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
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Raising healthful chickens commences with suitable nutrition. Feeding your flock the right diet at each stage of life is essential for growth, egg output, and Over-all nicely-staying. Irrespective of whether you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or Grownup hens, knowing their changing nutritional desires helps make certain a cheerful and effective flock. This chicken feeding manual walks you through what to feed your birds from working day one to their golden laying many years.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Old)
The 1st few months of the chick’s life are essential. During this era, chicks require higher-protein starter feed to assist quick progress and progress. Most starter feeds consist of 18–20% protein, together with the suitable harmony of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Variety: Crumbles or mash (much easier for little beaks to eat)
Supplements: Grit is unnecessary if feeding only business starter feed.
Tip: Avoid offering treats also early—starter feed should be their sole diet regime to ensure balanced diet.
two. Grower Feed (six–18 Weeks Previous)
As chicks increase into pullets (teenage chickens), their food plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has slightly lower protein content, typically fifteen–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to stop kidney concerns in younger birds.
Goal: Supports continual expansion without the need of encouraging untimely laying.
Sort: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Grit for those who introduce grains or treats.
Suggestion: Prevent layer feed until eventually they start laying, as large calcium ranges can hurt acquiring organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / Initial Egg)
At the time your pullets lay their initially egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed has about 16% protein and a better level of calcium to guidance eggshell development.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Supplements: Present oyster shell or crushed eggshells free of charge-option for extra calcium.
Tip: Some hens want crumbles more than pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
In the event you’re increasing chickens for meat, your feeding system is different. Broilers need a substantial-protein, energy-dense feed to help swift weight acquire.
Starter (0–3 months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three months to harvest): 18–twenty% protein.
Idea: Observe feed carefully—overfeeding can lead to leg challenges or coronary heart challenges.
5. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, in Moderation)
Treats could be a fantastic complement to the chickens’ diet plan, but they ought to make up no more than 10% of each day intake. Give healthier choices like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Prevent: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: If your flock eats complete grains or roughage, present grit to help digestion.
Last Recommendations
Always supply cleanse, fresh new h2o—it’s more essential than feed.
Retailer feed adequately to stop mildew and pests.
Alter feed portions based upon flock dimension and age.
Feeding chickens effectively at Each individual everyday living phase assures a thriving flock, better egg production, and less medical issues. With the correct diet regime, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a QH88 couple of clucks of appreciation!