What to feed my roo?

[WilcoxChickens]

I was recently given a full grown roo by a lady who had a bunch dropped off at her home because the previous owner thought they were dud hens and weren't laying eggs. My question is what to feed him? My chicks will be 4 weeks on Friday but are still eating starter. I picked up a bag of laying crumbles...can the roo eat the same food that the hens will be eating?

TIA!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Most folks do feed roos that are living with the hens the same food. It's been said that the added calcium is not good for the roo's kidneys and joints, but how long would the roo have to live for this to become a problem?
I used to feed my roos the layer right along with the hens but since I now also have chicks and juveniles in the coop, I just fed everyone a flockraiser type feed and offer oyster shell on the side for the hens.

 

[stilldeb]

I'd say it depends on the roo - I have two flocks, each with a roo, and my little frizzle Cochin roo has not been doing well (he is nearly naked) and I believe it is a nutritional thing due to his eating layer food. I have started supplementing according to a post I read on here that recommended things like animal protein (scrambled eggs, meat, etc.) and fats. I mixed up a homemade 'flock block' and put peanut butter and suet and seeds, etc. in it. He is pretty naked and has some really awful looking skin. No mites, and he is the only one, none of the girls have it. I can't separate him out, he is so attached to his girls he freaks out when I even take him out to treat his skin. AND the rooster in the other pen is ok, but he is much larger and a Silkie and I guess just different.

Good luck with your roo.
deb g

 

[zookeeper15133]

I have 3 roos that live by themselves. I feed them 1 part layer to 6 parts scratch. They don't need all the extra protein and calcium to make eggs.

 

[jjthink]

Game bird maintenance.

I also feed this to my hen and provide oyster shell free choice 24/7 so that she gets all the calcium she needs.

Both are in shiny bright health.

(they also get Avia Charge 2000 in their water, a variety of fruits and veggies, black oil sunflower and other good stuff).

My roo did not do well on layer feed.
JJ

 

[WilcoxChickens]

Some say yes and some say no.

So, I should probably just go ahead and put him on the layer feed and see what happens. He is a Polish I believe but is in really shabby condition

His head feathers have all been but plucked right out. He is currently staying with my cousin and her rooster in a pen and I'm not sure they get along too well together despite being raised together. I have some scratch that I can mix in with some layer for now until my chicks are old enough to be on the layer feed.

I'm going to assume that with the layer feed I won't need the oyster shell but if I decide to offer another type of feed then I would need to provide oyster shell on the side? Would my hens already know what it's for and go for it on their own?

 

[TeriyakiChicken]

i buy a bag of mixed seeds, wheat, etc from the feed store. Mine love it, they think its candy

 

[Tala]

Quote:
I provide oyster shell on the side in addition to layer feed. It may not be necessary, but it's cheap insurance. Some of my older hens have thinner egg shells despite being on layer feed, probably age related, so I want them to be able to get all that they need.

If I have a bachelor pad (all roos) I feed them Flock Raiser (basically Purina brand grower feed) instead of layer. The roos that live with my hens usually just eat whatever I'm feeding the girls, which might be "Egg Pellets" or might be Flock Raiser, depending on if I have younger pullets in with them.

 

[WilcoxChickens]

I picked up the layer feed and the scratch at Walmart so I will hit the actual feed store to look into getting some grower, which I will need to feed to my chicks before too long. Or is it fine to feed them the starter until 18 weeks? Actually, what IS the appropriate age to start feeding them the layer feed?