Can I feed my 9 week old rooster layer pellet?

[Susan49]

I posted this in an older thread where the topic of roosters and layer pellets was being discussed, but I don't think it's active anymore so I'll repost in a new thread....

I'm wondering about where to put my 9 week old rooster, in regards to feed.

I have my main flock of layers (about 100 gals) with one adult rooster who is quite tame and friendly. They all get layer pellet, supplemented with free choice oyster shell and kelp meal, plus free range and lots of garden produce.

My youngsters are in another area. There are 30 of them that are 14 weeks old, with 3 roosters who were supposed to be pullets but we all know that story lol! They all get grower crumble and a few treats and garden stuff, but mostly the crumble for the protein.

Anyway, I was given this 9 week old roo which I want to raise as a possible breeding bird as I have hens of the same breed. At first I put him beside my smaller flock because a) they're closer in age and b) I thought he should have the grower crumble. My plan was to integrate him into this flock for ease of feeding.

However, one of the roosters, a RIR, has taken over the head honcho position in the smaller flock, and instantly took a dislike to the new kid on the block. He's been aggressively picking on him right through the fence (he's in a very small pen beside them) and just won't give him any peace.

So then I thought that maybe expecting 4 young roosters to get along one day, even with an adjustment period, might be expecting a bit much and that maybe he'd do better with the main flock. My reasoning is that there is only the one roo who's pretty easy going, and there'll be a lot more room for the young fellow to get out of the way if he gets picked on during his settling in period.

Which brings me to my question...Given that he's still young, does he need the grower feed if I want to blend him in with my established flock who are eating layer pellet? Or will he be ok with the lower protein layer pellet, given that he'll have access to an acre of range with greens, bugs, and other goodies.

My older rooster has always had the layer pellet, but in this case, with a younger rooster, do I need to make sure he gets extra protein for good growth?

 

[Nuggetirl]

I can't speak to the protein part, but the extra calcium is bad for roosters in general, and younger birds. It taxes their kidneys since they aren't using it for eggshell production.
If you want him to live a long life for breeding, I'd switch your older girls to a grower ration with free choice calcium. Extra protein won't hurt the older chickens.

 

[Susan49]

Thanks, I got the same advice on the older thread and that's exactly what I'm going to do.

 

[Nuggetirl]

You're welcome, and as a side note because I know I didn't really answer the question you asked (and because when I read it the first time, I read it as 9 months instead of 9 weeks, which changes things) I do think he still needs the extra protein. He's growing and feathering A LOT still, and feathers take tons of protein to make.
So, yeah, he needs lots of protein.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Purina flock raiser fits the bill. With free take calcium carbonate of course. There are also game bird finishers on the market with calcium levels below 2%.