Feed for a rooster?

[Mattemma]

Since roosters do not need the high calcium content of layer feed,and over time the layer feed causes health issues...what do you feed them? I did a web search and only came up with wild game bird feed.Is that what I should get if I get a rooster?

 

[RevaVirginia]

I often wonder this myself. It seems to me that all feeding concerns are directed towards the hens.

As my chickens go about their daily routine the Roos find food and call the hens over and let them dine on what they found. I'm sure they're getting enough to eat because they are huge.

I just let them eat the same things as the hens from the feeders. At night I'll hand feed the Roos while they're on their roost, just a routine that they/we seem to have fallen into. My excuse for doing this is as a reward for taking care of the ladies all day.

 

[Bantimna]

Well, layer feed should be fine. If you have the time and money to separate him from the main flock to have his yummies, then you can go that route. Some roo's get quite old even though they have eaten layer feed all their life. It depends on how far you are wanting to go, to keep him healthy.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Roosters do not lay eggs so they do not need to eat as much as a productive hen does. This is why the extra calcium in layer feed does not bother them as much as it would otherwise. Millions of roosters over the years have lived on layer feed because that's what the flock was given. This is especially true if the birds can forage for themselves at least a little bit.

.....Alan.