How do you feed your rooster?

[suebee]

I use Purina Flock Raiser for the adults, along with a big bowl of oyster shell. Before that, with a lot of chicks I gave them all starter/grower and oyster shell. All free range. No problems with egg laying.

 

[donrae]

I feed everyone an all-in-one type feed, I think it's 18 or 20 percent protein. I give my hens their shells back, and oyster shell. I have birds of all ages and genders, and just don't think the non-layers need the extra calcium. Plus, I personally like the extra protein as my birds don't get to free range.

 

[Spanishchick]

I noticed they like fine pellets more than large ones. I think I lost one of my first chickens because she wouldn't eat it and I had no idea what I was doing. We made $15 today off our eggs. I had to sell some.

That's two weeks from 4 chickens laying.

 

[KuroKitsune]

i have one rooster right now but have eggs due to hatch in a couple days so will end up with more for atleast a while and the roos and his hens get chick starter with a seperate small feeder of oyster shell for the girls.


my big cochin girl have the same set up feeder full of all flock pellets and a rabbit j feeder full of oyster shell i have them on the all flock with oyster on the side as i have 6 days old chicks in my brooder and 4 or 5 of them will be staying and i dont really have a way to seperate them once the chicks go outside so the big girls will stay on the all flock and shell possibly till the new girls start to lay or i might just keep the way it is

 

[Spanishchick]

I can imagine things change when you have chicks. The price of chickens is outrageous. I saw a person selling for $50.....one chicken!

 

[FVRM]

I noticed they like fine pellets more than large ones. I think I lost one of my first chickens because she wouldn't eat it and I had no idea what I was doing. We made $15 today off our eggs. I had to sell some.
That's two weeks from 4 chickens laying.

WOAH! 2 weeks of eggs from 4 chickens? you must have some of those hybrid layers

 

[Spanishchick]

No normal heritage chickens. And we eat every day for breakfast. Maybe I should do this for a living? I sold a dozen for $10. The going rate here for fresh eggs is $10 to $12. Inane!

 

[Spanishchick]

Do the math. Let's say 3 eggs a day, although I get 4 sometimes x14 days = 42. There are about 25 eggs in that basket. I have 7 today from yesterday and today. I think may be I should keep feeding the same. They forage on weekends all day and 2 hours during the week. Sometimes more, depends who's home. They get table scraps and either fresh grass or I buy kale about every other day and watery oatmeal with cut apples if its below freezing in the morning. (Not often). I'm in NW GA. Zone 7. A dozen eggs in my neighborhood (we're tucked away in what's still considered the city) goes for $10-$12. No kidding, I sold a dozen yesterday or $2 an egg if you sell by egg.
My mother who's in rural vermont almost died when I told her that. She gets a dozen for $2!
I'm adding 10 more chickens except that an almost laying chicken is selling for $35-$50 right now and id need to take a day off to go to the auction where a person can buy one for a reasinable $7-$8.
Its crazy!

 

[TheChickInn]

I feed my mixed flock Nutrena All Flock- it has a lower calcium level ( 1.4-1.9%) so is o.k. for roos. Just make sure to put out some oyster shell calcium for the girls if you go this route.

 

[Spanishchick]

Well I must have the chicken pox because I did what I thought id never do. We lost our silver laced wayandotte chicken to a hawk, by far our favorite chicken so I got 8. 2 week chicks.
I'm going to have to switch the food in a month because we are expanding the coop...pretty big, and I'm not seperating chicks from chickens. (I don't think). Someone is also giving me 6 barred rocks he says it was more than he thought he could handle.
I won't even ask for help sexing, but at $35-50 a laying hen . Home grown chicks are just fine.

My husbands working but he says he knows how to sex them, a mexican cattle ranches method. Hey, these old tricks work. I'll fill you all in tomorrow.