Deciding to raise chickens in your backyard entails more than purchasing a few and putting them in a coop. Along with a comfortable coop and a proper heat source, your chicks need the right kind of food to grow strong and healthy. And for chickens, the appropriate diet changes at each stage of their growing-up years.
So, what you feed to those cutesy chicks will never be the same as what the egg-laying hens need to have. Also, it is understandable if you are unsure about what to feed the chicks at different stages of their lives. So, here is a brief guide about when and what to feed your chickens.
Starter feed for the baby chicks (Age: 0 – 8 weeks)
When chickens grow from chicks to pullets, they change rapidly. This change is the most noticeable from birth through about eight weeks. So, the baby chicks require Starter Chicken Feed to support and develop their immunity and bone strength. A good starter feed will be full of vitamins and minerals, amino acids, and whole proteins. Ensure the chicks get the starter feed for the initial eight weeks after their birth, which is right before you introduce grower feed.
Grower feed for the pullets (Age: 8 – 16 weeks)
Your chicks have grown up quite a bit at eight weeks, and you can now call them pullets. It would be good to feed them a grower feed that focuses primarily on their development. Ideally, grower feeds need to be a bit low on the calcium level and protein content. But it still needs to have omega-3s and all other nutrients for supporting health and digestion.
Layer feed for the hens (Age: Over 16 weeks)
When the pullets start laying eggs, it means they have now transitioned into hens. Hens need protein and calcium-rich layer feed to make sure they lay healthy and strong eggs. Keep in mind that all hens lay eggs as per their schedule. Some might lay eggs at sixteen weeks, while others might take over thirty weeks.
Now, you have the option to either start them on layer feed right at sixteen weeks or wait until they lay their first egg. However, if you are also planning to raise the flock for the meat, you will need higher protein content in the feed. It will help them in keeping up their energy levels and gain strong muscles.
Poultry scratches and other treats
Scratches, chick grits, and other such supplements can help your chicks, pullets, and hens in their digestion. But remember to deliver them as treats and in small amounts. Keep in mind that the goal is to help the flock keep up the natural instincts for pecking and scratching.
Endnote
So, this is all you need to know about the diet of the chickens. If it is your first time raising chickens, your confusion is completely understandable. Hopefully, reading till here has given you some direction in this matter. And now you can go ahead and happily bring home a few chicks.
