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
Raising healthy chickens starts with good diet. Feeding your flock the appropriate eating plan at Just about every stage of everyday living is important for advancement, egg production, and overall effectively-remaining. Regardless of whether you're boosting chicks, pullets, or adult hens, being familiar with their transforming nutritional wants allows guarantee a contented and productive flock. This chicken feeding tutorial walks you thru what to feed your birds from day a single for their golden laying years.
1. Starter Feed (0–6 Weeks Outdated)
The very first number of months of the chick’s everyday living are vital. Through this era, chicks have to have superior-protein starter feed to support rapid development and improvement. Most starter feeds have 18–twenty% protein, combined with the appropriate stability of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Kind: Crumbles or mash (much easier for little beaks to eat)
Supplements: Grit is unnecessary if feeding only business starter feed.
Tip: Stay clear of supplying treats way too early—starter feed needs to be their sole diet plan to be certain balanced nourishment.
two. Grower Feed (6–18 Months Old)
As chicks improve into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet program shifts to grower feed. This feed has somewhat decreased protein content, commonly fifteen–seventeen%, and fewer calcium than layer feed to stop kidney troubles in youthful birds.
Purpose: Supports regular expansion without the need of encouraging untimely laying.
Variety: Crumbles or pellets.
Supplements: Grit in case you introduce grains or treats.
Suggestion: Prevent layer feed right until they begin laying, as significant calcium concentrations can hurt acquiring organs.
three. Layer Feed (18+ Months / 1st Egg)
Once your pullets lay their very first egg, it’s time to modify to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed is made up of about sixteen% protein and an increased degree of calcium to aid eggshell formation.
Sort: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Supply oyster shell or crushed eggshells free of charge-option for added calcium.
Idea: Some hens choose crumbles QH88 over pellets—observe your flock’s choice.
four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding method differs. Broilers have to have a higher-protein, Electricity-dense feed to assistance swift excess weight achieve.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (three months to harvest): 18–20% protein.
Tip: Keep an eye on feed meticulously—overfeeding may lead to leg concerns or heart challenges.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, sparsely)
Treats generally is a terrific complement to the chickens’ diet regime, but they need to make up not more than 10% of every day ingestion. Present healthful choices like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Steer clear of: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: If the flock eats entire grains or roughage, provide grit to assist digestion.
Final Strategies
Constantly offer cleanse, refreshing drinking water—it’s much more significant than feed.
Store feed appropriately to stay away from mold and pests.
Alter feed parts dependant on flock dimension and age.
Feeding chickens effectively at each existence stage assures a thriving flock, far better egg creation, and less health problems. With the best eating plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a number of clucks of appreciation!