Chicken Feeding Guidebook for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Chicken Feeding Guidebook for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Raising healthful chickens begins with proper nourishment. Feeding your flock the appropriate diet regime at Every single phase of lifetime is essential for expansion, egg manufacturing, and overall 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 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 Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Outdated)
The main couple of weeks of the chick’s everyday living are vital. For the duration of this period, chicks demand substantial-protein starter feed to aid fast progress and progress. Most starter feeds comprise eighteen–twenty% protein, together with the correct stability of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Type: Crumbles or mash (less complicated for little beaks to try to eat)
Health supplements: Grit is avoidable if feeding only professional starter feed.
Idea: Stay clear of supplying treats much too early—starter feed should be their sole diet regime to be sure balanced nutrition.
two. Grower Feed (six–18 Weeks Aged)
As chicks mature into pullets (teenage chickens), their food plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has a little bit lessen protein information, commonly 15–17%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to avoid kidney concerns in youthful birds.
Reason: Supports continuous advancement devoid of encouraging premature laying.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Grit in case you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Stay clear of layer feed until eventually they start laying, as superior calcium stages can harm producing organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / Initially Egg)
When your pullets lay their first egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed is made up of about sixteen% protein and a better volume of calcium to assist eggshell development.
Type: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Supply oyster shell or crushed eggshells no cost-choice for more calcium.
Tip: Some hens choose crumbles around pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
If you’re elevating chickens for meat, your feeding system QH88 is different. 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: Keep track of feed diligently—overfeeding can lead to leg concerns or heart challenges.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats can be a excellent health supplement on your chickens’ food plan, but they should 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 deliver clean up, fresh new drinking water—it’s far more crucial than feed.
Retailer feed correctly to avoid mould and pests.
Change feed portions according to flock sizing and age.
Feeding chickens the right way at Just about every daily life stage makes sure a thriving flock, much better egg output, and less health issues. With the ideal diet regime, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe some clucks of appreciation!