Elevating healthy chickens starts with good diet. Feeding your flock the right food plan at Just about every stage of lifetime is essential for progress, egg production, and Total effectively-becoming. Whether or not you happen to be boosting chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their modifying nutritional desires allows make certain a cheerful and effective flock. This chicken feeding manual walks you through what to feed your birds from working day one for their golden laying decades.
one. Starter Feed (0–six Weeks Aged)
The first couple weeks of the chick’s everyday living are significant. All through this period, chicks need high-protein starter feed to aid swift expansion and advancement. Most starter feeds include eighteen–20% protein, together with the appropriate balance of natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Kind: Crumbles or mash (less difficult for tiny beaks to try to eat)
Dietary supplements: Grit is unnecessary if feeding only business starter feed.
Tip: Keep away from supplying treats too early—starter feed needs to be their sole diet program to be sure balanced nutrition.
two. Grower Feed (six–eighteen Weeks Old)
As chicks develop into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has somewhat reduce protein information, ordinarily fifteen–seventeen%, and less calcium than layer feed to avoid kidney troubles in younger birds.
Reason: Supports continuous advancement without encouraging untimely laying.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Grit when you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Avoid layer feed right until they start laying, as higher calcium levels can damage building organs.
three. Layer Feed (18+ Months / Initial Egg)
At the time QH88 your pullets lay their initially egg, it’s time to switch to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed contains about sixteen% protein and a greater level of calcium to support eggshell formation.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Offer oyster shell or crushed eggshells no cost-choice for further calcium.
Idea: Some hens choose crumbles over pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
In case you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding approach differs. Broilers need a significant-protein, Power-dense feed to guidance rapid bodyweight get.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Tip: Check feed thoroughly—overfeeding may lead to leg issues or heart issues.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats generally is a great supplement to your chickens’ food plan, but they ought to make up no more than ten% of every day ingestion. Offer you healthful choices like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Avoid: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: Should your flock eats full grains or roughage, present grit to aid digestion.
Last Recommendations
Always present clean, clean drinking water—it’s extra essential than feed.
Retailer feed effectively to prevent mould and pests.
Change feed portions according to flock size and age.
Feeding chickens correctly at Each individual 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!