Hen Feeding Guidebook for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Hen Feeding Guidebook for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Raising healthful chickens begins with proper diet. Feeding your flock the ideal food plan at each stage of lifestyle is important for development, egg output, and All round well-currently being. No matter whether you're elevating chicks, pullets, or Grownup hens, comprehension their changing nutritional wants will help guarantee a cheerful and productive flock. This chicken feeding guideline walks you through what to feed your birds from day a single to their golden laying a long time.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Months Aged)
The very first handful of weeks of the chick’s life are significant. Through this era, chicks have to have superior-protein starter feed to guidance immediate expansion and development. Most starter feeds include eighteen–20% protein, along with the ideal harmony of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Kind: Crumbles or mash (simpler for little beaks to eat)
Nutritional supplements: Grit is unwanted if feeding only commercial starter feed.
Tip: Keep away from offering treats far too early—starter feed need to be their sole food plan to ensure well balanced nourishment.
two. Grower Feed (6–18 Months Outdated)
As chicks improve into pullets (teenage chickens), their eating plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has marginally decrease protein information, commonly 15–17%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to avoid kidney concerns in young birds.
Purpose: Supports continuous expansion with no encouraging premature laying.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Grit should you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Prevent layer feed right up until they start laying, as superior calcium stages can harm acquiring organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / To start with Egg)
After your pullets lay their initial egg, it’s time to change to layer feed. This specially formulated feed is made up of about 16% protein and a better level of calcium to guidance eggshell formation.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Supplements: Offer you oyster shell or crushed eggshells free-choice for excess calcium.
Tip: Some hens want crumbles more than pellets—observe your flock’s desire.
4. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding technique differs. Broilers need a substantial-protein, energy-dense feed to help swift excess weight achieve.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three months to reap): eighteen–20% protein.
Tip: Check feed thoroughly—overfeeding can lead to leg concerns or heart challenges.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats can be a excellent health supplement towards your chickens’ diet, but they should make up no more than ten% of daily ingestion. Offer wholesome choices like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Stay away from: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: In case your flock eats entire grains or roughage, supply grit to aid digestion.
Final Tips
Always provide clean, fresh new h2o—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 the right way at Each individual lifetime stage makes sure a flourishing flock, much better egg production, and less health problems. With the right eating plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a few clucks of QH88 appreciation!