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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Raising wholesome chickens starts with proper diet. Feeding your flock the best diet regime at Each and every phase of daily life is essential for expansion, egg creation, and overall properly-becoming. Whether you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their transforming nutritional requirements can help make sure a cheerful and successful flock. This chicken feeding tutorial walks you thru what to feed your birds from day just one for their golden laying a long time.
one. Starter Feed (0–six Months Old)
The primary couple weeks of a chick’s daily life are crucial. In the course of this era, chicks require higher-protein starter feed to assist immediate growth and advancement. Most starter feeds consist of eighteen–20% protein, combined with the ideal equilibrium of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Form: Crumbles or mash (simpler for small beaks to consume)
Dietary supplements: Grit is unwanted if feeding only business starter feed.
Suggestion: Prevent offering treats far too early—starter feed need to be their sole food plan to ensure well balanced nourishment.
2. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Outdated)
As chicks expand into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet program shifts to grower feed. This feed has marginally reduced protein content material, commonly fifteen–seventeen%, and less calcium than layer feed to prevent kidney problems in young birds.
Intent: Supports continual progress without having encouraging untimely laying.
Sort: Crumbles or pellets.
Dietary supplements: Grit in the event you introduce grains or treats.
Idea: Prevent layer feed until finally they start laying, as significant calcium amounts can hurt establishing organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Months / QH88 1st Egg)
As soon as your pullets lay their to start with egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed includes about sixteen% protein and a greater volume of calcium to assist eggshell development.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Supply oyster shell or crushed eggshells free-choice for excess calcium.
Tip: Some hens want crumbles over pellets—observe your flock’s desire.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding technique is different. Broilers have to have a high-protein, Strength-dense feed to aid fast body weight gain.
Starter (0–3 weeks): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Idea: Check feed thoroughly—overfeeding can lead to leg problems or heart troubles.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats can be a fantastic dietary supplement on your chickens’ food plan, but they must make up not more than ten% of day by day ingestion. Offer nutritious options like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Steer clear of: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: If your flock eats whole grains or roughage, provide grit to aid digestion.
Remaining Strategies
Normally deliver clean up, fresh new drinking water—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 correctly at Each individual lifetime stage ensures a flourishing flock, far better egg production, and much less health problems. With the proper food plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a few clucks of appreciation!