rooster and laying feed

[chickenmama109]

hi

i have a flock of 12 11 pullets and 1 rooster 4 hens are just laying and im going to buy laying feed will this hurt the rooster

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Excess calcium does cause damage to internal organs and structures of non laying birds. The damage is long term and results in a shorter life span. Many accept the risk and feed layer, if you don't wish to you can feed non calcium enriched fed stucco as all flock, flock raiser, grower (18-20%protein is what I look for), etc and offer oyster Shell separately for the laying birds tho take as needed

 

[chickenmama109]

can i feed all flock and what kind do i get

 

[rIrs roost]

They say that it's not good for a roo but I have no experience feeding them layer. I feed all of mine from chick through their entire life Flock raiser or all flock. Haven't seen a change in egg production

 

[chickenmama109]

can i put oyster shells on the ground will the hens take them i put it on the ground but they dont take it and there egg shells are thin

 

[rIrs roost]

I've never had luck with them. I even put them in a container to see if they ever ate them but I've never had to refill it. Now mine will eat their egg shells. You can also get liquid calcium for them. Some people crush up tums too.

 

[GC-Raptor]

can i put oyster shells on the ground will the hens take them i put it on the ground but they dont take it and there egg shells are thin

I put mine in a 1.3 quart pail. You can also mix in 1 pound of oyster shell into 20 pounds of non layer feed. GC

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I toss a handful or two of oyster shell on the ground every two weeks or so. Do not have a problem with hens not eating it. And to be honest will forget to give them some for much longer than two weeks at a time, I'll be reminded by thin shells and toss another handful or two out and in few days shells are thick again.

 

[JesusHChicken]

Awesome thread. Didn't take the roos into consideration. I'm feeding layer mixed in with left over starter. Considering switching to flock raiser and offering oyster shells. If a bucket of oyster shells is offered free choice do your roos munch on it anyway?

 

[rIrs roost]

Awesome thread. Didn't take the roos into consideration. I'm feeding layer mixed in with left over starter. Considering switching to flock raiser and offering oyster shells. If a bucket of oyster shells is offered free choice do your roos munch on it anyway?

I love flock raiser. Ducks and chickens can eat it. Idk why mine won't touch oyster shell. Some say that they eat them just fine . But some of us just can't get our girls to touch it. Wonder if it's all in where you live? Hmm. I'm gonna do some research on that.