How do you feed your Rooster(s)?

[NatJ]

Ohhhh did not think food for roos would need to be different. Im in england and looking to see what I can get for my boys.... They seem to just have layer or treat things like corn feed..... So anyone form England know of what to get roos pls?

I'm not in England, but look for chick starter (unmedicated) or grower feed.
Either one should be safe to feed to all chickens of all ages (need to have a separate dish of oyster shell available for laying hens, too.)

Because all hens start out as little chicks, I assume your feed stores must have SOMETHING suitable to feed to growing chicks. If it's suitable for growing chicks, it is also suitable for mature chickens (exception: certain medications). It's just a matter of figuring out what they call it...

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Start/Grow, my TSC has it.

 

[Owntalin]

I'm not in England, but look for chick starter (unmedicated) or grower feed.
Either one should be safe to feed to all chickens of all ages (need to have a separate dish of oyster shell available for laying hens, too.)

Because all hens start out as little chicks, I assume your feed stores must have SOMETHING suitable to feed to growing chicks. If it's suitable for growing chicks, it is also suitable for mature chickens (exception: certain medications). It's just a matter of figuring out what they call it...

Right OK ty. I'll take a look xxx

 

[EggSighted4Life]

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

Feather fixer I have seen.. is usually slightly higher in protein and amino acids than layer. It USED to have sulfur in it and claim to combat mites, but NO longer does. It does however have at least 4%+ calcium and is meant for layers. Choosing ANY flock raiser, all flock, or grower/finisher, meat bird.. anything with less calcium would be a BETTER choice, than feather fixer.. which if you're seeing feather issues.. could either be pecking order antics, crowding, or parasite issue that needs to be addressed.

What is the difference between All Flock and Flock Raiser? I always used to feed layer crumbles, but I learned about all of the possible disadvantages and switched to All Flock pellets

Different companies use different terms to confuse us and have more products to sell. Flock raiser and all flock are both going to be higher in protein and amino acids than layer while also being lower in calcium. To me the Purina Flock raiser is higher in nutrient than whoever makes the All Flock.. LAST time I checked anyways. But as stated by another poster.. The Purina FR.. is what is available to me all the time with a high enough turnover that it has fresh mill dates. And the cost is the best on a per nutrient basis.. in MY location.

My local TSC has Nutrena All Flock. It is more expensive than layer crumbles, I only get 40lbs of all flock when I could get 50lbs of Layer feed

OS in layer is cheaper than protein in all flock... Since my birds eat their oyster shell on the side.. my actual feed usage is closer to 0.18- 0.20 # per bird than the stated usage of 0.25# per bird.. remember.. they will get about 3% (or 75% of their calcium need) now on the side.. so overall consumption of FR goes down.. leveling out the price AND you DO get what you pay for far beyond the surface price of a dollar.... again my birds return from molt sooner, my family IS getting MORE nutrients in the eggs we eat, the bird immune system is more supported without added magic fixes like acv or fermenting, etc.

Ohhhh did not think food for roos would need to be different. Im in england and looking to see what I can get for my boys.... They seem to just have layer or treat things like corn feed..... So anyone form England know of what to get roos pls?

Agree with info given by Nat J!

Noting that feeding roosters "layer" is not IDEAL.. but that doesn't mean we are here to fear monger anyone in any way.. "layer" would be better than say "scratch" because at least it's a complete ration just with excess calcium.. verses being deficient in EVERY area.

Plenty of folks feed their rooster layer and have them live long happy and healthy lives. Sometimes even when folks know all the POSSIBILITIES doesn't mean they will ever face it. Example, some folks drink Pepsi happily ever after and NEVER face a BIT of consequences.. MY genetic predisposition and ultimately onset of diabetes however, means drinking Pepsi might have killed me years ago and certainly made my body suffer fall out along the way to that early death.. including kidney stones, yeast infections, congestive heart failure and more... recovering slowly if at all from any onslaught against the immune system.

Maybe that wasn't a perfect example.. despite not feeding layer (or not drinking Pepsi, which I used to LOVE, in my example).. some roosters (and people) will still die too young without any genetic predisposition or imperfect feeding. So we stay alert and aware learning all we can.. THEN do our best and forget the rest!

My personal best changes throughout time.. as does my understanding as well as my resources and even my adventures. So glad we can share the journey as the best online community I know of!

 

[FortCluck]

All Flock Specialty Feed by Southern States

 

[Sonya9]

Layer feed is usually 25-30% less cost wise than any other type of feed and there is a reason for that! They use the cheapest ingredients they can and it has lower amounts of protein.

I have a mixed flock and everyone including the chicks get game bird feed (20% protein). There is a dish of oyster shell for the layers.

 

[RebeccaRN]

Hi Jackie!

That's a great question.

Its TRUE that birds NOT in lay (juveniles, roosters, broody's, molter's) should NOT be fed "LAYER". or calcium in excess of 3% long term as it *COULD* (doesn't mean will) cause issues including gout, kidney failure, and even sudden death.

Some folks will feed only layer ever including roosters and may never have an issue. Others will never have their birds necropsied and will presume a death was a heart attack. Some have had issues but caught it and made corrections according to their new understanding.

For ME.. I have BANK invested in my flock.. not many $3 birds around here.. aside from the time spent already to get where I am I in my chicken breeding adventure... Feeding something knowingly that *could* cause issues for one of my valued roosters would be doing myself and my flock a huge disservice. So even though "Flock Raiser" cost more than "layer".. oyster shell is cheaper than protein, which a 3% more of the fill in layer feed comparatively. But also, "layer" has less amino acids and protein in addition to the extra calcium. This makes them MINIMUM feed required to sustain light bodied layers like Leghorn in laying condition. I'm not aiming for minimums in my household.

To ME.. after genetics, everything immune system related starts with diet and nutrition. Since making the switch to Flock Raiser away from layer... my older birds now have MUCH less harsh molts and return to lay sooner. They become less withdrawn than previous molts.

Since it has more nutrients.. I also don't need to worry about they are getting free range (most grass is low protein and bugs are high fat) and gives a little leeway if I want to offer lower nutrient snacks on occasion. (I don't do corn or scratch, bit many do)

Now, I am an AVID hatcher... and 22% protein was shown in studies to give the highest hatch rate... which to me says more nutrients inside the eggs my family is consuming.. And I keep chickens BECAUSE I want want my birds and eggs to be better than those of "Big Chicken", not equal to.

That being said, the whole kidney thing is PARTLY genetic.. some folks have fed ONLY (organic) layer feed and had roosters live past 9 years old. It isn't MY personal choice.

But with NO fear mongering.. this is the information as I see it. Please decide what you are comfortable with.. for YOUR flock!

I now never switch, which is good for me as I have a constant barrage of chicks, broody's, molter's, layers.. what have you.

Please note.. by law in the US, each feed is labeled with the appropriate age and species it's formulated for. Layer feed is formulated for layers.

Terms.. grower, layer, all flock, flock raiser, meat bird, breeder, starter, etc... all are confusing terms made up by different companies. The MAIN difference is always going to be protein and calcium content followed by amino acids and the differences diminish after that;. I buy the one I like the ingredients of the most with good amino acid content. I have spent hours upon hours at my local feed stores reading and comparing labels.

Best wishes whatever you decide!

ETA: fed to juveniles, excess calcium content can even stunt growth and delay onset of laying.

What brand do you feed yours?

 

[WallyG74]

You can get layer feed in higher amounts of protein. It’s not one set amount. It’s higher ($$$) but it is available. I’ve seen it in 16, 18 and 20%.

 

[Shadrach]

It says all you need to know on the label. If it don't lay then don't feed it layer feed. Seems simple enough to me.

 

[Owntalin]

It says all you need to know on the label. If it don't lay then don't feed it layer feed. Seems simple enough to me.

Well slightly rude. It didn't even cross my mind to think about it. So actually this was a good post.