Layer feed for Roosters

[Chickenberg Goldenegg]

I've got 10 australorps and 2 roosters among them. They are about week 15 right now. They have had nutrena chick starter up to now and been allowed to free range once I get home as well as they have an electrified fence I can move around so they always have stuff to eat outside. They hardly eat any chick starter right now, it lasts like 2 weeks, due to foraging in an acre of bugs, weeds, and berries.

Do you think it would be fine to give the roosters layer feed since they hardly eat much of it and prefer the taste of fresh bugs? The all flock stuff costs about double and its not even organic.

I've got grit and oyster shells on the side along with a gravel driveway they are slowly eating.

I got them the: https://www.ruralking.com/country-road-layer-crumbles-feed-50lb-2492

They hate the dust from the chick starter and typically just want to eat the solid pieces so I got the crumbles but is the pellets any better?

 

[nuthatched]

https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/37510
https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/114202
I'd feed these with oyster shell on the side, layer feed isn't super great for roosters or non laying birds and 16% is too little protein fir growing or producing birds

 

[Brooks_]

I recommend keeping all on starter/grower or all flock/flock raiser and a side dish of oyster shells for the layers.

Calcium toxicity is cumulative. You likely will not notice the harm done to any chicken that is not an active layer until harvest. Or necropsy.

 

[Chickenberg Goldenegg]

https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/37510
https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/114202
I'd feed these with oyster shell on the side, layer feed isn't super great for roosters or non laying birds and 16% is too little protein fir growing or producing birds

"Not available in my store, ship to store."

Thanks! Yeah they didn't have those options where I live so I just didn't see them. I'll have to have them shipped to the store.

 

[nuthatched]

"Not available in my store, ship to store."

Thanks! Yeah they didn't have those options where I live so I just didn't see them. I'll have to have them shipped to the store.

Do they have anything like it at your store?

 

[jpalmatier83]

"Not available in my store, ship to store."

Thanks! Yeah they didn't have those options where I live so I just didn't see them. I'll have to have them shipped to the store.

Yeah. Layer feed is suboptimal for Roos/non-layers. Idk about rural king, but tsc and Blaine’s farm and fleet (in my area) don’t charge to ship to store. Hope it’s the same for you!

 

[Chickenberg Goldenegg]

Do they have anything like it at your store?

Yeah. Layer feed is suboptimal for Roos/non-layers. Idk about rural king, but tsc and Blaine’s farm and fleet (in my area) don’t charge to ship to store. Hope it’s the same for you!

Nothing like it at the store but I can ship to store for free.

 

[Chickenberg Goldenegg]

Do they have anything like it at your store?

Nope. Just have to have it shipped to the store.

Oh also rural king changed their return policies so you cannot return consumables.

 

[Kiki]

Your roosters are much less likely to suffer any ill effect from eating a layer type feed.
The hens are more likely to suffer by not eating a layer type feed.