Is It Ok for Roo to Eat Layer Pellets??

I was concerned about the same thing, so I have two feeders-one for layer feed, and one for flock raiser. That way they can all choose. I also have a small feeder with a mix of oyster shell and crushed egg shells.

 

It's okay for the Roo's to eat layer pellets. I believe the feed goes by age of birds rather than the sex of birds. So when the birds hit laying age, you switch to layer feed. All of my birds eat the same feed b/c they are the same age. When I integrate new birds into the flock in the spring the new ones will be separated from the older ones and will eat chick crumbles.

 

I have never had a problem with the roosters eating layer feed. I mix up 2 50 ln bags of layer crumble with 1 50 lb bag of flock raiser for summer and 2 parts layer crumble to 1 part gamebird feed in the winter with scratch grains available year round as treats.

 

All my roos eat layer pellets. Hasnt hurt them.

 

Mine ate them with no problems.

 

All ours get Gamebird feed (choice of formulation weather/molt dependent). We put out free choice oyster shell for the turkey and chicken hens.

If one is planning to keep the roo or toms around for a long time it is better to keep the layer to a minimum.

There is some good inormation on gout in the thread below (scroll down to dlhunicorn's post).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7208

 

Now if your roo all of a sudden starts laying eggs...then you may have a problem