Rooster feed

[erinc]

I've switched all my girls over to Layer Crumbles. Is it okay that my Rooster eats this as well? This is their only feed, other than treats and what they find while free ranging.

 

[junebuggena]

Layer feed is for actively laying birds only. There is no reason why you have to feed layer. There is no magic ingredient in it. A grower feed is a better choice for your flock, especially since you also give treats and free range. Just be sure to have some crushed oyster shell out for those that need it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
The best feed for a rooster is one with 1% calcium (non-layer) and from 12-15% protein.

 

[ladyearth]

yeah but cant find an organic one in pellets for all purpose or starter or grower.... bought the crumbles for a while and they mostly pecked thru it so powerdy
thanks all

 

[GingersHuman]

Yeah, I wish there was an organic all flock pellet.

 

[erinc]

Layer feed is for actively laying birds only. There is no reason why you have to feed layer. There is no magic ingredient in it. A grower feed is a better choice for your flock, especially since you also give treats and free range. Just be sure to have some crushed oyster shell out for those that need it.

Yes they've got plenty of oyster shells and their egg shells washed and crunched back up for their taking!!
So it's best to stick with grower?! The only grower I can get in stores is starter & grower medicated is that sufficient?

 

[junebuggena]

Medicated feed should not be fed long term. It can cause thiamine deficiencies if fed long term. Unmedicated starter, grower, all flock, or flock raiser feeds are all good, safe choices for all ages, stages, and genders.

 

[chickens really]

Roosters can be fed layer feed....Old wives tale....It will not hurt the Rooster one bit.....

Cheers!

 

[junebuggena]

Roosters can be fed layer feed....Old wives tale....It will not hurt the Rooster one bit.....

Cheers!

It does hurt them, it just takes awhile. If you only plan on having a rooster around for a short time, there is no problem with feeding layer. But if you plan on keeping him for years, all that calcium will build up in the kidney and eventual cause it to fail. It is not a wives tale. It is fact. Layer feed will shorten a rooster's life span by several years.

 

[HeyHouse]

I second junebuggena's response.

I will say that I DO feed my rooster layer pellets. I keep him with my hens, so it's hard to keep him out of the pellets. He gets a lot of other food though because he's free range and I feed him scrap food too, so I hope it's offset by that.

He's 2 years old and still healthy and keeping my hens fertile.