Rooster issue

[The Good Grumble]

I was pointing out sand could potentially cause an issue with your birds, not that you had one going on.

Also,

FWIW, I have noticed one of my roos chomping down on it a lot recently (the other roos take a nibble now and then) and guessed he thinks he needs it to build bone / spurs / whatever. He's fit as a fiddle and filling out nicely (turned 1 recently), and I have confidence in my feed, so I do not question his instincts.

How old is your roo and how long has this being going on?

he’s 6ish months. Always under foot, and quite beautiful. But maybe that has something to do with it. I do see spur buds. Maybe that’s it, he’s taking little snacks here and there and not chowing down. This is my first rooster aside from the ones growing up. He was an oopsie. But he’s grown on me terribly. It makes me wonder since birds use their beaks for everything if this isn’t all related to exploring and the fishy taste might be appealing.

The food thing is so complicated, because of my health issues. And I want to keep him. So that’s really the priority for me. I desperately need to get that sorted as I’m running out of options now.

 

[Carters Chick House]

So I had this same concern. I kept seeing my cockerel digging in the oyster shell container. He does have access to grit. At first I was worried but then I really paid attention. I realized he noticed the girls going over and getting some oyster shell so he runs over and grabs some and kind of tosses it out of the container for them. I thought he was eating it but now I think he's trying to help the ladies?

I have no idea if this is normal...but it might explain.

My rooster shows the hens everything. He has climbed into the nest box and coaxed them into it. Any treats I bring to them,I show to him first. Very entertaining.

 

[WingItRanch]

My rooster shows the hens everything. He has climbed into the nest box and coaxed them into it. Any treats I bring to them,I show to him first. Very entertaining.

Yes! I kept catching my guy in the nest boxes and I jokingly call it "mansplaining" to the pullets on how to lay eggs.

 

[Carters Chick House]

I've only had chickens 4 years now and the flock behavior is interesting to me. Started with 12. This years total is 16 hens. Age 2 to 4 years. ONE and only one 4 year old rooster. Six chicks hatched. 4 weeks to 5 months. One broody hen sitting on 12 eggs. The 5 month olds were roosters and they were traded for my 12 new eggs. I enjoy reading others experiences. Have fun and update soon.

 

[chickenlover2344]

I got some bluebells 7 and 3 are roosters

 

[chickenlover2344]

Also,

he’s 6ish months. Always under foot, and quite beautiful. But maybe that has something to do with it. I do see spur buds. Maybe that’s it, he’s taking little snacks here and there and not chowing down. This is my first rooster aside from the ones growing up. He was an oopsie. But he’s grown on me terribly. It makes me wonder since birds use their beaks for everything if this isn’t all related to exploring and the fishy taste might be appealing.

The food thing is so complicated, because of my health issues. And I want to keep him. So that’s really the priority for me. I desperately need to get that sorted as I’m running out of options now.

young like 18 weeks

 

[NatJ]

Because of my boy, I’m keeping everyone on Texas naturals grower, I love it. (Pea, peanut and fish protein) Awesome food. However I add oyster shells for my layers, which they always eat happily.

But so does my dumb dumb rooster. It’s like a super treat for him and he will pig out on it. What the heck, I’m trying to make sure that goober stays healthy…should I switch back to my normal layer feed or keep the flock on the grower crumble?

I would keep the flock on the grower crumble.

I don't know whether the rooster is eating oyster shell because he wants grit (like many other people suggested), or whether he is eating oyster shell because he needs extra calcium for growth (like one other poster suggested) or because he is just sampling it or showing the hens (as a different poster suggested), but regardless of which one might be true, I would still keep the flock on the grower crumble. Giving him no choice about the extra calcium (layer feed) is not likely to make anything better, and has the potential to cause him problems.

currently I only have two choices. I have scoured sources and short of making my own feed I’m stuck. One is back ordered, (my favorite grower crumble) and the other is a layer feed.

I would feed the grower feed when you can, and the layer feed when you have no other options. Extra calcium for roosters is a cumulative thing, so the less time he spends on layer feed, the better it is for him. But he shouldn't have major problems if the flock eats their way through a bag of it now and then.

I don’t free feed, they get fed 2x per day. Fermented feed. (Super helpful in getting them in lol)

If you are low on grower feed and can only buy layer feed, maybe consider separating the flock at mealtime for now? The hens could get layer feed, the rooster and babies could get grower feed. That would be a way to use the grower feed for the birds where it is expected to make the most difference.

Then again, that idea may not be practical. If it won't work, then obviously don't bother trying.

I don’t think chickens really care what size the grit is they’re offered. I haven’t met a grit connoisseur in my flocks over the years. I’m fairly certain it’s because they just get what they need without supplemental grit.

If that were the issue the babes would be eating the grit, and they don’t eat the oyster shells either. They’re all on coarse sand in the run and free range every day.

If the rooster needs bigger grit, he might eat oyster shell because the pieces are larger. The babies might be satisfied with the current small pieces. So logically, just because the babies are not eating oyster shell, does not tell whether the rooster needs bigger grit and is trying to use oyster shell as a substitute.

Then again, maybe the rooster does get the correct size from the sand he has access to. In the photo with sand in your hand, some of the pieces do look about as big as I would expect grit for adult chickens to be.

So I don't know either way. I just don't think "the babies don't do it" is any kind of proof about why the rooster is doing what he does.

 

[The Good Grumble]

I would keep the flock on the grower crumble.

I don't know whether the rooster is eating oyster shell because he wants grit (like many other people suggested), or whether he is eating oyster shell because he needs extra calcium for growth (like one other poster suggested) or because he is just sampling it or showing the hens (as a different poster suggested), but regardless of which one might be true, I would still keep the flock on the grower crumble. Giving him no choice about the extra calcium (layer feed) is not likely to make anything better, and has the potential to cause him problems.


I would feed the grower feed when you can, and the layer feed when you have no other options. Extra calcium for roosters is a cumulative thing, so the less time he spends on layer feed, the better it is for him. But he shouldn't have major problems if the flock eats their way through a bag of it now and then.


If you are low on grower feed and can only buy layer feed, maybe consider separating the flock at mealtime for now? The hens could get layer feed, the rooster and babies could get grower feed. That would be a way to use the grower feed for the birds where it is expected to make the most difference.

Then again, that idea may not be practical. If it won't work, then obviously don't bother trying.


If the rooster needs bigger grit, he might eat oyster shell because the pieces are larger. The babies might be satisfied with the current small pieces. So logically, just because the babies are not eating oyster shell, does not tell whether the rooster needs bigger grit and is trying to use oyster shell as a substitute.

Then again, maybe the rooster does get the correct size from the sand he has access to. In the photo with sand in your hand, some of the pieces do look about as big as I would expect grit for adult chickens to be.

So I don't know either way. I just don't think "the babies don't do it" is any kind of proof about why the rooster is doing what he does.

Thank you for your kind, and helpful response.

The “babies” are four months-ish I just call them babies because they are still pullets. (17 & 18 weeks) My rooster hasn’t been going after oyster shells as of late. So maybe it was just him introducing it to the the younger hens. He’s 6 months and a very good boy. They’re out of the run quite a bit. They get fed in the morning (enough to last several hours of munching) and I wait until after lunch to free range so the big girls have an opportunity to lay. I have three feeding stations, separating them would be pretty hard for meals.

I was thinking I could stretch the crumble by doing a 2:1 ratio with the layer, rather than straight up,layer. I have about 40lbs crumble and 25 layer to last hopefully until the back order is up, then I may just buy a pallet. This is really stressful and I need to sort it.

I love me rooster, and he’s such a wonderful bird. So I obviously want to keep him. It just complicates the feed issue for me.

 

[Carters Chick House]

Thank you for your kind, and helpful response.

The “babies” are four months-ish I just call them babies because they are still pullets. (17 & 18 weeks) My rooster hasn’t been going after oyster shells as of late. So maybe it was just him introducing it to the the younger hens. He’s 6 months and a very good boy. They’re out of the run quite a bit. They get fed in the morning (enough to last several hours of munching) and I wait until after lunch to free range so the big girls have an opportunity to lay. I have three feeding stations, separating them would be pretty hard for meals.

I was thinking I could stretch the crumble by doing a 2:1 ratio with the layer, rather than straight up,layer. I have about 40lbs crumble and 25 layer to last hopefully until the back order is up, then I may just buy a pallet. This is really stressful and I need to sort it.

I love me rooster, and he’s such a wonderful bird. So I obviously want to keep him. It just complicates the feed issue for me.

I have several hens,some young chicks and a rooster. I feed All Flock chicken food to all of them. I do get a small bag of chick food for the tiny chicks and flock eats some of that as well. All doing well. They have a huge fenced area to roam around. My rooster is 5 years old and healthy. No reason to stress. Good luck and keep us updated

 

[Paz]

Grit isn’t the issue. The pullet dont eat it either, and no one has eaten it, even as chicks. It was a waste of money in my opinion as their environment provide exactly what they need. I find this issue interesting as my mom is 76 years old, I was raised on a farm (I’m 52) she has had chickens for her entire life. And has never offered grit. Not a thing in her world. She’s never had bumblefoot, sour crop, impacted crop. She culled a bird a couple years ago because she was an egg eater, and she culls old age.

I need to sort my food. Not the grit. I’m happy to have jovial discourse, but most of you think it’s a grit issue and based on my flock and my research this isn’t the case. I’m happy to be convinced otherwise if there is reputable information though! I don’t think chickens really care what size the grit is they’re offered. I haven’t met a grit connoisseur in my flocks over the years. I’m fairly certain it’s because they just get what they need without supplemental grit.

If that were the issue the babes would be eating the grit, and they don’t eat the oyster shells either. They’re all on coarse sand in the run and free range every day.

Bro, I don't see what's your problem in buying the adult size grit and seeming if it solved your issue.