[Carolf]

  .... do roosters eat the same food as the females i.e. layers pellets?

We are getting our first male chook and it just occured to me that as he is male he would have no need for layers pellets 'doh', but can I still feed him them or do roosters require something different?

All of a sudden I feel like a numpty lol

Thanks in advance for your replies  :blink:

[VickyW]

I would say yes. Otherwise you'd have 2 different pellets in the run and either could eat from either so you couldn't manage it anyway.

[4chooks]

Male chicken's (rooster's) eat exactly the same as a hen (female)

[8doubles]

A very sensible question, layer pellets were designed for all female flocks so may be a bit calcium rich for a non laying bird .
As mentioned before it is not possible to separate different feeds in a flock with a cockerel , make sure you get him hand tame so that he can get other foodstuff before the ladies do.

[madcat]

Oy!  Isn't that favouritism and sex discrimination?  You could get Carol up in court for that .... the hens will sue!! 

[Sassy]

Cockerels usually call their girls over to a tasty morsel before they tuck in themselves anyway. Chivalry is not dead

[themagicaltoad1]

My Pingu never actually manages to get any treats for himself, he get one and then keeps picking it up and dropping it while calling the girls over to it, they rush in and grab whatever he's offering!

[joyfull]

Buts it's usually a con, when the girls bend down to peck at whatever tasty morsel it may be the cockerels then pounce on them 

[Abacus]

My Pingu never actually manages to get any treats for himself, he get one and then keeps picking it up and dropping it while calling the girls over to it, they rush in and grab whatever he's offering!

Basil does exactly the same! He also turns over the ground in the run for the hens to have a poke around for themselves.

[Carolf]

Buts it's usually a con, when the girls bend down to peck at whatever tasty morsel it may be the cockerels then pounce on them 

That made me laugh 

I will try and get mr cockerel (yet to be named) to eat out of my hand to make sure he gets something other than layers pellets.  Although my husband reckons layers pellets for the male should be right as he will be laying the hens 
(not sure I should have said that on the forums but it did make me laugh    )

[Springlands]

Buts it's usually a con, when the girls bend down to peck at whatever tasty morsel it may be the cockerels then pounce on them 

That made me laugh 

I will try and get mr cockerel (yet to be named) to eat out of my hand to make sure he gets something other than layers pellets.  Although my husband reckons layers pellets for the male should be right as he will be laying the hens 
(not sure I should have said that on the forums but it did make me laugh    )

Made me laugh too. 

[joyfull]

back on topic (says she after having a little snigger  ), layers pellets are fine for cockerels - that is what mine get and I have had quite a few 

[4chooks]

Layers pellets are just crushed corn, maze, barley, mash, vitamins, minerals E.T.C all peletised together which is perfectly fine for a cockerel. Hen's eat anything & everything so just feed him what you like lol :-(

[Dominic]

I must admit, when I read it, I laughed, but actualy, its a very good question.
Cant think how you would keep him off layers pellets though even if you wanted too.