Feed for Chicks Chicken feed for baby chicks comes in two simple varieties – starter and grower feed. As the title suggests, starter feed is fed simply after chicks hatch. Typically, infant chicks are fed starter feed until they are six weeks of age. Starter feed is protein dense (usually 20-24% protein) and designed to meet the dietary requirements of child chicks.
Chicks between 6 and 20 weeks of age need to be switched to grower feed, which includes less protein than starter feed (16-18%) and less calcium than normal layer feed varieties. It’s important to make the change to grower feed due to the fact feeding too plenty protein to growing pullets can purpose kidney or liver issues later in life.
Feed for Egg-Laying Hens Layer feed is designed to meet the needs of mature laying hens and incorporates a balance of protein, calcium, and different necessary vitamins and minerals that promote fitness and improved egg first-class and production. Layer feed typically incorporates 16-18% protein, alongside with a generous quantity of calcium to make certain strong egg shells. Layer feed have to solely be fed to chickens around 20 weeks of age or after they have begun laying eggs.
You can also supplement your chickens with added calcium with the aid of imparting ground oyster shell or beaten egg shells.
Layer hens also need grit to aid in digestion, especially if they aren’t capable to free range.
In addition to a exact pleasant layer feed, layer hens also benefit from a variety of fresh veggies and fruits including:
Feed for Meat Chickens If you are raising meat chickens, you’ll desire to feed them broiler sorts of fowl feed that come in three fundamental types – starter, grower, and finisher.
Broiler sorts of poultry feed are dense in protein, which encourages quickly growth. Don’t feed broiler sorts of rooster feed to laying hens, due to the fact that the excess protein can be detrimental to their health.
If you are elevating broilers, be certain they have get admission to to food 24 hours a day, to motivate maximum growth and weight gain.