What feed should roosters eat?

[LavvyTaffy]

So, I just read that roosters shouldn't eat layer feed. So what feed should they eat?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

All flock type feed is better for mixed gender and mixed age flocks. All flock feed is any poultry feed that's not a layer feed. All have about 1% calcium but layer has 3-5%. Basically if you run a mixed gender or multi age flock using a layer feed is not your best choice. By simply keeping a dish out with oyster shell in it the birds that need the extra calcium will eat it. Free choice and they figure it out themselves. That's as easy as it gets and you end up feeding better quality feed (higher protein) for same price. Oyster shell from the bulk bin is around 30 cents a pound and my 10 hens go through maybe 15 ish pounds a year.

It's not that grown cockerels/cock birds can't eat the added calcium. For adult non laying birds the health effects take years to catch up to them. So unless you really want that cock bird to live more than 4-5 years then don't feed them layer feed. Where layer feed really hurts is young birds. It horrible for young birds and if pullets are on a high calcium regiment long before laying it can cause issues like egg bound when starting to lay.

 

[LavvyTaffy]

OK, thank you!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Non medicated starter/grower feeds are usually 20% protein and a great all flock feed if you want crumbles.
Turkey/gamebird finisher is a great all flock feed that's usually 20% protein if you want pellet form.

The above is what we use depending if chicks are growing out or if youngest birds are large enough for pellet feed. Entire flock is fed crumbles until youngest are around 10 weeks or more and ready for pellet form. Then next bags of feed are gamebird finisher until next springs hatches when everyone switches back to crumble.

There are feeds labeled all flock and of course other feeds.

 

[cerodrig]

Hi, I raise quail for egg production. Their feed has 24% protein. Is it too much for my layer hens . Would it cause gout ? Thanks