What to feed my rooster?

[pdirt]

Good info! I have been feeding my hens and rooster layer feed ever since they got old enough (about 9 months now). Does anyone know if we can clean and crush our own oyster shells? I live in the Washington State Puget Sound area and have tons of shells available to me all over the place.

I tried it once with some shells in a plastic bag and hammer and it didn't go well. Perhaps a very tough concrete or thick metal container with some sort of smasher might work.

Though the oyster shell I buy at the feed store almost seems like the outer fringes of an actual oyster shell. It seems that the really dense shell underneath the "frilly ridges" isn't what they sell. When I crushed it up, there were some very sharp pieces...I actually didn't end up feeding it to the birds for fear it might do internal damage.

 

[Bock Bock Lady]

I tried it once with some shells in a plastic bag and hammer and it didn't go well. Perhaps a very tough concrete or thick metal container with some sort of smasher might work.

Though the oyster shell I buy at the feed store almost seems like the outer fringes of an actual oyster shell. It seems that the really dense shell underneath the "frilly ridges" isn't what they sell. When I crushed it up, there were some very sharp pieces...I actually didn't end up feeding it to the birds for fear it might do internal damage.

I crushed oyster shells once a month ago in a way that brought me backwards in evolution about 1 million years.... I put the shells on a concrete block, crouched down, and smashed them with a rock! It surprisingly worked really well. I just didn't know if this was ok to do since people talk about buying shells.

 

[ThePRfan]

Be sure your oyster shells seperate.
If it's fed with feed,it can cause gout,or kidney problems.....

 

[ThePRfan]

a good quality layer feed can provide enough Calcium for hens.
You may not even need to waste money on oyster shells.http://ri.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A86...-shells//RK=0/RS=BkYOQ.GQi7bLXOTENf0fphGP6dQ-

 

[pdirt]

I tried it once with some shells in a plastic bag and hammer and it didn't go well. Perhaps a very tough concrete or thick metal container with some sort of smasher might work.

Though the oyster shell I buy at the feed store almost seems like the outer fringes of an actual oyster shell. It seems that the really dense shell underneath the "frilly ridges" isn't what they sell. When I crushed it up, there were some very sharp pieces...I actually didn't end up feeding it to the birds for fear it might do internal damage.

I crushed oyster shells once a month ago in a way that brought me backwards in evolution about 1 million years.... I put the shells on a concrete block, crouched down, and smashed them with a rock! It surprisingly worked really well. I just didn't know if this was ok to do since people talk about buying shells.

Yeah, I tried the rock method first and I ended up with more oyster shell sprayed on the ground all around me than I was able to clean up to actually use. 'Twas a waste of my efforts! I suppose if I had an endless, free supply of oyster shells like you do, I might try to figure out a more efficient way to do it. I spend probably but $10-15 a year for our 20 layers on oyster shell, so the cost is reasonable to me.

 

[Chris09]

a good quality layer feed can provide enough Calcium for hens.
You may not even need to waste money on oyster shells.http://ri.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A86...-shells//RK=0/RS=BkYOQ.GQi7bLXOTENf0fphGP6dQ-

It's like it was stated in the article that you linked to;

Quote:

A good quality layer feed will contain enough calcium for your hens, if it is the only food they have access to. But if you let your hens forage in the yard or feed them other things, like table scraps or scratch grain in addition to commercial layer feed, they’ll need additional calcium.

I would also add that if you are adding Apple Cider Vinegar or Electrolytes to there water you will need to or at least should provide additional calcium also.
As for offering oyster shells, read the feeding recommendations on the feed tag. Most feed manufactures recommend feeding oyster shells (even with the layer feed that is 4% calcium) for a reason.
Most people want nice strong shells around there eggs and that can not be done by feeding just layer or feeding layer feed with crushed egg shell, the make up and particulate size of the calcium is incorrect you need to offer a calcium with a large particulate size and one of the best large particulate calcium is oyster shells.

Also your not wasting money, what your doing is offering your animals the correct nutrition they need to provide you with a good quality egg.

 

[animalluv0512]

So one question for all of you chicken professionals on here. The local feed store has a 17% Ratite Grower Maintenance would that be a good thing for my hens and rooster?? I apologize for asking so much, and am fairly new to chickens, and just want healthy birds!

 

[pdirt]

Well, I'm certainly no chicken professional, just have learned at lot in the 2 years we've had chickens...

Yes, that 17% grower feed will be just fine for your hens and roo. Just be sure to provide a calcium source on the side, like crushed oyster shell. Your feed store should have it, it's pretty cheap. Then hens currently laying will eat the shell and any chickens not laying (such as your roo) will mostly leave it alone.

 

[Chris09]

The problem with feeding a Ratite Grower is that it is a feed designed for Ratites (ostrich, emu, rhea and cassowary) so it is a high fiber diet compared to a chickens diet (ratite diet 14% fiber poultry 4% fiber game bird around 10% fiber) and other nutrition is also different as well. You would better off feeding a good poultry diet that is designed for chickens or game birds.

 

[pdirt]

Good,to know, Chris. I thought Ratite was a name brand...had never heard the term before. Yes, fiber is good, but you can have too much of a good thing...