Rhode Island Reds

[DeeEinstein]

I have 2 Rhode Island Red roosters and I'm feeding them cracked corn. I stopped in at my local feed store to buy scratch feed and the guy told me that my roosters didn't need to eat it. What all do you feed your roosters? I don't have any hens yet so I don't have laying mash but shouldn't my roosters eat more than just cracked corn? It just doesn't seem to fill them up.

 

[Fred's Hens]

We only keep the best of our roosters. They are our breeding stock and very important to us. They need as balanced a diet as the young chicks or laying hens do. Their fertility and over all health and vitality is at stake.

Corn isn't a complete feed for any chicken. If a chicken lived in a tropical, lush place, with lots of insect life it is possible. But truly, how many of us live in such a lush place?

We feed our roosters a grower type feed. The high calcium of Layer appears to have been shown to adversely effect fertility and we don't find that acceptable. Hope that helps.

 

[DeeEinstein]

Do you believe then that scratch feed along with cracked corn would be sufficient?

 

[Fred's Hens]

No. Scratch is just corn, mostly, with a few other grains tossed in.

I have no idea why people think a rooster isn't worthy of good feed. I'm a bit amazed at the response of the fellow at your feed store. It's utterly baffling. Rooster don't get any respect.

We probably hatch 140+ chicks, which are vitally important to us. We also give/sell another 200 fertile eggs to people. To get a good hatch you must have fertility and rooster health. His immune system and overall health is important to us. We feed them good feed. An All Flock or Flock Raiser works. But these are just fancy names for Grower, in most cases.

In that good feed is a host of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients.

Cracked corn and scratch grains simply don't have anywhere near the nutrition required as a complete feed.

 

[DeeEinstein]

Ok, thank you. I'll be sure to get them some. I've also read about cabbage balls.. are these healthy treats for the roosters?

 

[The Chickeneer]

People who just raise roosters buy something called Rooster Feed or Game Bird Feed, its got a great mix of seeds and vitamin pellets. It's a bit more expensive, but lasts a long time if you only have two roosters. I feed this to my peacocks, which require a high protein diet, and people feed it to fighting game rooster breeds as well.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

My rooster eats my hens feed which is Layer Mash. He loves it!

 

[UnlabeledMama]

Cracked corn (and scratch feed for that matter) is pretty much candy for chickens. They love it, but they should definitely not have too much of it and it would not be a balanced diet. Since you don't have hens maybe just something like Flock Raiser?

 

[cluckcluckluke]

You might wan to try An All flock feed. When you get your hens all you have to do is just put a bowl of extra calcium out, this way all your poultry can eat it and be healthy.

 

[DeeEinstein]

Thanks everyone! I'm new to raising chickens and I want to keep them for as long as possible while maintaining their health. Thanks for all the input