Feed for my roosters

[MeepBeep]

I was disturbed by the dismissal of a poultry man of 35 years experience opinion but everyone's opinions here on BYC is right as long as it coincides with what someone wants to hear. And somehow not anecdotal.

I can state that I have 35 years of raising chicken experience (as I do) and the truth is my experience is the same as anyone else's experience it's just anecdotal evidence nothing more unless it contained controlled scientific study... Using anecdotal evidence to counter scientific studies is a fallacious why do you find that disturbing?

Only 1 of the linked studies mentioned or was specifically done on cocks.

I simply posted a few examples and suggest you research it further yourself...

In the end it's your birds, you do what you... Pointing out both sides of an argument and letting others make an informed decision is never bad...

 

[Rod-T]

It's pretty hard to feed a rooster seperate feed.. if they all run together.
If that's the case..I'd just feed layer.the hens need that calcium right?

 

[Hholly]

I'm feeding Purina Flock Raiser with a side dish of oyster shells. Everybody likes it and my one hen old enough to lay has nice hard shelled eggs.

 

[Skylercarr]

My roosters and hens are kept separate. Right now I have my roosters on layer feed and scratch because I wasn't sure what to feed them but I will try to find some other feed that is not layer feed for my roosters.

 

[donrae]

Since I have a multi age and gender flock, I don't use layer feed at all. Personally, I like my layers to have a little more protein than it supplies. I feed everyone an all-in-one, similar to grower. Toss oyster shell in the run to give the hens something to peck at and it's good. The roosters and young birds don't eat the oyster shell and the hens self regulate.

 

[BeachMomma]

talked with a Purina poultry expert a few months ago because I too was concerned about which feed was best. (Reading everything you can find about which is better will make some paranoid that their rooster will keel over if on layer food.)

The Purina expert told me that layer feed is fine as long as the entire flock is of age to be on it. She also said that all flock raiser crumbles are fine too because it's usable from birth to death. Oyster shell is offered separate with both feeds.

We went with flock raiser because there's going to be times,such as molting or sickness, that the higher protein will be needed. Since we do have a rooster at some point we'll also have baby chicks and I don't want to deal with having to buy 2 different feeds.
Using flock raiser just makes more economical sense for us in the grand scheme of things.

 

[MeepBeep]

talked with a Purina poultry expert a few months ago because I too was concerned about which feed was best. (Reading everything you can find about which is better will make some paranoid that their rooster will keel over if on layer food.)

The Purina expert told me that layer feed is fine as long as the entire flock is of age to be on it. She also said that all flock raiser crumbles are fine too because it's usable from birth to death. Oyster shell is offered separate with both feeds.

Who did you talk to and were you clear about the fact your question was in regards to male poultry not female?

Here is the response I just received from Purena's Flock Nutritionist Patrick Briggs, Ph. D. when I posed the question...

This question is in regards to 'layer' level >2% calcium supplemented feeds... There appears to be numerous studies that suggest excess calcium is detrimental to adult male birds as they have no biological system to easily rid their bodies of the excess calcium... So the question is are 'layer' feeds appropriate for adult male birds (roosters/cocks) as a sole dietary ration, or should a lower calcium level feed be provided for adult male birds to avoid potential calcium build up and the associated health issues?

Thank you for your question. We don’t recommend feeding layer feed to any male poultry because of the calcium level. We recommend feeding Flock Raiser to them instead. The calcium level is 0.8% minimum to 1.3% maximum. You can feed this to the laying hens as well if they are grouped together but you will have to provide a dish of oyster shell for the hens so they get enough calcium. I have attached a feed tag that list the ingredients and feeding recommendations. If you have questions, please let me know.


Pat

Pat | Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC
Representative, Customer Operations - Consumer | www.purinamills.com
Toll Free: 800-227-8941| Fax: 636-742-6170 |

 

[Rod-T]

It's nice forum for people to share diferent views and not argue. Likely I think layer probably not the best for the rooster..
However I let my rooster drink and smoke cigarettes.
Likely he will be culled long before his liver fails and dies of lung cancer.

 

[stretchy4u2]

what is the difference between chicken scratch and all feed?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Scratch is a mix of grains, corn, oats and wheat, usually, All Flock is a prefixed ration in either crumble or pellet.