Cockeral having stunted growth

[Simpleman1]

Hello...I think my cockeral is having a stunted growth.He's about 6 months old but seems too small for that age...also very little crowing. He's grown in a cage..I free-range him 2 days a week. I usually feed him twice a day (morning and evening). Very rarely at noon.Is it because of this feeding habbit his growth has been stunted.How often do you feed your cockeral. Is there any way I can bring him back on normal growing track as other cockerals..Does a cockeral grow after 6 months?

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Could you post photos of your cockerel so we can see his condition.
Is he a bantam breed? What are you feeding?
Some cockerels do not start crowing until 6-9 months old, and they do continue to grow until one year and then even a very tiny amount after that.
It is best to offer food freely during daylight hours rather than having set feeding times.
Do you have other chickens or is he alone? He might be lonely or bored and this could affect his eating and even growth.

 

[Simpleman1]

Could you post photos of your cockerel so we can see his condition.
Is he a bantam breed? What are you feeding?
Some cockerels do not start crowing until 6-9 months old, and they do continue to grow until one year and then even a very tiny amount after that.
It is best to offer food freely during daylight hours rather than having set feeding times.
Do you have other chickens or is he alone? He might be lonely or bored and this could affect his eating and even growth.

No, he's not a bantam breed. He's a kadaknath(closely linked to svarthona,Ayan cemani etc.)
I fed him grower crumbles until about 5 months..Now I'm feeding him Layer feed which I bought for my pullets.He's with other 5 chickens in the cage.They are caged 5 days a week and free ranged 2 days.Can that be a reason for his stunted growth? Actually all the 6 chickens including him is too small for their age.Here's a pic of him

Here's an another cockeral with him..with stunted comb and wattles growth

Is it because they are caged their growth has been stunted? Do caged chickens need a frequent supply of feed?

 

[Simpleman1]

Hlo

 

[Stepnout]

If you feed them only twice a day, are you feeding the enough food? My flock have access to feed and water all day. That way they regulate their food intake. I’m no chicken expert (only one year experience) but I think while they are growing they require max nutrition to attain there full potential.

 

[Simpleman1]

They're not getting enough protein and other essential nutrients, vitamins, and other things that make them grow. If he's only eating cucumbers that is not a nutrient dense diet.

Is there a way you can buy an all flock feed? Roosters shouldn't be on layer feed from what I've been told because the added calcium can really affect them. If you can get an all flock feed, supplement on the side with oyster shell or egg shell for your laying hens.

Make them a mash or maybe try fermented feed to see if they'll eat it. There's always that one picky chicken! Mine like a little water mixed in with their feed and I stir it so it turns to a mash. I just started fermenting a small amount of feed yesterday and it'll be ready by tomorrow afternoon around dinnertime. Hopefully it'll solve my picky eater problem.

Cucumber? I said crumbles..grower crumbles..Hmm.. a all-flock feed is a good idea...but I haven't seen any such feed other than grower,layer and finisher.
Also it's also difficult to separately feed him and cockerels as whenever I feed him my other older hens will chase him away and eat the feed..Is there anyway to integrate both the groups together?

 

[chkva]

Cucumber? I said crumbles..grower crumbles..Hmm.. a all-flock feed is a good idea...but I haven't seen any such feed other than grower,layer and finisher.
Also it's also difficult to separately feed him and cockerels as whenever I feed him my other older hens will chase him away and eat the feed..Is there anyway to integrate both the groups together?

Cucumber? I said crumbles..grower crumbles..Hmm.. a all-flock feed is a good idea...but I haven't seen any such feed other than grower,layer and finisher.
Also it's also difficult to separately feed him and cockerels as whenever I feed him my other older hens will chase him away and eat the feed..Is there anyway to integrate both the groups together?

My phone wrote that... And I don't even think it was supposed to be on your post. I removed it. It was about a chicken eating only cucumbers definitely wasn't this post though

 

[Chickassan]

A caged chicken will be smaller than a free chicken, less chance to build muscle mass.
They should always have food free or caged, especially true when they are growing or when hens are laying.
The boys should still be on grower not layer, you're not getting any eggs out of them.

No, he's not a bantam breed. He's a kadaknath(closely linked to svarthona,Ayan cemani etc.)
I fed him grower crumbles until about 5 months..Now I'm feeding him Layer feed which I bought for my pullets.He's with other 5 chickens in the cage.They are caged 5 days a week and free ranged 2 days.Can that be a reason for his stunted growth? Actually all the 6 chickens including him is too small for their age.Here's a pic of himView attachment 1780433Here's an another cockeral with him..with stunted comb and wattles growthView attachment 1780444
Is it because they are caged their growth has been stunted? Do caged chickens need a frequent supply of feed?