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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Boosting healthy chickens starts with good diet. Feeding your flock the best diet program at Each and every stage of existence is important for progress, egg production, and Over-all effectively-being. Whether you happen to be boosting chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional needs will help ensure a cheerful and successful flock. This hen feeding guidebook walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day 1 to their golden laying a long time.

one. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Outdated)
The main couple of weeks of the chick’s everyday living are crucial. Through this era, chicks require large-protein starter feed to guidance rapid development and advancement. Most starter feeds have 18–20% protein, combined with the suitable equilibrium of natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Form: Crumbles or mash (simpler for tiny beaks to eat)

Supplements: Grit is needless if feeding only industrial starter feed.

Tip: Stay away from providing treats also early—starter feed needs to 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 decreased protein information, generally 15–seventeen%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to stop kidney problems in youthful birds.

Reason: Supports constant development without encouraging untimely laying.

Type: Crumbles or pellets.

Supplements: Grit for those who introduce grains or treats.

Suggestion: Steer clear of layer feed until they begin laying, as higher calcium concentrations can damage creating 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 an increased degree of calcium to guidance eggshell formation.

Sort: Crumbles or pellets.

Supplements: Offer you oyster shell or crushed eggshells totally free-choice for excess calcium.

Tip: Some hens want crumbles more than 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 require a superior-protein, Vitality-dense feed to guidance swift 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 troubles or coronary heart complications.

five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, in Moderation)
Treats is usually a wonderful nutritional supplement to your chickens’ eating plan, but they ought to make up not more than ten% of day by day ingestion. Give healthy 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, offer grit to aid digestion.

Remaining Strategies
Normally deliver clean up, contemporary drinking water—it’s a lot more crucial than feed.

Retailer feed correctly to avoid mould and pests.

Change feed portions based on flock sizing and age.

Feeding chickens QH88 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 eating plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a handful of clucks of appreciation!