Can the rooster eat the layer?

[rubyrogue]

So I wasnt planning on having a rooster but the guy I got my hens from had this little frizzle rooster that has had a stroke. He is so cute and his crow sounds like an egg song. All i have are layer crumbles. When this bag is gone should i switch to flockraiser? or should i switch now?

 

[digitS']

"It is also interesting to realize that most roosters today are fed high-calcium breeder diets, which provide 4-6x their calcium needs, yet kidney dysfunction is quite rare in these birds." Steve Lesson, Professor Department Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph

In other words, the roosters are often eating exactly the same feed as the hens in breeder flocks. And, they are fine. Apparently, excessive calcium is only really dangerous for very young chickens. Deposits build up on their skeletons and organs. Often, their kidneys fail at some point in time.

But, if your rooster is already crowing - he falls into that group of breeders that Professor Lesson is writing about. So, you shouldn't have to worry about your little frizzle.

Steve