Rooster Feed

[roostercluck]

Can roosters eat the same feed that the hens are or do they need a totally different feed?

 

[chicmom]

They can eat the same thing the hens eat.

 

[Chris09]

The problem is with roosters eating laying feed.
The amount of calcium that is in layer feed is way to high for roosters.

Most breeders I know will simply feed everything a good Starter/Grower and offer a Calcium Supplement like Oyster Shells on the side.


Chris

 

[speckledhen]

If they live with the hens, they must eat the same feed. If you have roosters living separately, it's better if they eat something like Knockout Game feed which has no added calcium for laying hens. But, most folks have roosters with their hens and it's not feasible to feed them a separate feed.

As Chris said, some don't even feed layer feed to the hens, though I do, personally. My roosters eat what the hens eat and I've seen no ill effects from that.

ETA: My handicapped rooster, who died recently, lived in a separate cage and he ate Knockout Game feed, with 11 grains, no added calcium, and 12% protein as his daily feed.