Chickens are voracious eaters and will consume most things you offer them, but relying solely on wheat may lead to decreased egg production and behavioral issues like feather picking in your flock. Feeding nutritionally balanced feed is best for their wellbeing and will ensure all your flock members remain healthy.
Hens can enjoy wheat grain in its various oat and barley forms, but wheat berries should only be offered occasionally as treats. They do contain essential thiamin, folate, magnesium and zinc nutrients – too little to provide your flock with adequate nourishment!
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Protein
Protein is essential to all living things and chickens require sufficient amounts to grow and develop properly. Protein provides energy as well as helping regulate their metabolism.
Meat provides another excellent source of protein for chickens. They enjoy digesting scraps and organs when properly prepared; in addition, they relish devouring animal carcasses.
Feed manufacturers must take great care in providing poultry diets with sufficient levels of protein. Wheat and soybean meal are two popular sources, however black soldier fly (BSF) protein has quickly become an alternative source, thanks to its balanced amino acid profile that complements cereal-based diets while being easily digestible by chickens.
Fiber
Feeding fiber to chickens can greatly enhance their digestive systems and nutrient utilization. The type, level and source of dietary fiber may influence their digestive organ development, gizzard activity, bile acid secretion, intestinal microflora development and overall growth performance.
Dietary fiber has been demonstrated to decrease manure pH levels, thus improving environmental outcomes. This occurs by shifting ammonia into its less volatile ureum form and decreasing nitrogen losses to the atmosphere.
An international study found that feeding hens different feed ingredients containing soluble fiber increased egg production, metabolism energy utilization and nitrogen balance. Dietary treatments also led to improvements in yolk color – likely caused by higher levels of xanthophylls present in corn and wheat middlings – with soy hull fed hens showing lower egg production and weight than their counterparts fed DDGS.
Vitamins
Chickens need 38 different vitamins in order to thrive and lay nutritious, strong eggs. Any deficiencies could result in scaly legs, poor feathering or decreased egg production.
Wheat provides many essential nutrients. It’s high in proteins, fats and water content as well as being packed full of B-group vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin – plus potassium and small amounts of copper zinc and iron!
Although chickens can get most of their nutrients from feed and greens, it’s essential that they also receive additional sources such as grit and calcium supplements to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Other common supplements may include oyster shell, scratch grains or electrolytes.
Minerals
Large breed chickens require a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals for proper development, with any deficiencies leading to thin-shelled eggs and increased mortality rates. To help ensure they receive enough, consider providing feed supplements as well as additional greens or treats.
Chickens require significant quantities of macrominerals such as calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, magnesium and sodium while microminerals include copper, iodine, iron manganese zinc.
Supplements offer extra nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids that contribute to healthy cell membranes and water-soluble vitamins that assist digestion, cellular activity and metabolic functions. Furthermore, supplements reduce grain dust while improving palatability of feed – many can be obtained from foods like brewers yeast, flax seeds and whole grains.
Cost
Chickens love eating wheat and its derivatives such as barley. However, it’s important to limit their exposure as too much can be difficult for them to digest and too many proteins present can lead to impacted crop syndrome preventing eggs production from the chickens.
While chickens can benefit from eating wheat kernels, seeds, and germ, feeding them bread could lead to serious health complications for poultry. Bread has little nutritional value and could even pose health threats to them.
Feeding too much wheat to your chickens can result in vitamin deficiencies and even cause their gizzards to be blocked up, so it’s best to choose feed specifically designed for their species.
