Chickens require a range of nutrients to stay healthy, such as protein, carbohydrates and fat.
A balanced chicken feed should contain all essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids in their correct amounts. In addition, fresh greens and herbs should also be included in their diet for added benefit.
Contents
Hay
Chicken owners often have hay handy that they can feed their birds. You have several types of hay to choose from, such as alfalfa, oat and triticale.
Alfalfa hay is one of the most nutritionally beneficial hays to feed your chickens. It’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals like protein, potassium, zinc, iron and calcium – making it an excellent choice for their diets.
Oat hay is an ideal choice for your chickens, as it contains both magnesium and fiber that may help lower their cholesterol levels.
Timothy hay is another type of hay you can feed your chickens as an alternative to grains. However, be aware that it may contain bacteria or mold spores which should not be fed to your flock.
It is best to offer your chickens hay as an additional treat or supplement on top of their normal diet. While it can be a tasty snack for them, be mindful not to overdose them with hay at once.
Meat
Chickens require protein to grow strong and healthy, promote egg production, and maintain muscle mass. Furthermore, they require a lot of energy for walking, digestion, and maintaining an even body temperature.
Chicken feed primarily consists of water, carbohydrate, fat and protein. Each gram provides around 4 kcal of energy which is essential for chickens to survive.
Carbohydrates are the most essential nutrient in chicken feed as they provide quick energy. Carbohydrates can be found in cereal grains such as wheat, corn, sorghum, barley and millet.
Protein is the second-most crucial nutrient in chicken feed. It typically consists of soybean meal, sunflower meal, fish meal and meat by-products.
Vitamins and minerals are an integral part of chicken feed. While your chickens usually get enough from greens and foraging, supplementing their diet may be beneficial if there’s a shortage of vegetables available to them. If this is the case, adding vitamins and minerals in small amounts is recommended to ensure your flock’s wellbeing.
Mice
Mice make excellent food sources for chickens due to their high protein content and small bones they can happily munch on. Furthermore, mice provide your flock with essential calcium needed to build strong eggshells.
Many people may believe mice are bad for their chickens, but the right ones can actually provide valuable nutrition. If you have mice, make sure they’re caged or kept in an isolated area away from your house.
Rodent food commonly contains grains, grain meals, seed oil or animal fat as well as some vitamins and minerals. For optimal ad libitum feeding results in 22-25% protein and 4% fat content – give or take.
Potatoes
Potatoes in your chicken feed can offer numerous advantages. Not only do they contain high levels of protein and fibre, but they are also packed with essential vitamins and minerals that keep your birds healthy.
Potatoes are an excellent source of carbohydrates for your birds, providing them with quick energy boosts. You can cook or mash them to make them easier for your chickens to digest and absorb nutrients.
Potatoes also provide essential nutrients for strong eggshells and a robust immune system, as well as being packed with vitamins A and B6, calcium, iron, and magnesium.
White, yellow and red potatoes – which belong to the Nightshade family – contain solanine which can be dangerous for your chickens if fed. To minimize exposure for your flock, avoid feeding them any green parts of potatoes and make sure to thoroughly wash them before feeding.
