Chickens need a balanced diet which contains protein for energy, Omega-3s, prebiotics and probiotics for gut health, calcium (depleted during egg laying) and magnesium – making the ideal feed something made from local, organic ingredients with a fixed formulation.
Offering table scraps, treats or fruits dilutes the comprehensive nutrition provided in quality layer feed. By restricting snacks and treats as much as possible to maintain healthy flocks.
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Feeding Schedule
Chickens need unrestricted access to feed throughout the day so that they can eat when hungry and receive essential nutrition. Furthermore, regular access to clean and fresh water must also be ensured for their wellbeing.
The ideal chicken feed contains high amounts of protein, omega-3s, probiotics, prebiotics, calcium and magnesium – nutrients which can help increase energy levels while supporting strong immunity systems and encouraging healthier eggshells in laying hens.
A high-quality chicken feed should contain a blend of plant and animal proteins that provides nutritionally complete care throughout their lives. Corn, soybean meal and wheat/wheat middlings are among the highest-grade plant proteins; while sorghum and barley provide energy supplements. Peanut cake/cottonseed cake contain harmful toxins; therefore they should only account for up to 7% of total feed mixture; fish meal provides high palatability but should never exceed 5% in any mixture.
Feeding Times
Chickens need access to fresh, clean feed at all times – the ideal situation would be having both a feeder inside their coop and outside for them to access feed throughout the day without being interrupted by pests like rats, coons and mice.
Chicks should initially be fed specially-formulated chick starter feed which typically contains high levels of protein for optimal development. As soon as they reach laying age they should switch to layer feed which contains moderate protein levels around 17%; supplement this diet with oyster shells or crushed eggshells as needed for calcium sources.
Winter chickens require more food to stay warm while fall sees their intake decline as days shorten. Therefore, it is essential that their feeding habits are observed closely and adjustments made as needed. Chicken feed can also be enhanced with seasonal treats like apples, raisins, pumpkin seeds or yoghurt to add some variety and support their immune systems.
Feeding Method
Chickens need a balanced diet that provides all of the essential nutrients for their wellbeing, such as protein – essential for producing eggs with healthy yolks and staying warm in cold weather. Mealworms and dried black soldier fly larvae provide additional sources of essential amino acids.
Chicken feed should also be of high quality and be free from pesticides and other contaminants, making it suitable for consumption by your poultry. You can purchase quality feed at your local farm shop or bulk goods store. Alternatively, it can also be easy and economical to create homemade poultry food at home.
Some people choose to feed their chickens mash or pellet food and supplement it with treats and scraps from time to time, which may pose health problems for the flock. If you want to give your hens an occasional treat, limit it to high protein foods such as vegetables or fruit for optimal dietary balance in your flock.
Feeding Options
There are plenty of choices when it comes to chicken feed, and not all are equal. Options range from organic, non-GMO, natural and medicated feed options – the key is finding one with balanced nutrition that has an excellent reputation and track record.
Formulate food specifically geared toward the age and breed of your flock and use only premium quality ingredients. Be sure to provide enough calcium for strong shells as well as an ideal blend of proteins, minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates and prebiotics/probiotics/Omega 3 fatty acids for optimal performance.
High quality feeds typically consist of whole grains like wheat, oats, barley and corn; they might also include lupins, peas, quinoa, amaranth seeds (nyjer seeds) and hemp seed for maximum nutrition. Other options may include peanut cake, cottonseed meal soybean cake fish meal poultry meat and feather by-products as well as ground oyster shell (known as “grit”) as an additional calcium source – this grit resembles coarse gravel in its appearance!
