Chicken Feeding Manual for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Manual for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Boosting healthful chickens starts with proper diet. Feeding your flock the best diet plan at Every phase of existence is important for progress, egg production, and Over-all effectively-being. Irrespective of whether you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional needs will help ensure a cheerful and effective flock. This hen feeding guidebook walks you through what to feed your birds from working day one to their golden laying yrs.
one. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Previous)
The main couple of weeks of the chick’s lifetime are crucial. Through this era, chicks require large-protein starter feed to guidance immediate growth and advancement. Most starter feeds incorporate eighteen–twenty% protein, together with the ideal balance of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Form: Crumbles or mash (less difficult for small beaks to consume)
Dietary supplements: Grit is unneeded if feeding only business starter feed.
Suggestion: Prevent offering treats far too early—starter feed really should be their sole food plan to be certain well balanced diet.
2. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Previous)
As chicks develop into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has somewhat lower protein content, typically fifteen–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to circumvent kidney difficulties in younger birds.
Objective: Supports steady advancement devoid of encouraging premature laying.
Form: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Grit in case you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Stay clear of layer feed until eventually they start laying, as superior calcium stages can harm acquiring organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / Initially Egg)
When your pullets lay their first egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed is made up of about sixteen% protein and a better level of calcium to assist eggshell development.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Supply oyster shell or crushed eggshells free-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 superior-protein, Power-dense feed to guidance rapid bodyweight get.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Suggestion: Watch feed carefully—overfeeding can result in leg troubles or coronary heart complications.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, in Moderation)
Treats could be a wonderful health supplement towards your chickens’ diet, but they should make up no more than ten% of daily intake. Offer wholesome alternatives like leafy QH88 greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Stay away from: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: Should your flock eats entire grains or roughage, supply grit to aid digestion.
Last Suggestions
Usually offer clean, fresh h2o—it’s additional critical than feed.
Keep feed appropriately in order to avoid mold and pests.
Regulate feed parts depending on flock dimension and age.
Feeding chickens properly at each everyday living stage ensures a flourishing flock, greater egg manufacturing, and much less medical issues. With the proper diet, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and perhaps a couple of clucks of appreciation!