Chicken Feeding Guidebook for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Guidebook for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Boosting healthier chickens commences with appropriate nutrition. Feeding your flock the right diet at each stage of lifestyle is important for development, egg output, and Total nicely-staying. Irrespective of whether you are boosting chicks, pullets, or adult hens, being familiar with their modifying nutritional requires aids be certain a happy and effective flock. This hen feeding manual walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day 1 to their golden laying yrs.
one. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Previous)
The 1st couple of weeks of a chick’s lifetime are critical. For the duration of this era, chicks involve higher-protein starter feed to help swift advancement and development. Most starter feeds have 18–20% protein, combined with the correct stability of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Kind: Crumbles or mash (much easier for very small beaks to take in)
Nutritional supplements: Grit is avoidable if feeding only professional starter feed.
Idea: Stay clear of supplying treats much too early—starter feed should be their sole diet to make sure well balanced nourishment.
2. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Previous)
As chicks expand into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet program shifts to grower feed. This feed has marginally reduce protein content material, usually fifteen–seventeen%, and less calcium than layer feed to circumvent kidney challenges in younger birds.
Goal: Supports regular advancement devoid of encouraging premature laying.
Form: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Grit in case you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Avoid layer feed until eventually they start laying, as high calcium degrees can harm acquiring organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / To start with Egg)
After your pullets lay their first egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specially formulated feed is made up of about 16% protein and a better level of calcium to assist eggshell development.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Supply oyster shell or crushed eggshells no cost-choice for more calcium.
Tip: Some hens desire crumbles over pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
In the event you’re increasing chickens for meat, your feeding strategy is different. Broilers require a significant-protein, Power-dense feed to assist immediate excess weight get.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three months to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Tip: Keep an eye on feed diligently—overfeeding can lead to leg concerns or heart challenges.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats can be a fantastic dietary supplement on your chickens’ food plan, but they should make up not more than ten% of day by day ingestion. Give healthy choices like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Steer clear of: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: In case your flock eats entire grains or roughage, offer grit to aid digestion.
Final Tips
Always deliver clean up, fresh QH88 new drinking water—it’s far more crucial than feed.
Retailer feed correctly to prevent mould and pests.
Change feed portions according to flock size and age.
Feeding chickens the right way at Each individual lifetime stage makes sure a flourishing flock, much better egg production, and less health problems. With the right eating plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a handful of clucks of appreciation!