[Bionic]

My chickens, who are on a diet of corn and free range, haven't laid for months. It has been suggested that they might be better on layers pellets. I have bought some pellets for them but the ducks sometimes help themselves to the chickens food as well as their own corn. Will the layers pellets be a problem for my drakes?

[Womble]

I hope not, Bionic. We only ever feed our ducks and drakes on layers pellets. They haven't died yet, but I guess there's still time!

[macgro7]

Theoretically if you feed cockerels,  Drakes, male quails etc only layers pellets they might have problems with their kidneys because of too much calcium. It wont kill them instantly but they might live shorter than drakes fed properly.
Females would obviously extract the excess calcium in the form of egg shells.
I do feed my bird layers pellets, but they also get other feed like kitchen scraps, free range slugs, garden greens as they free range.

[Bionic]

Mine free range so it sounds as if they drakes will be ok if they get the occasional layers pellets.
thanks everyone

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I was told that cockerels would be fine eating layers pellets? I do give all of the hens he runs with corn as well so not just layers pellets; should I just feed him on corn or would both be fine?
Thanks

[macgro7]

They will be fine but after some time (years?) Might get kidney stones

[Womble]

So yes, I'm aware of the theoretical risk. However, practically speaking, they all need to eat the same stuff (I refuse to round up the cockerels, drakes and gander every morning to give them a separate breakfast!).

Has anybody on here ever actually had a problem with feeding layers pellets to adult male birds though?  I'd be genuinely interested to find out!

[doganjo]

I have fed layers pellets to all my ducks and drakes for 20 years - haven't had a drake die yet except at the teeth of a fox.  Jack, my Swedish Blue was 6 when foxy got him. 

[macgro7]

I haven't had any drake or cockerel long enough to know.

[dr241000]

To confirm what doganjo said, I have never had a problem with my chickens or heard of a problem happening and mine get fed layers pellets ad lib.

[macgro7]

My chickens, who are on a diet of corn and free range, haven't laid for months. It has been suggested that they might be better on layers pellets. I have bought some pellets for them but the ducks sometimes help themselves to the chickens food as well as their own corn. Will the layers pellets be a problem for my drakes?
[/quote coming back to the original question:
Layers pellets are much better for both hens and ducks than corn! I don't give my ones corn at all. It used to make them fat. Layers pellets are designed to increase egg production and contain all the nutrients and vitamins to help them produce maximum amount of egg.
Corn doesn't do any of that. It doesn't have enough protein - it's mostly starch. It's better to feed them wheat as it has more protein and the funny thing is - it's also cheaper than mixed corn.
I would only feed corn for the last two weeks before slaughter to make them nice and fatty.

[farmers wife]

everything here has always had layers as for the calcium not a concern as my layers are 17% so there would be very little difference.


My hens are laying very well now and my ducks have just started to lay now back on pellets.