Rooster Nutrition – It Isn’t All About the Hens

What Do I Feed My Rooster?

It wasn’t very long ago that the primary focus of most poultry flocks, including backyard flocks, was the egg! To maximize egg production, we focused heavily on hen nutrition. If your flock had a rooster, his specific nutrient needs probably weren’t top priority and he was usually fed the same feed as the hens. However, as more people consider their poultry as pets, the specific nutrient needs of roosters has gained focus. Even if you didn’t plan to get a rooster, he is now part of your flock, and you need to consider his health and nutrient needs in your feeding program.

Today, we are going to focus on rooster nutrition from two different aspects: 1. Roosters as part of a standard backyard flock and 2. Roosters as part of a breeding program.

Should Roosters in Backyard Flocks Be Fed Differently Than Hens?

Calcium plays a vital role in poultry nutrition. Birds need it for bone development, and females require it for eggshell production. Complete layer feeds typically contain 3 to 5% calcium, which supports high-producing laying hens effectively. However, male poultry only need about 1% calcium in their diet. Their kidneys must process and excrete any excess calcium. Feeding adult poultry too much calcium over time can lead to visceral gout.

What You Should Feed Your Roosters

If preventing any potential health problems in your rooster is important to you, then Henhouse Reserve® is the #1 recommendation we make to backyard poultry keepers. Henhouse Reserve® is different from most layer crumbles or pellets because it contains multiple, independent sources of calcium. This unique feeding strategy gives your hens all of the calcium they need to produce strong, delicious eggs, while allowing your roosters to self-regulate how much calcium they consume.

Another popular option is using a maintenance feed, like Flock Maintainer™, for the whole flock. This feed has a better balance of nutrients for roosters, but does require that you provide a free-choice calcium source for your hens. This strategy has worked well for some poultry keepers, but does require that you maintain two feeders. You should also be on the lookout for any egg quality issues. If your flock develops any issues, contact us and we can make a recommendation that will work best for your specific flock and your specific goals.

Feeding Roosters for Fertility

The frequency and quality of egg production is arguably the most important factor in any successful breeding program and producers are right to focus a lot of their energy on hen nutrition. However, we should not forget about the importance of a healthy male in any successful breeding program.

Rooster semen contains high levels of nutritional compounds that protect sperm cells. To fertilize eggs successfully, sperm cells must stay active and healthy during the breeding process. Rooster semen provides relatively high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are especially vulnerable to oxidative stress. Stress in birds increases oxidant production, creating an imbalance with the body’s antioxidants. This imbalance raises levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cells, including sperm cells. Choosing the right feed can combat this damage by providing optimal nutrition and supplemental antioxidants.

Vitamin E and selenium play a vital role as antioxidants in poultry nutrition. These nutrients help increase testicular development, spermatogenesis, and sperm viability. Additionally, nutritional supplements, like LifeGuardⓇ, act as powerful antioxidants to help keep cell membranes, including sperm cell membranes, healthy and intact.

Producers who desire a top-notch breeding program should look for a high-quality feed developed for breeding poultry. These feeds are often formulated with the nutrient needs of the hen AND THE ROOSTER in mind. The calcium component in a quality breeder feed will probably be higher than a starter/grower or a maintenance feed. However, it should be more in-line to the nutrient needs of a rooster than a complete layer feed. Our Formula of Champions® Fancy & Feathered® is formulated specifically for adult breeding poultry – hens AND roosters – and is an excellent option for poultry keepers that focus on breeding programs.

Stay tuned as we continue to explore the topics that are important to you! Check out our social media pages for more great information about poultry and tips for keeping your flock healthy and happy all year!

 

 

Article by Nancy Jefferson, Ph.D. for Kalmbach Feeds