Grits and Shells

[alliloveschickens]

Ok so I have a couple questions.

First... I plan on keeping a rooster with my chickens but I want to feed layer pellets to my hens. If I offer regular feed will he know to eat it? Will my hens prefer it over the layer feed? How do I remedy this? (Keep in mind I am going to have quite a few hens so I will have a high capacity feeder, making separate feedings difficult)

Second... If I offer oyster shells will my rooster eat them or will he know he doesn't need it? Will my hens know to eat enough of it?

Any answers are appreciated

 

[alliloveschickens]

Also forgot to ask-- is offering grit and oyster shells separately a good option?

 

[AllenK RGV]

I stopped offering those. I bought 50 pounds of grit and OS the hens never touched it.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Back to your feed question. We feed everyone 24% Dumore feeder/Grower here. Usually our chicken just don't eat it as they free range our lot. Yep chick feed doesn't run fast enough to be eaten.

 

[alliloveschickens]

Thank you that helps a lot

 

[SteveUK]

Offer both grit and oyster shell. If they need it, they'll take it.
If they don't, they won't.
Everyone's setup is different. Free range or run. Size of run. Soil type. Soil condition. Whether they find it naturally or you offer it. They need both. Take the advice, digest and find what works best for "your" chickens.

 

[Acre4Me]

We have 2 roosters in our flock. We feed an all-flock (20% protein) feed. We add a pan of grit in the run and a container of OS in the coop, near laying boxes ...only for the fact that the container fit there. My girls act like OS is candy. We refill this container regularly. Yes, some gets spilled/tossed out, but they love it when a new container gets put out. Rooster couldn’t care less about OS. Yesterday I was watching a hen stand in the pan of grit inspecting many bits. Pick them up, put them down, make various clucking noises...next piece, repeat.

 

[GC-Raptor]

First... I plan on keeping a rooster with my chickens but I want to feed layer pellets to my hens. If I offer regular feed will he know to eat it? Will my hens prefer it over the layer feed? How do I remedy this? (Keep in mind I am going to have quite a few hens so I will have a high capacity feeder, making separate feedings difficult)

I feed a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower feed 18% to my Hens.
I don't have a Cockerel/Rooster, but if I did he would eat whatever the hens eat, even if it was a Layer feed, because I Free Range an hour daily.
So if you will Free Range or your coop isn't secure, most Roosters will be taken by a Predator before succumbing to kidney damage from eating a Layer feed.
Otherwise feed a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower or an All-Flock feed 18-20%.

If I offer oyster shells will my rooster eat them or will he know he doesn't need it? Will my hens know to eat enough of it?

If you offer both Grit and Shells, he won't substitute Shells for Grit. He may nibble on the Shells if he needs a little extra Calcium.
Offer the Pullets Oyster Shells before laying starts. I offer after 16 weeks old.
I offer the Poultry Grit after 7 weeks old.
I keep the containers separate and don't switch around.

GC

 

[alliloveschickens]

Ok that definitely helps. I was wondering if the rooster would want to eat the shells. And my chickens won't be free range, they will all be in a coop

 

[Folly's place]

I also feed an all flock feed, Flock Raiser, with oyster shell in a separate container for the actively laying hens. The others leave it alone.
I offer grit to my brooder raised chicks when they start getting goodies, rather than just their Flock Raiser, and my adults find their own grit when they free range. in winter, I also offer grit for them.
Mary