Feeding hens laying food???

[ChickenLegs13]

too much calcium is bad for adult roosters too.  it can cause kidney and heart issues.  I have lost a rooster to heart issues from feeding layer feed.


 

So how much is too much and for how long until it causes problems?
From DuMore/TSC: DuMOR

Poultry Layer Feed is a complete formula for all egg-producing poultry and non-laying mature birds.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: that will vary by chicken. Think about how too much calcium can cause some guys to get kidney stones while others just consume calcium to no end with no bad results. So of course there is no warning on milk or cheese saying not to over consume for risk of kidney stones.
Every owner has to use what works for them though. I get my feed from Rural king and can't really speak of the TSC brand. The TSC store near us had grain mites and chose to keep the bag of mite invested food for well over a month allowing the mites to spread. I won't buy food there unless I have too. I'm sure there are good TSC stores, I'm just avoiding the one.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

that will vary by chicken.  Think about how too much calcium can cause some guys to get kidney stones while others just consume calcium to no end with no bad results.  So of course there is no warning on milk or cheese saying not to over consume for risk of kidney stones.

Every owner has to use what works for them though.  I get my feed from Rural king and can't really speak of the TSC brand.  The TSC store near us had grain mites and chose to keep the bag of mite invested food for well over a month allowing the mites to spread.  I won't buy food there unless I have too.  I'm sure there are good TSC stores, I'm just avoiding the one.

Varies by chicken...Gotcha. Generally speaking though I can't find any info that says layer is detrimental to roosters. If somebody provides some then I'll reconsider my position.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: here is a different BYC thread from a while back. Maybe they can explain it better than I.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/637264/question-why-is-laying-mash-bad-for-roosters

 

[ChickenLegs13]

Thanks for the link Sally. I read all 3 pages but it wasn't very informative. There were only 2 short brief actual answers to why layer is bad for roosters and 1 guy that never had a problem with it:
*The extra calcium.
*High amounts of Calcium (Ca) in any non-laying poultry's diet can cause health problems like ureter, kidney impaction resulting in nephrosis and in some cases Avian Urolithiasis (Gout).
*my roosters have always eaten layer never had a problem with it in 40 years of feeding it
The question remains unanswered-how much is too much for the average rooster and is it really harmful?