Rooster doesn't get to eat

[Johnchickens2]

Hi! I have 12 seramas. 2 males, 10 females. I have noticed that the top rooster barely gets to eat... especially when I give them treats, for example bolied eggs, veggies, seeds... - he calls his females and lets them eat, nothing left to him. He looks healthy, red comb and strong (chases the other male a lot too, ha ha...) but he doesn't eat a lot. I feed them all flock feed + layer pellets + scrath feed. while he does get to take a few bites, his crop is always empty. He just allows his females to eat. And I can't leave the feed out all day for him because of the wild birds. So I feed them 3 times a day and put the uneaten back in the bucket. Is it normal that he doesnt eat a lot but still looks healthy? Any tips? Thanks!!

 

[Johnchickens2]

Forgot to mention, that if I try to separate him to allow him to eat alone, he gets anxious and doesbt even look at the food because he wants to return to the flock.

 

[Jener8or]

If you pick him up, how does his body condition feel? Is his keel bone protruding? If he seems healthy, then I wouldn't worry about him too much. Do they get to free-range at all? I bet he is eating bugs and other such that he sounds like he is doing fine. He sounds like a good rooster. Mine doesn't often eat the treats when I give them either, just watches the girls eat them all.

If you are too worried, is there a way you could put the feeder somewhere the wild birds possibly wouldn't be able to get to? Maybe one of the treadle-style feeders or a bucket or barrel with holes and the pvc or feeder inserts?

example pictures (not mine):

ETA: I forgot Seramas might not be heavy enough for a treadle feeder. I know some are adjustable, but you'd definitely want to make sure before getting one (my Seramas have never used ours, but I can try to see if I could get them to--they might be way too light, though, right now (still growing)).

 

[PimsGarden]

That's super normal for a rooster, they are prob eating more than you think. But to be on the safe side, keep an eye on body condition like mentioned above. Mine never really eats the treats offered, he just announces them to the hens and let's them eat. Mine are allowed access to food all day and free range a little, if you don't allow access to food all day then maybe you could find a place where he could access it just in case he isn't eating a lot when you offer it? Also make sure he isn't eating layer food which is not good for him. I just offer all flock food with oyster shell on the side so the hens can get calcium and the rooster isn't forced to eat calcium in the layer food.

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thank you for your comments. Well, he is a bit thin...
Yes, they are free in the yard. I don't have plants (grass, bushes) though, only trees... so almost no bugs. The other rooster, that eats normally, (when the top rooster isn't there, of course..) is much heavier. I think I will try to somehow get a creative feeder you suggested, then the feed can stay out all day. It's sad he can't enjoy the treats too just because he calls the girls every time. Maybe I will try offering him some treats from my hand before sleeping - when he is on the roost with his girls - good idea?

 

[Jener8or]

Thank you for your comments. Well, he is a bit thin...
Yes, they are free in the yard. I don't have plants (grass, bushes) though, only trees... so almost no bugs. The other rooster, that eats normally, (when the top rooster isn't there, of course..) is much heavier. I think I will try to somehow get a creative feeder you suggested, then the feed can stay out all day. It's sad he can't enjoy the treats too just because he calls the girls every time. Maybe I will try offering him some treats from my hand before sleeping - when he is on the roost with his girls - good idea?

You can see if he'll take it, but it sounds like he might not, plus it is probably fairly time-intensive to feed him like that.

If you can just find a creative feeder or place to put it with All-Flock (and oyster shell on the side for the girls) I bet everyone will be happy with that!

 

[PimsGarden]

Thank you for your comments. Well, he is a bit thin...
Yes, they are free in the yard. I don't have plants (grass, bushes) though, only trees... so almost no bugs. The other rooster, that eats normally, (when the top rooster isn't there, of course..) is much heavier. I think I will try to somehow get a creative feeder you suggested, then the feed can stay out all day. It's sad he can't enjoy the treats too just because he calls the girls every time. Maybe I will try offering him some treats from my hand before sleeping - when he is on the roost with his girls - good idea?

My rooster won't even take treats from my hand, it's weird. He is super selfless! So who knows, yours might take treats from your hand. The ideal solution is access to food all day, sounds like the competition is high for food and he isn't getting a lot of time after every other chicken is done eating. It also sounds like he won't focus on food if you separate him from the flock so I'd focus on the food access option.

 

[Penpal]

The chickens will eat until they are full. If the rooster isn't eating enough you need to put out more feed so there is still some left when the ladies are done.

 

[Al Gerhart]

He is just being a male, provider and protector, aka one good rooster. The problem is you should have feed available 24/7 so he knows there isn't a shortage of food. Once he sees there is an abundance he will eat more.

Tiny birds do not do well with a treadle feeder, reach and weight is needed and enough difference between the hen and the vermin so the the vermin can't reach the feed from the treadle step (narrow and distant) nor can the vermin overwhelm the spring loaded door.

Your best bet is to exclude the vermin, Ft Knox coop, $$$$$. The green plastic parts feeder picture above won't stop rodents or wild birds, neither will the bucket feeders.

Since you free range in the yard your best shot is to leave them in the coop for a few hours in the morning with unlimited feed available, then get them into the coop an hour before sunset so the rooster has time to eat after his hens are full.

Good luck. Take care of that rooster, he is a good one.

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thank you all. I will definitely find a way to leave food out 24/7. But what about the treats? I give them bolied eggs, mealworms, veggies, seeds, tuna ... ? They don't leave anything for him. I don't mind saving a bit for him and give him (once or twice a week) while he is on the roost from my hand . But then I thought (a funny thought) - if he becomes thirsty after the treats I offer him on the roost, he won't leave the roost to drink and go up on the roost back to the girls. He will just stay there the whole night even if he becomes thirsty. Isn't it a problem?