Rooster feed?

[Susie]

First of all ... what a great site! I love reading all the posts!

Now to my question, I have one RIR rooster and 8 pullets that are just about ready to start laying, can the rooster eat laying pellets? or will he get runny poo? Do I need to feed him different food? They all get to free roam in the evenings.

Thanks in advance for the knowledge, information and entertainment!

 

[speckledhen]

Most people don't feed them separately. I do have a pelleted feed put out by Southern States called Rooster Booster. It's low in calcium and 20% protein (animal protein, at that). I put it in a pan outside in the yard and since they range most of the day, my roosters eat from that pan. The girls get oyster shell and crushed eggshells to supplement, which the roosters don't pay attention to, but the hanging feeder in the coop has layer feed in it. Anyway, doing it this way keeps the rooster from getting as much unneeded calcium as he normally would. It can cause problems over the years in some roosters to have an overload of calcium, but it's also very difficult to feed separately if they all live together.
Glad you've joined the fun, Susie!

 

[Susie]

Thanks again!

 

[robin416]

Then you have me who avoids layer feed completely. I have cups of oyster shell hanging from all of the pens. The boys ignore it the girls empty it.

 

[mdbucks]

Quote:
how do you keep the girls from eating the rooster booster, or just let them eat it too, figuring they will make up for any calcium deficiency by eating the oyster shell?

P.S. congrats on the new title

 

[speckledhen]

They eat it, too. It's good quality feed, just without the extra calcium. All the girls and guys eat from that pan when they cruise by it during the day and they all seem to like it very well, but inside the coop, the girls usually are the ones at the hanging feeder with the layer pellets in it.
And, thanks for the congrats.