Is layer feed really that bad for rooster?

[Morrigan]

Since I frequently have a mixed flock of juveniles, plus a rooster, I do the oyster shells on the side. My rooster doesn't eat the oyster shells. Neither, by and large, do the juvenile birds. Indeed, one of the first signs I get that a pullet is getting ready to lay is that she becomes interested in the oyster shells.

I honestly don't know what, if any, the long-term consequence of roosters eating oyster shells are, but it's not very much trouble to fill up a dish of oyster shells every now and then.

 

[Trux]

My roos do not get special feed. If my flock is on layer, that is what the roos get. No issues noted, and the roos live a long healthy life. My chicks (and whole flock) stay on starter UNTIL they reach chicken puberty. Any time after that date, I convert the whole flock back to layer.

The bigger issue for you, IMO... Assuming that you only have 2 birds, a bag of feed is going to last at least 45 days. While the feed store employees will tell you that feed is good for up to 6 months, the fact of the matter is: nutrients in your feed immediately start to oxidize after it is milled. The feed looses nutrition. A well published animal feed nutritionist states that feed is at it's best if used within 6 weeks of milling. Given that information, I suggest that you either: freeze half of your feed in an air tight system, and allow that portion to come to room temp before opening it, or find a friend to split a bag of feed with.

or buy smaller bags of feed

 

[Trux]

If I go with a regular feed and put oyster shells on the side for my hen, will my rooster still consume the oyster shells though? Or do roosters naturally knows how to regulate their calcium intake and avoid it since they are getting enough from the regular feed already? That's the dilemma that I have, if the rooster is still going to eat the shells regardless, then I mind as well just get the layer feed..... it'll save me a bit of money from having to buy oyster shells.

I have never seen my roo eat oyster shells, looked at it ya but just walks away, not interested.

 

[Trux]

I feed layer feed, wet in the mornings to my girls and they also have a dry feeder with 20% they can pick at as they so choose. Also have oyster shell and gritt on the side. My roo does eat some layer but tends to head straight for the dry feed in the morning when they get out of the coop

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

They are pure Rhode Island Reds. I got my start with them several years ago from a quad I purchased from a master breeder. I was looking for some good show quality stock. I had some birds that I had gotten a few years earlier from another breeder but they weren't quite as nice. I saw some birds at a show that I fell in love with and sought out the owner. We made an arrangement for me to get a quad from him at the next show. I absolutely love them.

Wow - the are SO gorgeous!!!

 

[Mosey2003]

Roosters aren't going to consume any great amount of oyster shell. Mine will get all excited when I refill it because it seems like a treat, and he may actually eat one or two, but he mostly picks it up and drops it for the hens to see. It really isn't much effort or expense at all. I get the 50lb bag for $8, about the same price as the small quart bag. Mostly fits in a 5 gallon bucket, and Dad likes to use it in the garden for the tomatoes too. Then I have a couple little piglet feeders that I just fill up every couple weeks as they empty. Before I picked those up for free I used dog dishes, you want the kind that don't tip because they'll try to get in and scratch through it.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I'm gonna go ahead with the layer feed and see how that goes....... after the bag is done, I might experiment with the regular feed w/ oyster shells on the side but that won't be for a long while because I only have 2 chickens with a big ol' bag of feed!