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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Boosting healthy chickens starts with correct nourishment. Feeding your flock the right diet plan at Each and every phase of lifetime is essential for advancement, egg generation, and All round well-remaining. Irrespective of whether you are raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional requirements can help make sure a contented and productive flock. This chicken feeding guidebook walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day a person for their golden laying many years.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Months Old)
The very first number of weeks of the chick’s lifetime are essential. For the duration of this period, chicks involve significant-protein starter feed to assist quick progress and growth. Most starter feeds have eighteen–20% protein, along with the ideal stability of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Type: Crumbles or mash (easier for little beaks to eat)
Nutritional supplements: Grit is unneeded if feeding only commercial starter feed.
Suggestion: Steer clear of offering treats too early—starter feed need to be their sole diet program to ensure balanced nutrition.
2. Grower Feed (6–18 Weeks Outdated)
As chicks mature into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet program shifts to grower feed. This feed has slightly reduced protein information, typically fifteen–seventeen%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to forestall kidney difficulties in younger birds.
Reason: Supports continual expansion devoid of encouraging premature laying.
Form: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Grit when you introduce grains or treats.
Suggestion: Stay away from layer feed till they begin laying, as large calcium ranges can damage building organs.
three. Layer Feed (18+ Weeks / First Egg)
The moment your pullets lay their very first egg, it’s time to modify to layer feed. This specially formulated feed incorporates about 16% protein and the next QH88 amount of calcium to support eggshell formation.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Supplements: Offer you oyster shell or crushed eggshells totally free-choice for further calcium.
Suggestion: Some hens like crumbles more than pellets—observe your flock’s preference.
4. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
When you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding strategy differs. Broilers have to have a higher-protein, Strength-dense feed to aid fast bodyweight achieve.
Starter (0–3 weeks): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three weeks to harvest): eighteen–20% protein.
Tip: Check feed meticulously—overfeeding can cause leg troubles or heart problems.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, moderately)
Treats is usually a fantastic dietary supplement for your chickens’ diet, but they ought to make up no more than ten% of everyday ingestion. Supply healthy selections like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Stay away from: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: In case your flock eats complete grains or roughage, provide grit to aid digestion.
Closing Tips
Constantly present clean, refreshing drinking water—it’s additional vital than feed.
Shop feed appropriately to stay away from mould and pests.
Regulate feed parts dependant on flock size and age.
Feeding chickens properly at Each and every lifetime phase assures a thriving flock, far better egg manufacturing, and fewer health issues. With the right diet plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and perhaps some clucks of appreciation!