I Accidentally Fed my Drake Layer Feed for a Month

[Flockincrazy]

Hello! So my welsh harlequin female was laying eggs then just stopped. Not sure why. So I gave the whole flock feed with calcium and gave oyster shells in a bowl, but no laying. This went on for about a month until I just realized today that, oh shoot, I have a drake. I didn't even think about my drake when buying the layer feed. So he has been eating this layer feed for a while and I am worried. I am buying all flock today and switching their feed, but I am wondering if he will be okay and if there is anything I should do?

He should be fine when I bought feed I never knew that you should use all flock when you have roos so they got layer feed it never hurt them

 

[3KillerBs]

and for what its worth, my flock is in my sig. I usually have between 8 and 12 ducks, typically two drakes. I also, for reasons not important here, feed my birds in ways I don't recommend the typical backyard owner do. That's a mix that ends up at 20% protein, but around 2.8% calcium.

My sample size is so small as to not be worthy of being called anecdote, much less data, but I have had no deaths attributed to calcium toxicity. However, when I've culled older drakes (12-15 mo) to make room for fresh breeders. there have been visible signs of the progression on the intestines and liver. I've not closely inspected the kidneys, but assume the signs were present there as well. one of these days, i'll take a photo

It would be very interesting to see photos of the internals when they're looking healthy and right and when they're showing signs that things aren't right.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

It would be very interesting to see photos of the internals when they're looking healthy and right and when they're showing signs that things aren't right.

I'm always tempted to invite the "I've fed them layer all their life" folks to cut the head off one of their birds, disrobe it, and go do some serious Haruspicy on them - but since most of these people are slowly poisoning their "pets", its perhaps a bit rude. I also doubt they have the requisite experience to understand what they are seeing.

Even so, killing solely to prove a point is wasteful. Waste is, in pragmatic morality, "evil". Accordingly, I don't recommend.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm always tempted to invite the "I've fed them layer all their life" folks to cut the head off one of their birds, disrobe it, and go do some serious Haruspicy on them - but since most of these people are slowly poisoning their "pets", its perhaps a bit rude. I also doubt they have the requisite experience to understand what they are seeing.

Even so, killing solely to prove a point is wasteful. Waste is, in pragmatic morality, "evil". Accordingly, I don't recommend.

Thanks for being the voice of reason, Storm. You and a few others are the resons my flocks flourish, I've learned so much from you and @Ridgerunner, @aart, @Wyorp Rock, @Eggcessive, @azygous and several others. I too, used to feed layer formula, and then one day found my beautiful sweet BJG rooster Elvis dead for no apparent reason. I still don't know why he died, but when I learned that calcium toxicity MIGHT have been a factor and could also affect any non-layers in my flock, I immediately made the switch. Better safe than sorry, yes? I came here to learn, so it only makes sense to respect the advice of those with more experience and knowledge than myself. Otherwise why am I here? May as well go play some stupid video game.

 

[Chicken poppy]

If you ask some on here, his head should start spinning around and pop off. It won’t hurt him a bit.

Sounds fun!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thanks for being the voice of reason, Storm. You and a few others are the resons my flocks flourish, I've learned so much from you and @Ridgerunner, @aart, @Wyorp Rock, @Eggcessive, @azygous and several others. I too, used to feed layer formula, and then one day found my beautiful sweet BJG rooster Elvis dead for no apparent reason. I still don't know why he died, but when I learned that calcium toxicity MIGHT have been a factor and could also affect any non-layers in my flock, I immediately made the switch. Better safe than sorry, yes? I came here to learn, so it only makes sense to respect the advice of those with more experience and knowledge than myself. Otherwise why am I here? May as well go play some stupid video game.

Too kind. I look up to all those you've named, everyone of which has far more experience than myself. I've merely done a bit of reading lately, and pay attention when I cull near weakly.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Don't be so modest. It's that paying attention that makes you worth listening to.

 

[3KillerBs]

It's that paying attention that makes you worth listening to.

Indeed.

I sometimes think that half of success in any area of life is simply paying attention.

 

[Brooks_]

have the requisite experience to understand what they are seeing.

I know I don't which is why I think the pics would be a great addition to the forum. Maybe as an article?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I know I don't which is why I think the pics would be a great addition to the forum. Maybe as an article?

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