first purchased our property over twenty years ago. Most of my roosters live well over seven, and I have quite a few show winners among my breeders. I don't have Silkies, but I do have breeds with pea combs and rose combs.

I would be interested to see what studies you have found on cockerels consuming layer ration.

Click to expand...

@ChickenCanoe has a good post with links that may address some of your questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-feed.1135975/post-17599917

Wyorp Rock said:

@ChickenCanoe has a good post with links that may address some of your questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-feed.1135975/post-17599917

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Okay, I read through the articles where the links are good. It appears to me that the articles about feed for roosters and pullets pertain to meat broilers and battery layers, which might explain why I don't see these effects, since I raise heritage breeds.

The articles on epidydmal lithiosis plainly states that it is a dysfunction of unknown origin that may have been the result of aggressive selection for egg laying in hens without regard for the effects in roosters. No feed recommendations are stated in these articles. Again, since I am breeding heritage chickens and selecting for a wide range of traits, this is probably not a trait in my breeding stock.

Dr. Temple Grandin, who has some excellent breeding advice, notes that blindly selecting for a few traits can lead to the accidental selection of unwanted traits...hip dysplasia in German Shepherd type dogs comes to mind.

I suppose it's possible that some folks here could see a negative effect on roosters for using layer ration if they are raising meat broilers. I don't see that there is strong advice on feeding roosters with epididymal lithiosis, since the origin is unknown. Perhaps for raising roosters it would be better not to select breeds that are hybridized for maximum laying.

I have to think, based on these articles, the best choice for a backyard chicken owner would be a dual-purpose breed, and then the choice of whether to allow the roosters to have layer feed wouldn't be so important.