Cockerels eat less than hens?

[MadGardener]

Apologies if this is discussed elsewhere but my search wasn't very successful.

I brought home an 8 month cockerel about a week ago. He's set up in a quarantine pen with a small coop behind electric netting. I'm feeding 18% protein all flock pellets. I've been adding a little water and vitamins to the pellets every other day.

This is my 1st male. My pullets and hens are super interested in food. They'll jump to get to the feeder before it's set down, and spent the majority of their time foraging if the weather isn't awful.

The new guy is eating, but he waits after food is offered. His intake overall is lower, and not much time spent foraging.

I realize he probably doesn't feel great being isolated and moved to a new place. He's also healing from an attack the previous owner warned me about (peck injuries on his comb and skinned hocks). Minor injuries and healing well.

Do cockerels generally show less interest in food? It makes sense that he'd need fewer calories since he's not making eggs every day but I want to be sure it's not a symptom of a problem.

 

[Coops Dad]

I have a bachelor pen and the 7 roosters eat about 2/3 what an equal number of hens eat. They also seem to consume less water.

My flock's roosters tend to let the hens eat first then clean up afterwards, and point out tasties for the hens when out foraging instead of eating the stuff themselves.

 

[Isadora]

All my boys eat less than my girls.

 

[WIchickMama]

Makes sense the boys would eat less as their bodies aren't producing eggs.