How do you feed your Rooster(s)?

[Jackiebjackie]

I have a flock of 7. 6 girls and 1 Rooster. I feed them grower-finisher feed an have a separate bowl of oyster shell for my girls. Roosters know not to eat it but they will peck at it because there curious. I didn't want to take any risks with my Rooster so they eat this feed instead of layer feed. and their eggs are just fine.

Thanks for your insight! I’m thinking of doing the same. I see a lot of people here have Roos that are just fine with layer feed, but as a complete newb in raising chicks, I’m terrified of the idea of coming home to a dead roo... the attachment to the birds are so real!

 

[Jackiebjackie]

x3! Everything that @EggSighted4Life said.
Here we also feed Flock Raiser to everyone, all year, with oyster shell on the side. It's worked out very well here for decades, and it's always fresh, by mill date, on each bag at the local feed stores.
It's necessary to check what's available where you shop, and check mill dates on each bag, because your choices may be different.
Good food pays off!
Mary

Hello Mary! Do all feed have mill dates? And at how many months do you feel the feed is considered not fresh anymore? I was thinking of buying a ton of feed ahead of time, but if it ends up spoiling or expiring then I definitely do not want that!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Feed will spoil unfortunately, even in closed bags

 

[Folly's place]

I want to use feed within two months of milling, for best freshness, and vitamin content.
All livestock feed is labeled with a mill date in the USA. Some companies use 'open dating', so easy to read. A few use Julian dating, different, but at least open. There are companies that use coded dates, and you need to ask the seller, or the company, what the code means. This is infuriating, and I won't buy such products.
Unless you have zillions of birds, a ton of feed will end up growing bugs and mold long before it's fed!
Mary

 

[Annalyse]

Thanks for your insight! I’m thinking of doing the same. I see a lot of people here have Roos that are just fine with layer feed, but as a complete newb in raising chicks, I’m terrified of the idea of coming home to a dead roo... the attachment to the birds are so real!

yesss i agree

 

[Folly's place]

It's best to store the feed in it's original bags in metal garbage cans, to keep other critters out, and so that if there's a problem, you have the lot numbers, etc, right there.
Mary

 

[Jackiebjackie]

I want to use feed within two months of milling, for best freshness, and vitamin content.
All livestock feed is labeled with a mill date in the USA. Some companies use 'open dating', so easy to read. A few use Julian dating, different, but at least open. There are companies that use coded dates, and you need to ask the seller, or the company, what the code means. This is infuriating, and I won't buy such products.
Unless you have zillions of birds, a ton of feed will end up growing bugs and mold long before it's fed!
Mary

How much feed do you advise that I should have in stock for 12 growing birds at a time? When I used chick starter, I was buying 25 lb bags and realized I was going through them much faster than I thought!

And I’ve attached the feed I’m using:

Do you think this will suffice nutrient-wise?

Scrambling to look for mill dates right meow!

 

[Jackiebjackie]

Feed will spoil unfortunately, even in closed bags

And so I’ve just learned! I have 80 lbs of grower feed on the shelf, and I’m hoping it’s not too much!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We use 50 lb bags for about a week for 9 birds usually. Large and bantam mixed flock

 

[HannahKline14]

Hello there! I’ve been doing some research online and have read some conflicting rules on what to feed and not to feed roosters. I figured I’d be able to seek some advice from all of you flock veterans out there!

I have 11 pullets, 7 of them are 14 weeks old, and 4 are 9 weeks old, in addition to a cockerel at 9 weeks old.

Currently they are all on Grower feed, and I was wondering how you feed your roosters with hens since Layer Feed has so much calcium in it?

I’ve read that some people stay on Grower feed for the rest of time and provide oyster shells in a separate dish, and some say roosters are okay with eating layer feed.

What are your thoughts? Any advice would help! Thanks in advance!

I think it's really what you want to do, I had the same problem when I asked this question everyone has a different answer. If you are concerned for the health of your chicken a you may want to buy flock raiser and supplement oyster shells on the side, also some birds even when eating layer sometimes need extra calcium. The good they about flock raiser is that it's higher in protein which keeps them from eating the eggs and feather picking, especially in the winter. Now layer is a bit cheaper depending on the brand that's one reason a lot of people get also that they don't need to always supplement oyster shells. My grandparents used to give their chickens cracked corn and table scraps and that's it because back then they were more concerned on saving money for their food not their chickens. Now what I do is give flock raiser since I have ducks and quail, the quail don't really like pellets, and I give some layer in a separate feeder and give them scratch once in every other say or so, and they always have oyster shells and grit. The reason I give them some layer and still provide oyster shells is because it's a cheaper brand and I don't think it has enough calcium, I also give the the flock raiser because it's higher in protien. It's completely up to you I would advice researching the subject because all of the replies tend to be different. (Sorry for the long reply hope you figure it out)