How do you feed your Rooster(s)?

[EggSighted4Life]

how do you feel about switching to Flock Raiser Crumbles and cold turkey removing layer from their diet?

The main issue with that is only because chickens are generally creatures of habit. Since they like the new feed, it should not be an issue. Though I certainly wouldn't toss the other one out. I would make a mash with it or mixed together.

I feel more comfortable when my layers are getting layer feed.

Layer feed is technically lower in over all nutrients except higher in calcium... than most other feeds. Doesn't matter at all what they call it.. layer, grower, feather fixer, flock raiser... they all are chicken (or poultry) feed and the main difference is always.. protein, amino acid content, and calcium content... To me "layer" is a marketing term.

Your one gal that appears to (maybe) be having shell gland issues.. may benefit from the over all support of the flock raiser. If providing a fast acting calcium source actually firms up her shells then I MIGHT consider it POSSIBLY a life saving thing to help prevent any possibility of binding or cracking on the way out.. Usually though excess calcium going through might cause long term issues kidney issues.. so you really have to take this on an individual case consideration and do what SEEMS to be the lesser of the evils for this lady. Is it absorption issues, or distribution, I wonder and is there any way to tell the difference??

and the quails get extra protein then when it starts to get cold i will double everyone's protein and increase calories by half so they stay fat and happy all winter long

How does extra protein increase calories by half?

Most birds I've seen in nature increase protein during breeding season.. not during the off season which is winter. During spring. even humming birds catch flies for the young.

 

[Flockincrazy]

The main issue with that is only because chickens are generally creatures of habit. Since they like the new feed, it should not be an issue. Though I certainly wouldn't toss the other one out. I would make a mash with it or mixed together.


Layer feed is technically lower in over all nutrients except higher in calcium... than most other feeds. Doesn't matter at all what they call it.. layer, grower, feather fixer, flock raiser... they all are chicken (or poultry) feed and the main difference is always.. protein, amino acid content, and calcium content... To me "layer" is a marketing term.

Your one gal that appears to (maybe) be having shell gland issues.. may benefit from the over all support of the flock raiser. If providing a fast acting calcium source actually firms up her shells then I MIGHT consider it POSSIBLY a life saving thing to help prevent any possibility of binding or cracking on the way out.. Usually though excess calcium going through might cause long term issues kidney issues.. so you really have to take this on an individual case consideration and do what SEEMS to be the lesser of the evils for this lady. Is it absorption issues, or distribution, I wonder and is there any way to tell the difference??


How does extra protein increase calories by half?

Most birds I've seen in nature increase protein during breeding season.. not during the off season which is winter. During spring. even humming birds catch flies for the young.

No they get double protein and increased calories i do it when its cold so that they are not using it all to stay warm they have more so they can stay warm and i still get eggs all winter long egg production only slows a little

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@EggSighted4Life the Purina Flock Raiser feed is what they've been on since hatch. I've tried a few different layer feeds and they seem to hate the Nutrena Hearty Hen the least (they don't like any feed as much as the Purina Flock Raiser).
The hen that notoriously lays soft/thin shelled and porous eggs is a mix of Marans and she is almost 13 months old. Her eggs are the only dark brown eggs. A couple of weeks ago I had to remove her from the coop overnight to stay inside because she was struggling with discomfort and/or stress(later learned it was her struggling to lay. Not sure if her egg broke inside of her and she was able to expel everything on her own, with the help of a Calcium Nitrate tablet) . She was not well. I kept her indoors in the AC in a wire dog crate (I was worried that she had a heat stroke because she was acting a bit crazy). When I came in the next morning she had laid an egg and was back to her normal self. The egg wasn't intact and the shell was extremely thin. She laid it while perched about 2.5-3 inches from the floor and the egg was everywhere. I'd probably guess that at least half (in all honesty, it's probably been over half) of her eggs have been extremely thin or porous (to the point that her eggs will float in water within a week of laying). I've given her Tums before without any change. I was told that calcium nitrate is better so I tried that recently and she laid a soft shell for the next 2 days after the calcium tablets and then some really nice eggs for the last few. So, I'm not sure how to test this. Her egg from today is a nice looking egg. All of this has been something with her since she started laying. They have oyster shell on the side and she does take some occasionally.
All of my birds will be thrilled to only have Purina Flock Raiser. Maybe my waste will be less since they've started beaking out any and all Nutrena recently. I added that to reduce waste because of the pellets. I should note that I did find Flock Raiser in pellet form but it has to be ordered. Maybe I'll look into that if shipping isn't crazy. I go through so much feed here. If I can get the pellets, I'd put my ducks back on Purina Flock Raiser. The crumbles were too choking to the ducks, so they're on a floating water fowl feed now with oyster shell on the side

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Even though I don’t have roosters anymore, I still feed my hens flock raiser with oyster shell since it’s better for pullets and old, molting, and broody hens

Sorry, I didn't mean to reply but I can't seem to erase this. Technical glitch of some sort. Great thread!

 

[Flockincrazy]

@HeatherKellyB where do you get your feed my neighbor uses country road all flock it only comes in pellets

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Do you just feed Layer Feed to all?

Jackie please listen to what Eggsighted4life has posted for you and notice all the other folks that have liked her response also. They know what they are talking about as well as experienced and noteworthy chicken and other poultry owners/keepers. Don’t waste your time expense and energy making mistakes like what I think you maybe contemplating doing with feeding everyone layer feed. If your going to have a rooster feed it right for what it’s worth - that’s just my two cents. Good luck to you and I wish you the very best with your flock.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@HeatherKellyB where do you get your feed my neighbor uses country road all flock it only comes in pellets

I usually purchase feed at one of the local TSC's. I'm not familiar with Country Road, but I'll look into it. Thank you

 

[Flockincrazy]

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

If I bought feed 50lbs would be gone in 3days

 

[thepick4uchicks]

If I bought feed 50lbs would be gone in 3days

My nine 16 week old fairly large breeds that have roasted all summer down South in the MS humidity and have been gnawed on by our swampy mosquitoes and now locusts and June bugs that do not know when tquit. I swear. I say every Summer that I am so tired of this heat and am ready for the hunt and harvest time in fall. I never say that I am looking forward to cold ever ever- ever. Ever. EVER. -EVER. I am without. No hint of anything nothing ever.......:.@@@@EVER her mind will ever be changed about this ever! Ever! Ever. I was good friends with all of them and you know these kinds. You don’t have to ask really. Its just what you do when you are most able and better able.

 

[tennsongbird01]

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 feed my bachelor flock feather fixer but I also give it to the girls scattered. You could feed your girls the feather fixer and provide oyster shell . Just my two cents. Lol