Hen Feeding Guide for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Hen Feeding Guide for Each Phase: What to Feed Your Flock from Chick to Layer
Blog Article
Boosting healthier chickens commences with right diet. Feeding your flock the best eating plan at Each individual stage of life is important for development, egg production, and In general properly-becoming. Regardless of whether you might be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional needs will help ensure a happy and productive flock. This rooster feeding tutorial walks you thru what to feed your birds from working day one for their golden laying many years.
1. Starter Feed (0–six Months Aged)
The very first handful of weeks of a chick’s lifestyle are essential. All through this era, chicks call for substantial-protein starter feed to assist swift progress and growth. Most starter feeds incorporate 18–twenty% protein, along with the correct equilibrium of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Form: Crumbles or mash (a lot easier for small beaks to take in)
Dietary supplements: Grit is pointless if feeding only professional starter feed.
Tip: Stay clear of providing treats much too early—starter feed really should be their sole diet program to be certain balanced nutrition.
2. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Old)
As chicks expand into pullets (teenage chickens), their food plan shifts to grower feed. This feed has marginally decreased protein content material, generally 15–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to avoid kidney difficulties in youthful birds.
Intent: Supports steady development with no encouraging premature laying.
Kind: Crumbles or pellets.
Health supplements: Grit when you introduce grains or treats.
Suggestion: Prevent layer feed right until they begin laying, as substantial calcium stages can harm creating organs.
three. Layer Feed (18+ Months / To start with Egg)
The moment your pullets lay their 1st egg, it’s time to switch to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed includes about sixteen% protein and a greater level of calcium to guidance eggshell formation.
Sort: Crumbles or pellets.
Dietary supplements: Give oyster shell or crushed eggshells cost-free-option for added calcium.
Suggestion: Some hens favor crumbles about pellets—notice your QH88 flock’s preference.
4. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
When you’re raising chickens for meat, your feeding approach differs. Broilers have to have a high-protein, Strength-dense feed to aid fast bodyweight get.
Starter (0–three months): 22–24% protein.
Finisher (3 weeks to harvest): eighteen–twenty% protein.
Idea: Watch feed carefully—overfeeding can lead to leg concerns or heart issues.
five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, carefully)
Treats might be a great complement for your chickens’ diet plan, but they must make up no more than ten% of each day consumption. Offer balanced selections like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.
Keep away from: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, Uncooked beans, or moldy scraps.
Use grit: When your flock eats entire grains or roughage, deliver grit to aid digestion.
Remaining Guidelines
Always give clean, refreshing h2o—it’s much more critical than feed.
Store feed effectively in order to avoid mildew and pests.
Alter feed portions determined by flock sizing and age.
Feeding chickens the right way at each lifestyle stage ensures a flourishing flock, superior egg generation, and less health problems. With the proper diet plan, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and perhaps a number of clucks of appreciation!