Hen Feeding Guide for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Hen Feeding Guide for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Increasing healthful chickens starts with proper diet. Feeding your flock the best diet regime at Every single stage of lifetime is essential for advancement, egg generation, and General perfectly-currently being. No matter whether you're increasing chicks, pullets, or Grownup hens, comprehension their changing nutritional demands helps guarantee a contented and productive flock. This rooster feeding guideline walks you through what to feed your birds from day a person to their golden laying several years.
one. Starter Feed (0–six Weeks Previous)
The 1st few weeks of a chick’s daily life are significant. In the course of this era, chicks involve high-protein starter feed to help swift advancement and improvement. Most starter feeds have 18–20% protein, combined with the suitable equilibrium of natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Variety: Crumbles or mash (easier for tiny beaks to eat)
Dietary supplements: Grit is needless if feeding only industrial starter feed.
Tip: Stay away from providing treats also early—starter feed must be their sole diet regime to guarantee well balanced diet.
2. Grower Feed (six–eighteen Weeks Old)
As chicks grow into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet shifts to grower feed. This feed has slightly lessen protein written content, ordinarily fifteen–17%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to circumvent kidney difficulties in younger birds.
Objective: Supports steady expansion 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 acquiring 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 level 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 desire crumbles over pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re increasing chickens for meat, your feeding strategy is different. Broilers require a superior-protein, Vitality-dense feed to guidance rapid bodyweight get.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Suggestion: Watch feed carefully—overfeeding can result in leg difficulties or coronary heart problems.
5. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, in Moderation)
Treats is usually a good nutritional supplement for your chickens’ diet program, but they need to make up no more than 10% of everyday intake. Supply healthful possibilities like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Prevent: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: When your flock eats total grains or roughage, present grit to assist digestion.
Ultimate Guidelines
Constantly give clear, refreshing water—it’s more important than feed.
Store feed thoroughly to stay away from mildew and pests.
Modify feed portions dependant QH88 on flock dimensions and age.
Feeding chickens accurately at Every single existence stage makes certain a thriving flock, 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!