Chicken Feeding Information for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Information for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Elevating healthful chickens commences with suitable diet. Feeding your flock the appropriate eating plan at each phase of lifestyle is important for progress, egg manufacturing, and General nicely-being. Whether you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, comprehending their changing nutritional desires aids be certain a happy and effective flock. This hen feeding manual walks you through what to feed your birds from day just one for their golden laying decades.
1. Starter Feed (0–six Months Outdated)
The very first number of weeks of a chick’s daily life are important. In the course of this period, chicks require higher-protein starter feed to help quick expansion and progress. Most starter feeds comprise eighteen–20% protein, along with the ideal harmony of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Form: Crumbles or mash (a lot easier for little beaks to consume)
Supplements: Grit is unwanted if feeding only industrial starter feed.
Idea: Keep away from giving treats way too early—starter feed should be their sole diet regime to make sure balanced nourishment.
two. Grower Feed (6–18 Weeks Outdated)
As chicks develop into pullets (teenage chickens), their food plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has a bit lessen protein material, generally fifteen–seventeen%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to prevent kidney concerns in younger birds.
Reason: Supports steady development devoid of encouraging untimely laying.
Sort: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Grit if you introduce grains or treats.
Idea: Avoid layer feed till they start laying, as higher calcium levels can hurt producing organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / Very first Egg)
When your pullets lay their initial egg, it’s time to modify to layer feed. This specially formulated feed has about 16% protein and the next amount of calcium to support eggshell development.
Type: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Supply oyster shell or crushed eggshells free-choice for more calcium.
Tip: Some hens desire crumbles more than pellets—observe your flock’s desire.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re increasing chickens for meat, your feeding technique is different. Broilers require a superior-protein, Vitality-dense feed to aid fast fat attain.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three months to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Idea: Monitor feed very carefully—overfeeding may result in leg challenges or coronary heart challenges.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, sparsely)
Treats might be a terrific nutritional supplement towards your chickens’ food plan, but they ought to make up no more QH88 than ten% of day-to-day intake. Offer balanced selections like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Prevent: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: In the event your flock eats complete grains or roughage, offer grit to help digestion.
Last Strategies
Constantly provide cleanse, new drinking water—it’s more critical than feed.
Retail store feed correctly to stop mould and pests.
Regulate feed portions depending on flock dimensions and age.
Feeding chickens properly at Every single everyday living phase makes sure a flourishing flock, superior egg output, and much less health concerns. With the ideal food plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and perhaps a number of clucks of appreciation!