Can I feed my roo layers pellets???? - Page 3

The calcium will absolutely not kill him. If calcium were toxic to roosters, the feed companies would be all over marketing a special product aimed directly at them. They don't because it's not.

You can feed them Starter, Grower, Starter/Grower, Breeder, or Game Bird Feed and just offer supplemental Calcium.

Chris

My comments were pulled a little out of context.

As has been said, the feed industry has little concern for the rooster's diet in a laying operation. Except, of course, when fertile eggs are the intent in a breeder house.

Since replacement pullets (and roos) are readily available and egg production of the hens drops off after 1 or 2 molts, it is doubtful that the roosters have much of a lifespan in the breeder house. I'd imagine that they seldom make it to 24 months.

Let's go back to that idea that the rooster's diet is not of much concern as we look at what the Merck Veterinary Manual  has to say about excessive calcium. Of course, they aren't just talking about pullet broiler chicks since cockerels are also used:

"Excessive calcium intake in broiler chicks results in urolithiasis with urate deposits on the abdominal viscera and in the joints. Tetanic convulsions can also be seen in chicks consuming excess calcium. Calcium levels >2% will induce these lesions in broilers. Feeding calcium in excess of 3% before the onset of egg production will induce the same lesions in egg-type or meat-type pullets."

Layer feed is about 3.5% plus.

Okay, "the onset of egg production" phrase: Does one have to point out that the rooster will NEVER reach "the onset of egg production?" Kidney damage may occur long before mortality since kidney failure is usually a progressive thing.

Steve

Where did you here that Calcium does not collect in the kidneys and cause ureter, kidney impaction or Avian Urolithiasis in non laying birds over a period of time.

And for the record they do make a special product aimed directly to a mixed flock buckeye feed was the first if not one of the first to put out a ''all flock" feed that has a lower Calcium amount in it.
There are some feed co's that do make a Rooster or Cock feed that is low in Calcium and is designed for Roosters.

Chris

I am not suggesting that you buy them but there are probably plenty of poultry operations that use them:

Feeders for Cockerels

Feeders for Pullets

Eating some laying feed today isn't going to kill the rooster tomorrow. He may enjoy quite a few years of life and die from some other cause altogether.

I don't think that everyone should pen their roosters separately. If you are concerned about the long-term health of your rooster you may want to think of how to "dilute" some of the laying feed that he will get if he's in with the hens. Or, feed something to both and offer calcium for the hens. They can self-regulate.

Dilution? You know that even a large chicken daily eats way less than a pound of feed. Slipping the roo an extra treat once a day, might not be all that much trouble. Load him up on carbs . . .

Steve

Isn't it a bit unrealistic to try to feed a roo or 2 separate from the hens?

You don't have them separate, you can feed all your birds either a Starter, Grower, Starter/Grower, Breeder, or Game Bird Feed and just offer supplemental Calcium.


Chris

My roo eats the egg shells for the hens!  Now what?  As much as I would hate to think that I am causing kidney failure in him...!  I can't and won't babysit him to his old age.
Just can't do it.

I buy 22% poultry protein feed with 3.9 calcium. My layers and rooster all eat it. I have bought breeder feed which has 20% protein and 3.9 calcium. Since I do a lot of hatching I think this is better for them.

I wouldn't about your rooster eating eggshells, the average eggshell is 2.2 grams of calcium in the form of calcium carbonate and approximately 94% of a dry eggshell is calcium carbonate but it is hard for poultry to abstract calcium carbonate from eggshells.


Chris