Chicken Feeding Manual for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Manual for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Elevating healthful chickens begins with suitable nutrition. Feeding your flock the ideal diet at Every phase of lifetime is essential for growth, egg output, and Total effectively-becoming. No matter whether you're boosting chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their transforming nutritional wants allows make certain a contented and productive flock. This rooster feeding guideline walks you through what to feed your birds from day one particular for their golden laying many years.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Previous)
The 1st couple of weeks of a chick’s existence are important. During this period, chicks demand substantial-protein starter feed to guidance immediate growth and improvement. Most starter feeds include eighteen–twenty% protein, combined with the appropriate stability of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Variety: Crumbles or mash (a lot easier for little beaks to consume)
Dietary supplements: Grit is pointless if feeding only professional starter feed.
Suggestion: Steer clear of supplying treats way too early—starter feed needs to be their sole diet to guarantee balanced diet.
two. Grower Feed (six–eighteen Months Old)
As chicks improve into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has a little reduce protein information, usually 15–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to avoid kidney challenges in young birds.
Goal: Supports continual expansion without the need of encouraging untimely laying.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Grit if you introduce grains or treats.
Idea: Avoid layer feed till they begin laying, as high calcium levels can hurt producing organs.
3. Layer Feed (18+ Months / 1st Egg)
When your pullets lay their very first egg, it’s time to switch to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed includes about sixteen% protein and an increased amount of calcium to assistance eggshell development.
Type: Crumbles or pellets.
Supplements: Present oyster shell or crushed eggshells cost-free-option for added calcium.
Idea: Some hens choose crumbles over pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
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 reap): 18–20% protein.
Tip: Check feed thoroughly—overfeeding may lead to leg issues or coronary heart complications.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, sparsely)
Treats generally is a terrific nutritional supplement towards your chickens’ food plan, but they ought to make up no more than 10% of every day ingestion. Offer you wholesome options like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Prevent: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: If the flock eats entire grains or QH88 roughage, deliver grit to aid digestion.
Closing Ideas
Always give clean up, refreshing drinking water—it’s more critical than feed.
Retail store feed correctly in order to avoid mould and pests.
Regulate feed parts according to flock measurement and age.
Feeding chickens the right way at Every existence stage guarantees a thriving flock, much better egg manufacturing, and fewer health issues. With the right food plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a few clucks of appreciation!