Have I Hurt My Rooster's Kidneys?

[ClareScifi]

I was told that it was fine to feed roosters laying mash, but then I read that it can cause deleterious health effects for them, including kidney disease, because it has more calcium in it than they need?
Apparently, there is no dedicated rooster feed out there. No one seems to concern themselves with the health and longevity of roosters. It's all about hens and laying.
Is wild game bird feed, which doesn't contain calcium, the best food to give roosters?
But how would one stop a rooster from eating the laying mash if he preferred its taste to the wild game bird feed, and how would one stop the hens from eating the no-calcium wild game bird feed, if they preferred it to their laying mash? They wouldn't necessarily eat the right food for their gender just because both types of food were offered free-choice; correct?
This seems like a hard problem to solve.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I was told that it was fine to feed roosters laying mash, but then I read that it can cause deleterious health effects for them, including kidney disease, because it has more calcium in it than they need?
Apparently, there is no dedicated rooster feed out there. No one seems to concern themselves with the health and longevity of roosters. It's all about hens and laying.
Is wild game bird feed, which doesn't contain calcium, the best food to give roosters?
But how would one stop a rooster from eating the laying mash if he preferred its taste to the wild game bird feed, and how would one stop the hens from eating the no-calcium wild game bird feed, if they preferred it to their laying mash? They wouldn't necessarily eat the right food for their gender just because both types of food were offered free-choice; correct?
This seems like a hard problem to solve.

we have a rooster eating layer mash now... it doesnt hurt them, your fine,

 

[ClareScifi]

How do you know it doesn't hurt them? I would think the effects of the excess calcium would be cumulative and not show up right away, but kill the rooster slowly, over time?

I've e-mailed some academics about this. I was told by an expert that laying mash has more calcium in it than roosters need, but she didn't tell me that it was actually harmful because of that. However, she also didn't say that it wasn't harmful. I think she didn't know what to say, since no rooster feed exists.

But if game bird feed is healthier for them, then I will switch to that.

I know too much calcium can hurt young chicks, so I think it could also hurt roosters?

I wonder whether studies have been done comparing roosters fed laying mash to roosters fed gamebird feed to see which have the longest lives?

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

How do you know it doesn't hurt them? I would think the effects of the excess calcium would be cumulative and not show up right away, but kill the rooster slowly, over time?

I've e-mailed some academics about this. I was told by an expert that laying mash has more calcium in it than roosters need, but she didn't tell me that it was actually harmful because of that. However, she also didn't say that it wasn't harmful. I think she didn't know what to say, since no rooster feed exists.

But if game bird feed is healthier for them, then I will switch to that.

I know too much calcium can hurt young chicks, so I think it could also hurt roosters?

I wonder whether studies have been done comparing roosters fed laying mash to roosters fed gamebird feed to see which have the longest lives?

just a thought

doesnt game bird feed have more calcium also?

 

[ClareScifi]

CochinBrahmaLover,

Check out this link. Gosh! I hope I haven't already damaged by poor little roo! It makes me sick to think I may have hurt his kidneys:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_kind_of_food_to_feed_a_rooster

According to this information, the gamebird feed doesn't have calcium in it. Do you think 3 weeks of layer mash may send my rooster to an early grave?

 

[ClareScifi]

I wonder whether Chick Grower would be superior to Game Bird feed for my rooster? I don't know which is lower in calcium. I re-read the link. It doesn't say that Gamebird Feed has no calcium in it, as I had thought. It just says that it is superior to laying mash, if you get a kind of game bird feed that is low in calcium. I wonder whether the brand recommended by the person in that link is available in my area? I will research it and see how much calcium it does have in it.

 

[shober]

I have fed lay mash to roosters for years. I never knew it was bad for them. None ever showed any signs of illness.

 

[ClareScifi]

How long do your roosters tend to live? And how have they died? I am trying to brace myself for the worst. This little rooster is a pet, raised indoors by hand by me. He's extra-special to me, dear to my heart. I would never have done anything to hurt him.

 

[AuberyMirkwood]

My longest lived rooster made it to 7 yrs on layer ration and some free free range before having a run in with a dog. All others got eaten one way or another. I have had chickens for 12 yrs and somehow never had a sick adult.

 

[BooBear]

I have never heard of calcium harming the roosters, this news is new to me. However, there are choices in feed out there.
You have the chick medicated feed to start, flock raiser for the growing stages, and then folks switch to layers when the birds start producing eggs.


The Flock Raiser feeds do not have calcium in it and can be used on all age groups. This is a good all around feed if you want something simple to feed your birds.

For some reason my chooks do not like layer feed so I feed the Purina flock raiser mixed with Game bird feed. (They love the whole seeds n such in the game bird feed).
I have free choice calcium and grit bar set out for them to use. The girls get their calcium fix daily (their eggs have strong shells).
They also get to free range when we are home so they get lots of fresh greens and juicy bugs: Snakes too!!