Rooster feed

[jenni22776rn]

Kind of a silly question..I tried to find a post but came up empty..I have read what to feed my ladies..and teenager pullets, and what to feed my chicks....but do I have to feed my Roo something diffrent? Do I feed him layer feed as I do with my ladies? My little 13 week old BO's are getting ready to go into the real coop..do I have to put out his own food bowl?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I have heard that until they are fully developed the cockerel should not have too much calcium in the diet so staying on 15% grower is fine. But once they are full grown I think they can eat layer feed just fine, Mine do atleast.

 

[dsqard]

I have a mixed flock. Hens, a grown rooster, pullets and cockerels. I feed all of them the same food. I take Purina Flockraiser, mix it with gamebird food and put out oyster shell free choice. The laying hens are the only ones that eat the oystershell. I mix the gamebird food in to increase protien. Works really well for me!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Just like the pullets, young roosters should not have too much calcium until they are pretty much grown. They can develop bone or kidney problems. But once they are around 18 to 20 weeks old, they are pretty well grown and should be able to handle the extra calcium, just like the non-laying pullets and hens do. If you are going to feed the laying hens layer, you don't have a lot of choice. He is going to eat what they eat.

I feed all my flock grower with oyster shell on the side when I have younger chickens in with the laying hens. That way the ones that need the calcium can eat oyster shell and those that the extra calcium could harm don't have to eat it.