Preparing to keep chicks requires careful consideration. Look for feed with guaranteed analysis and ingredient list to provide them with optimal conditions.
Chick starter feed typically consists of finely milled grains and seeds in a crumble format, along with vitamins and minerals for healthy egg yolk production. Sage and thyme will often be included for enhanced color in their yolks.
Contents
Protein
A quality chicken feed should contain protein, omega-3s, prebiotics and probiotics, calcium and magnesium among other essential nutrients. Protein helps chickens maintain energy levels and lay more eggs; omega-3s promote immunity and digestive health; prebiotics aid nutrient absorption while calcium and phosphorous support bone and eggshell development.
A good poultry feed should include legumes and oilseeds for low-cost proteins, along with protein meals like meat meal to provide animal fat and essential fatty acids. Other ingredients found in poultry feed may include wheat (to aid digestion and prevent coccidiosis) peas for their high protein (23% digestibility and high levels of amino acid lysine content, while fish meal provides omega-3 fatty acids along with essential proteins.
Fat
Chicken feed provides their birds with essential proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for proper growth and immune system health. Furthermore, it plays a part in fighting disease as well as supporting molting, egg laying and seasonal fluctuations such as hot and cold weather temperatures.
Most commercial chicken feeds contain all of the essential vitamins and minerals for healthy flocks of poultry, however supplementing their diet with additional foods may increase nutritional intake and support their wellbeing.
Supplementing chicken feed with proteins, grains and vegetables can add prebiotics, probiotics, Omega-3s, calcium (which can become depleted during egg production) and magnesium for maximum benefit. Supplemental ingredients are easily available and cost-effective for backyard poultry owners.
Fiber
Protein is essential to meeting a chicken’s energy requirements, and can come from sources like soybean, canola or sunflower meal (the by-products from processing these oils), animal by-products such as bone meal and feather meal as well as from animal sources like bone, feather or fish meal.
Corn is an inexpensive source of energy and provides bulk filler benefits, but may contain low crude fiber content and be low in important amino acids like lysine and methionine.
Grit is an essential component of poultry diets and provides protein, fat and carbohydrates. Additionally, grit facilitates digestion by helping chickens grind up plant stems and hard foods in their gizzard. Other options such as grubs and mealworms offer protein, fat and other vital nutrients – these treats make great additions to a daily feeding regime!
Minerals
Chickens are omnivorous creatures that consume both insects and plant-based proteins for optimal health, but a complete diet should include carbohydrates, proteins and fats as well as essential minerals and vitamins for their optimal development.
Feed for chickens typically starts as mash, which is then combined with various ingredients to ensure each bite provides an appropriate blend of nutrients. Hens need protein to produce eggs and stay warm; omega-3 fatty acids help promote cardiovascular health; prebiotics and probiotics aid digestion and immune system functioning; calcium depleted through daily egg laying needs replenishing, while magnesium ensures strong bones.
Fats provide concentrated calories and help poultry absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. Common sources include lard, pork tallow and poultry fat; commercially prepared feeds often include minerals like calcium, sodium phosphorous and iron to support bone formation and eggshell production.
Vitamins
Most commercial chicken feed is designed to be nutritionally complete; provided you feed your chickens according to their age and stage (chick starter, layer feed etc), they should receive all of their necessary vitamins and minerals. However, adding scraps or free-range foraging to their diet dilutes its effectiveness and could result in deficiencies.
To ensure that your flock is receiving all the nutrients it requires, use a vitamin and mineral supplement like this one. Powdered supplements can be sprinkled onto their feed or mixed with water to aid in extreme temperature conditions or help promote thick eggs production; you can find such products online here.
