Hen Feeding Guideline for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Hen Feeding Guideline for Each Stage: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Increasing nutritious chickens starts with correct nutrition. Feeding your flock the correct diet regime at Just about every stage of lifestyle is important for expansion, egg creation, and General well-staying. Irrespective of whether you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional requirements allows make certain a contented and successful flock. This chicken feeding information walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day 1 to their golden laying a long time.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Old)
The very first number of weeks of a chick’s lifestyle are essential. All through this era, chicks have to have high-protein starter feed to assistance speedy development and advancement. Most starter feeds have 18–twenty% protein, combined with the appropriate stability of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Variety: Crumbles or mash (a lot easier for little beaks to consume)
Supplements: Grit is unnecessary if feeding only professional starter feed.
Tip: Avoid offering treats also early—starter feed ought to be their sole diet to guarantee balanced diet.
two. Grower Feed (six–18 Weeks Aged)
As chicks expand into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet shifts to grower feed. This feed has a bit lower protein information, typically 15–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to stop kidney difficulties in youthful birds.
Purpose: Supports regular progress without the need of encouraging untimely laying.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Nutritional supplements: Grit in the event you introduce grains or treats.
Tip: Steer clear of layer feed until finally they start laying, as large calcium stages can harm building organs.
3. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / First Egg)
At the time your pullets lay their to start with egg, it’s time to change to QH88 layer feed. This specifically formulated feed has about 16% protein and the next amount of calcium to assistance eggshell formation.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Dietary supplements: Offer oyster shell or crushed eggshells cost-free-option for added calcium.
Idea: Some hens favor crumbles around pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re increasing chickens for meat, your feeding technique is different. Broilers require a superior-protein, Power-dense feed to assist immediate excess weight achieve.
Starter (0–three weeks): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): 18–twenty% protein.
Idea: Monitor feed very carefully—overfeeding may result in leg challenges or coronary heart problems.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats can be a great dietary supplement in your chickens’ diet program, but they should make up not more than 10% of everyday intake. Present healthier alternatives like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Steer clear of: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: Should your flock eats whole grains or roughage, present grit to aid digestion.
Remaining Ideas
Always give clean up, refreshing drinking water—it’s additional important than feed.
Keep feed properly in order to avoid mildew and pests.
Regulate feed parts according to flock measurement and age.
Feeding chickens correctly at Each and every everyday living phase makes sure a flourishing flock, better egg manufacturing, and fewer health issues. With the correct diet program, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a couple of clucks of appreciation!