Boosting balanced chickens starts off with good nutrition. Feeding your flock the best diet regime at Just about every stage of everyday living is essential for advancement, egg creation, and General well-remaining. Whether you happen to be raising chicks, pullets, or adult hens, knowledge their switching nutritional wants will help guarantee a cheerful and productive flock. This rooster feeding guideline walks you through what to feed your birds from working day 1 to their golden laying many years.

one. Starter Feed (0–six Weeks Old)
The very first handful of weeks of the chick’s life are critical. In the course of this period, chicks demand substantial-protein starter feed to aid rapid advancement and enhancement. Most starter feeds comprise 18–twenty% protein, along with the right equilibrium of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Form: Crumbles or mash (much easier for tiny beaks to try to eat)

Dietary supplements: Grit is pointless if feeding only professional starter feed.

Suggestion: Stay away from supplying treats far too early—starter feed must be their sole diet program to ensure balanced nourishment.

2. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Old)
As chicks mature into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet regime shifts to grower feed. This feed has somewhat decreased protein material, ordinarily 15–17%, and less calcium than layer feed to forestall kidney issues in young birds.

Function: Supports continuous growth with no encouraging premature laying.

Sort: Crumbles or pellets.

Nutritional supplements: Grit if you introduce grains or QH88 treats.

Idea: Avoid layer feed until finally they start laying, as large calcium amounts can harm creating organs.

three. Layer Feed (eighteen+ Weeks / Initial Egg)
As soon as your pullets lay their initial egg, it’s time to modify to layer feed. This specifically formulated feed includes about sixteen% protein and an increased degree of calcium to assistance eggshell development.

Kind: Crumbles or pellets.

Dietary supplements: Give oyster shell or crushed eggshells absolutely free-choice for excess calcium.

Tip: Some hens like crumbles about pellets—observe your flock’s preference.

four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
In the event you’re increasing chickens for meat, your feeding strategy is different. Broilers require a high-protein, Strength-dense feed to aid fast body weight gain.

Starter (0–3 months): 22–24% protein.

Finisher (three months to reap): eighteen–twenty% protein.

Idea: Observe feed cautiously—overfeeding can cause leg difficulties or coronary heart complications.

five. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, sparsely)
Treats might be a great dietary supplement in your chickens’ diet program, but they need to make up not more than ten% of day-to-day intake. Offer healthy solutions like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or fruits.

Stay clear of: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.

Use grit: If your flock eats total grains or roughage, give grit to aid digestion.

Closing Suggestions
Normally give clean, clean h2o—it’s a lot more vital than feed.

Keep feed properly in order to avoid mould and pests.

Regulate feed portions determined by flock sizing and age.

Feeding chickens appropriately at Each individual lifestyle stage guarantees a thriving flock, far better egg creation, and fewer health problems. With the correct diet program, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and maybe a couple of clucks of appreciation!