Need advice on feeds

[KatsHerd]

Hi,
To start with I'm Australian, so a lot of the brands I see recommended on here we don't have access too.
The main brands I can get local to me are Barastoc, Laucke Mills & another brand I won't use - we've lost countless birds due to insufficient vitamins with their feeds.
HOWEVER we breed birds, so we have a rooster in each of our cages. I understand people recommend an all flock feed, but the only all flock feed I can find has 3.8% of calcium per kg of feed. I'm assuming this is far too much for roosters? The feed I WANT to use for my hens contains 4%, but has a full pre & probiotic mix, along with some added goodness that I want. Is there anything I can do here to keep my roosters healthy, though?

 

[Perris]

Hi,
To start with I'm Australian, so a lot of the brands I see recommended on here we don't have access too.
The main brands I can get local to me are Barastoc, Laucke Mills & another brand I won't use - we've lost countless birds due to insufficient vitamins with their feeds.
HOWEVER we breed birds, so we have a rooster in each of our cages. I understand people recommend an all flock feed, but the only all flock feed I can find has 3.8% of calcium per kg of feed. I'm assuming this is far too much for roosters? The feed I WANT to use for my hens contains 4%, but has a full pre & probiotic mix, along with some added goodness that I want. Is there anything I can do here to keep my roosters healthy, though?

if you are breeding your birds, you want them on breeder rations. See e.g. https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/poultry/poultry-rations-and-feeding-methods.html (I advise you to read the whole page at that link; this is just an excerpt to illustrate the point)

"RATIONS FOR BREEDING STOCK

A ration suitable for egg production, is not necessarily satisfactory for the breeding flock. To obtain high hatchability, the riboflavin content of the feed must be greatly increased. This is provided in milk, or specially prepared commercial breeder concentrates or balancers. Extra Vitamin D is required over the amount in laying rations. See Ration No. 1, 3 and 4 (page 29) for suggested amounts of milk, fish, oil, etc. Note that the daily feeding of clover or alfalfa leaves is recommended in all cases. Any change in feed must be made gradually. The flock should receive the breeder diet a full six weeks or two months prior to saving the first eggs for hatching."

 

[KatsHerd]

if you are breeding your birds, you want them on breeder rations. See e.g. https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/poultry/poultry-rations-and-feeding-methods.html (I advise you to read the whole page at that link; this is just an excerpt to illustrate the point)

"RATIONS FOR BREEDING STOCK

A ration suitable for egg production, is not necessarily satisfactory for the breeding flock. To obtain high hatchability, the riboflavin content of the feed must be greatly increased. This is provided in milk, or specially prepared commercial breeder concentrates or balancers. Extra Vitamin D is required over the amount in laying rations. See Ration No. 1, 3 and 4 (page 29) for suggested amounts of milk, fish, oil, etc. Note that the daily feeding of clover or alfalfa leaves is recommended in all cases. Any change in feed must be made gradually. The flock should receive the breeder diet a full six weeks or two months prior to saving the first eggs for hatching."

Thank you! I will give that page a read- but just quickly, the Barastoc brand do make a poultry breeder. It's specifically made for hens though. 3.5% calcium. Is this safe for the roosters, though? If that's answered in the page you posted I do apologise.

 

[Perris]

It's specifically made for hens though. 3.5% calcium. Is this safe for the roosters, though?

if it was considered OK for roosters it would not have been labelled by the manufacturer as a feed specifically for hens; it would be called 'all flock' or somesuch.