Healthy chicken food is vital for maintaining the wellbeing and longevity of any flock. Protein, carbohydrates and fat all provide energy sources.
Chickens require additional foods in addition to complete feed, such as scraps and treats (in moderation), greens and watermelons. Since some foods can be harmful for chickens’ health, limiting these items is essential.
Contents
Protein
Protein is an integral component of chicken nutrition. Consisting of complex amino acids found in food consumed, the chicken body converts these amino acids into specific proteins necessary for muscles, skin, feathers, eggs and even blood cells – without enough protein a chicken would not survive and thrive.
Protein provides energy to help a chicken carry out everyday functions such as walking, breathing and temperature regulation. To ensure optimal performance of this energy source, quality feed must be used rather than treats or scraps as sources.
Protein can be found in many sources, including corn, wheat and soybeans; many commercial layer feeds feature protein from all these sources combined. Animal byproducts like poultry meat and meal can also contribute protein. Fats may also be included as they offer energy as well as the opportunity for absorption of certain vitamins such as Vitamin C as well as water-soluble ones (A,B&E).
Carbohydrates
Chickens depend on carbs for energy for daily activities like breathing, walking and eating. A poultry’s primary source of carbs can be found in grains, starchy vegetables such as corn and wheat as well as protein supplements.
Protein is a crucial element of any nutritious chicken feed as it supplies essential amino acids – the building blocks of life. Since humans cannot produce these amino acids on their own, they must come from outside sources, like food. Unfortunately, amino acid deficiencies are prevalent among conventionally fed chickens and this can result in disease, poor feather quality and weak eggshells.
Fat is another essential nutrient in a balanced poultry feed diet. It provides more calories per gram than carbohydrates and aids the body’s absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D and E, the primary sources being animal fats (lard and tallow) and vegetable oils. Minerals provide essential building materials for bones, flesh and feathers; essential constituents being calcium, sodium potassium phosphatous.
Fat
Chickens require energy for various tasks, including walking, breathing and digestion. Protein and carbohydrates each provide four calories per gram while fat provides twice that amount.
Fat sources used in poultry feed production include rendered pig lard, beef tallow, soybean, canola and sunflower oils – these provide concentrated energy to birds while aiding with absorption of some vitamins.
Feed manufacturers commonly add vitamin and mineral supplements to chicken feed, especially that for laying hens, to ensure they receive a diet with the optimal balance of calcium and phosphorus. It’s also important to remember that seeds, kitchen scraps, garden greens and fruits should only be fed occasionally as treats; such foods should make up only 10-15% of a chicken’s diet – for instance berries provide vitamins A & C along with potassium iron and copper!
Minerals
Minerals found in poultry feed are essential to proper body systems and functions, including bone formation. Furthermore, these microminerals such as iodine, iron, copper, selenium and zinc play an integral part in chicken health.
Mineral content in poultry food can be determined by burning ingredients until they produce ash, and then analyzing that ash for mineral content. Phosphorus is often the mainstay in poultry feed diets; however, many diets also contain other important minerals.
Chickens get their minerals naturally through food sources such as grit (typically limestone or granite gravel), oyster shells, and crushed eggshells. You can provide these to your flock free-choice to meet their mineral requirements; but for maximum vitamin and mineral intake it’s easiest to feed a well-balanced layer pellet or crumble diet to your flock.
