Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[emorems0]

Woops, I didn't realize roosters shouldn't be eating layer feed... Romeo has been eating layer feed for the last year (since the girls switched to layer). What's the solution when you have your boy(s) in with the ladies? Flock raiser with oyster shell on the side? Is there any reason not to feed the higher protein flock raiser to adults? I thought that was just for meat birds and other poultry with higher protein needs.

Egg production has dropped here, hardly getting any large eggs anymore, only smaller ones that I assume are from the young girls who just started laying. My poor BA with the bare back (she was the favorite when Romeo was down to only 3 hens) finally started growing feathers on her back. I'm wondering if it is because Romeo is finally easing up now that the young girls are all maturing or if it is because of molting season. When I asked for help for her in the spring, I was told that she probably wouldn't grow them back until she molted (which is strange to me now since Romeo had half of his back and tail plucked by a predator this summer and the feathers grew back right away). I tried to keep a saddle on her for a while, but she kept pulling it off and it didn't seem to help with the feathers growing back so I gave up about halfway through summer. Her skin on her back looks almost calloused, there are some feathers growing back, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can put on her to help. This probably isn't logical at all, but I feel like it would be easier for the feathers to come in if the skin was softer?

Also, higher protein feed during molting, right?

 

[Kramerfamilyof4]

Woops, I didn't realize roosters shouldn't be eating layer feed... Romeo has been eating layer feed for the last year (since the girls switched to layer). What's the solution when you have your boy(s) in with the ladies? Flock raiser with oyster shell on the side? Is there any reason not to feed the higher protein flock raiser to adults? I thought that was just for meat birds and other poultry with higher protein needs.

Egg production has dropped here, hardly getting any large eggs anymore, only smaller ones that I assume are from the young girls who just started laying. My poor BA with the bare back (she was the favorite when Romeo was down to only 3 hens) finally started growing feathers on her back. I'm wondering if it is because Romeo is finally easing up now that the young girls are all maturing or if it is because of molting season. When I asked for help for her in the spring, I was told that she probably wouldn't grow them back until she molted (which is strange to me now since Romeo had half of his back and tail plucked by a predator this summer and the feathers grew back right away). I tried to keep a saddle on her for a while, but she kept pulling it off and it didn't seem to help with the feathers growing back so I gave up about halfway through summer. Her skin on her back looks almost calloused, there are some feathers growing back, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can put on her to help. This probably isn't logical at all, but I feel like it would be easier for the feathers to come in if the skin was softer?

Also, higher protein feed during molting, right?

Correct, Flock raiser with oyster shell on the side. The higher protein is good for all birds and will help them through their molt as well. Some birds will lay eggs while they molt, but most do not. 2-6 weeks after they finish you can expect to see eggs again!

 

[dekel18042]

This seems to be the consensus, that roos (or hens that are not laying) fed layer feed will develop kidney problems. I suppose that as many surplus roos as we have around, many people don't worry too much about that, but from what I've read it is something to consider.

I use a 22% breeder pellet for my turkeys, with oyster shell available free choice. I use the same for my breeding pens, and an 18% layer for the pens that I'm just using for eating eggs. Those pens have roos, but I choose to feed them the layer anyway. I can also get a 16% grower that I may look into for maintenance to save some money.

The two main points seem to be that in a layer flock with a few roosters, all eat layer food with no bad effects, especially if the birds can forage at all on their own. The other is that non laying food is fed with oyster shells or calcium on the side. I've found proponents for both these ideas
I've found it easiest to stick with one food but I do have growth for my non lying birds until they reach POL, however they all free range together although they have their own coops and runs. This just means when the doors are open they can go in each others pens and runs and help themselves to whatever is in the feeder for that coop.

 

[emorems0]

So, I finally got a video of the baby crowing with the rooster. I wanted to upload it here since I thought you all would appreciate it, but I don't know how... I have to upload it to youtube? how do I do that?

 

[Chaos18]

Woops, I didn't realize roosters shouldn't be eating layer feed... Romeo has been eating layer feed for the last year (since the girls switched to layer). What's the solution when you have your boy(s) in with the ladies? Flock raiser with oyster shell on the side? Is there any reason not to feed the higher protein flock raiser to adults? I thought that was just for meat birds and other poultry with higher protein needs.

Egg production has dropped here, hardly getting any large eggs anymore, only smaller ones that I assume are from the young girls who just started laying. My poor BA with the bare back (she was the favorite when Romeo was down to only 3 hens) finally started growing feathers on her back. I'm wondering if it is because Romeo is finally easing up now that the young girls are all maturing or if it is because of molting season. When I asked for help for her in the spring, I was told that she probably wouldn't grow them back until she molted (which is strange to me now since Romeo had half of his back and tail plucked by a predator this summer and the feathers grew back right away). I tried to keep a saddle on her for a while, but she kept pulling it off and it didn't seem to help with the feathers growing back so I gave up about halfway through summer. Her skin on her back looks almost calloused, there are some feathers growing back, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can put on her to help. This probably isn't logical at all, but I feel like it would be easier for the feathers to come in if the skin was softer?

Also, higher protein feed during molting, right?

If you don't mind buying the turkeys a different feed than you could probably go with a grower type feed for all the chooks with a side dish of oyster/calcium. If you want to just buy one type of feed for everybody (like me) than there aren't a whole lot of options besides the flock raiser with a side of oyster/calcium.

 

[LadyBehir]

So I should switch from layer to flock if I have 2 roos? Can I just grind up egg shells for the calcium for them? I have been feeding them back to everyone anyway, as part of the compost they have access to. And the shells do disappear so I think the girls must be getting them.

 

[fisherlady]

So I should switch from layer to flock if I have 2 roos? Can I just grind up egg shells for the calcium for them? I have been feeding them back to everyone anyway, as part of the compost they have access to. And the shells do disappear so I think the girls must be getting them.

I don't think there is a perfect answer.... I would need to see research which shows how much effect the increased calcium has over an expected 6-8 year life span of an average backyard rooster. does it shorten their lifespan by 2 years or 2 months?.... what effect is there when they get layer about half the year and no calcium chick food about half the years? (that is closer to what my flock gets with all the brooding going on)

Edit for spelling error

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Woops, I didn't realize roosters shouldn't be eating layer feed... Romeo has been eating layer feed for the last year (since the girls switched to layer). What's the solution when you have your boy(s) in with the ladies? Flock raiser with oyster shell on the side? Is there any reason not to feed the higher protein flock raiser to adults? I thought that was just for meat birds and other poultry with higher protein needs.

Egg production has dropped here, hardly getting any large eggs anymore, only smaller ones that I assume are from the young girls who just started laying. My poor BA with the bare back (she was the favorite when Romeo was down to only 3 hens) finally started growing feathers on her back. I'm wondering if it is because Romeo is finally easing up now that the young girls are all maturing or if it is because of molting season. When I asked for help for her in the spring, I was told that she probably wouldn't grow them back until she molted (which is strange to me now since Romeo had half of his back and tail plucked by a predator this summer and the feathers grew back right away). I tried to keep a saddle on her for a while, but she kept pulling it off and it didn't seem to help with the feathers growing back so I gave up about halfway through summer. Her skin on her back looks almost calloused, there are some feathers growing back, but I'm wondering if there is anything I can put on her to help. This probably isn't logical at all, but I feel like it would be easier for the feathers to come in if the skin was softer?

Also, higher protein feed during molting, right?

Correct, Flock raiser with oyster shell on the side. The higher protein is good for all birds and will help them through their molt as well. Some birds will lay eggs while they molt, but most do not. 2-6 weeks after they finish you can expect to see eggs again!

Just wanted to say that I really like your Avitar, are they your birds?

 

[Chaos18]

I don't think there is a perfect answer.... I would need to see research which shows how much effect the increased calcium has over an expected 6-8 year life span of an average backyard rooster.  does it shorten there lifespan by 2 years or 2 months?.... what effect is there when they get layer about half the year and no calcium chick food about half the years? (that is closer to what my flock gets with all the brooding going on)

As far as research on the matter is concerned I can't point you to any one specific source. I'm just going off what I've read and heard from others. Yes you are correct there is no one perfect answer. As I'm sure people have done it both ways for a long time and have had great success.

 

[jmayday]