Hello! I realize the comment was a long time ago. Can you please expand on this? This year I lost all 3 silkie rooster at 3 years of age. I expected them to live a lot longer because we care for them so well, however, they do eat layer feed with the hens. Should I change this and feed all flock with oyster on the side?
I scared myself feeding them all flock once and I had to save my hen from having 2 eggs stuck inside her. I’m not sure if it was a coincidence with the timing.
Ok, I'll elaborate. But maybe a historical snapshot will help. Genetically, modern chickens (gallus gallus domesticus) are virtually identical to red jungle fowl (gallus gallus) the species modern chickens have evolved from thanks to genetic selection and nutrition research. Those ancestral birds still exist in the wild. Their range extends from hot humid southeast Asian forests to the Himalayan foothills. This diversity of adaptability has allowed humans to develop well over a hundred breeds of chickens on all continents, just like we now have a huge variety of dog breeds from wolves or horses from the original equine first domesticated between the Black and Caspian seas.
A red jungle fowl cock can still mate with an Orpington hen and produce mix breed chickens from their eggs. Conversely, a Jersey Giant cock can breed with a red jungle fowl hen producing chicks from her eggs. This because they genetically possess the same species DNA. However, that is where the similarities cease. Humans have selected birds for behavior, climatic adaptability, size, shape, color and productivity - even flavor of meat.
Since the qualities of chickens were first recognized, not just the quality of the meat and eggs, but also the fierce demeanor of males. It is this latter quality that first brought the noble fowl to all corners of the earth. The food aspect was less important originally than the sport aspect of cock fighting. Many kings, sultans and presidents engaged in cock fighting. It was their secondary benefits of meat and eggs plus tertiary products like feathers and manure that superseded cock fighting as the true value.
In the ensuing centuries, production increased exponentially. The same species that can now produce over 300 eggs a year as opposed to the 10 eggs in a couple clutches a year of junglefowl, now need varied but significantly higher levels of calcium carbonate in their diet in order to build all the shells the aforementioned genetic selection now require.
While most breeds of modern hens need much more calcium than their ancestors. The amount derived from the natural diet was sufficient to pack calcium into the medullary bone of hens between clutches. Also adequate for roosters, chicks and aged hens. About 1% of the total intake. However, if a bird that is not building eggshells, their kidneys (organ responsible for regulating minerals in blood) cannot handle a diet of 4% calcium. In the end, the name of the food says it all. Layer feed is for layers, nothing else. A hen is not a layer by virtue of the fact she is female. Chicks aren't layers, roosters aren't layers, molting hens aren't layers, old hens no longer laying are not layers. Only birds actively producing shells can assimilate over 1% calcium for any extended period.
People feed layer feed to birds other than layers all the time. When their birds don't immediately keel over and die, they assume it is OK.
Like most animals, chickens have 2 kidneys, each with 3 segments. All segments have the same function. As long as two undamaged segments remain, chickens will behave and appear normal. They will continue to lay eggs. Just like with transplants in humans functioning with only one kidney. However, as soon as one of the remaining two segments atrophies or swells to the point it no longer does its job, the chicken will die within 24 hours, sometimes with no symptoms.
When chickens die, how often will a person get a necropsy at a poultry diagnostic lab? Every state and country have them. If the problem is excessive calcium, the cause of death could be easily identified. All organs are affected but since kidneys regulate minerals, they are the first sacrificed.
Just as with humans, animals can die from all sorts of maladies, it isn't just old age or reaching their expiration date that causes chickens to die. I've had birds, seemingly in the prime of their life die suddenly. Since my birds were so rare, it was critical to know what killed them, so I knew if the rest were in danger. I always took or shipped the birds to the UM poultry diagnostic lab for a necropsy. Virtually all deaths were from heart attack or cancer with the occasional fatty liver syndrome or egg binding. No diseases in all these years.
Layer feed is about 4% calcium and with few exceptions, all other feeds are about 1% calcium. The easiest way to resolve the dilemma is to feed a grower or all flock feed and supplement the hens' needs with crushed oyster shell or mineral form of calcium carbonate on the side in a separate container. Let them choose how much to consume. The amount they need will vary with their productivity. Very productive breeds like Leghorns or RIRs may need more than the 4% in layer feed so even if one feeds a layer ration, supplementation is still a good idea. For poor producers that only lay an egg occasionally, like once a week or less, they could get by without any supplementation or layer feed for that matter.
There are other options. You can build hen feeders with small openings the roosters can't fit their heads in. Then elevate feeders with the rooster ration high enough the hens can't reach.
Or, if you only have roosters for fertile eggs, you can house roosters separately and only give them conjugal visits a couple days every two weeks.
These last two options, while more laborious, may be preferable for rooster health. Roosters don't need the high protein in all flock (often about 20%) feed either. That high protein is for the ovulation of the hens and the growing bodies in a mixed flock. Adult roosters can maintain body functions on about 14% protein. Besides kidney damage from calcium, excess protein can also affect the kidneys and liver causing gout in the roosters.
I think that is enough for today!
