Chicken Feeding Guide for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Guide for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Raising wholesome chickens starts off with correct nourishment. Feeding your flock the right diet plan at Each individual stage of daily life is essential for development, egg production, and overall well-remaining. Whether or not you might be raising chicks, pullets, or Grownup hens, understanding their transforming nutritional wants helps assure a happy and effective flock. This hen feeding guidebook walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day 1 to their golden laying decades.
1. Starter Feed (0–six Weeks Old)
The very first few months of the chick’s lifestyle are important. Throughout this period, chicks call for substantial-protein starter feed to help fast growth and improvement. Most starter feeds have 18–twenty% protein, together with the right equilibrium of natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Sort: Crumbles or mash (much easier for tiny beaks to eat)
Supplements: Grit is pointless if feeding only professional starter feed.
Suggestion: Avoid providing treats far too early—starter feed need to be their sole diet to ensure well balanced nourishment.
two. Grower Feed (6–18 Months Aged)
As chicks improve into pullets (teenage chickens), their eating plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has a little decreased protein information, ordinarily fifteen–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to circumvent kidney difficulties in younger birds.
Goal: Supports regular growth without the need of encouraging untimely laying.
Sort: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Grit for those who introduce grains or treats.
Suggestion: Steer clear of layer feed until they begin laying, as large calcium levels can damage creating organs.
three. Layer Feed (18+ Months / Initial Egg)
At the time your pullets lay their 1st egg, it’s time to switch to layer feed. This specially formulated feed contains about 16% protein QH88 and a higher amount of calcium to assistance eggshell formation.
Form: Crumbles or pellets.
Dietary supplements: Offer oyster shell or crushed eggshells cost-free-option for added calcium.
Idea: Some hens favor crumbles about pellets—notice your flock’s preference.
4. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
For those who’re elevating chickens for meat, your feeding tactic differs. Broilers need a substantial-protein, energy-dense feed to help swift weight obtain.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three months to reap): eighteen–20% protein.
Tip: Check feed diligently—overfeeding may lead to leg troubles or heart problems.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, moderately)
Treats generally is a great dietary supplement to the chickens’ food plan, but they must 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 provide clean up, fresh new h2o—it’s far more critical than feed.
Retailer feed effectively to prevent mould and pests.
Change feed portions according to flock size and age.
Feeding chickens the right way at Each individual lifetime stage ensures 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!