Chicken Feeding Tutorial for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Tutorial for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
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Elevating balanced chickens starts with good diet. Feeding your flock the correct diet program at Each and every phase of daily life is essential for expansion, egg manufacturing, and In general properly-becoming. Whether or not you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional needs will help ensure a cheerful and successful flock. This chicken feeding guidebook walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day 1 for their golden laying decades.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Outdated)
The first handful of months of the chick’s everyday living are crucial. Through this era, chicks need large-protein starter feed to guidance rapid development and growth. Most starter feeds contain 18–20% protein, along with the proper harmony of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Sort: Crumbles or mash (a lot easier for very small beaks to eat)
Supplements: Grit is pointless if feeding only commercial starter feed.
Tip: Steer clear of giving treats as well early—starter feed needs to be their sole diet program to be sure balanced nutrition.
two. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Previous)
As chicks expand into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet program shifts to grower feed. This feed has marginally reduce protein content material, usually fifteen–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to circumvent kidney challenges in younger birds.
Goal: Supports steady advancement devoid of encouraging premature laying.
Form: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional QH88 supplements: Grit when you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Avoid layer feed right until they start laying, as high calcium degrees can harm acquiring organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / To start with Egg)
After your pullets lay their first egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed is made up of about 16% protein and a better level of calcium to guidance eggshell formation.
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 preference.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding technique is different. Broilers require a high-protein, Vitality-dense feed to guidance fast fat attain.
Starter (0–3 weeks): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Suggestion: Observe feed cautiously—overfeeding can cause leg difficulties or coronary heart problems.
5. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, in Moderation)
Treats is usually a good nutritional supplement to your chickens’ diet plan, but they need to make up no more than 10% of every 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 whole grains or roughage, offer grit to aid digestion.
Remaining Tips
Always deliver clean up, contemporary drinking water—it’s far more crucial than feed.
Retailer feed correctly to avoid mould and pests.
Change feed portions according to flock size and age.
Feeding chickens the right way at Just about every daily life stage makes sure a thriving flock, greater egg creation, and less health problems. With the best diet program, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and perhaps a number of clucks of appreciation!