Once your hens start laying eggs, it is important to transition them onto a high-protein and calcium-rich layer feed to support their energy needs and promote healthy egg laying.
Feed comes in either mash or pellet form; some chicken owners find crumble, an easier form of mash to administer to their flocks.
Chick Starter
Complete chick starter feed contains all of the essential nutrients young birds require to become productive hens and robust roosters. Protein from both animal and plant sources provides essential muscle and tissue building blocks; also included are carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals as well as some brands containing coccidiostats which protect against parasitic disease such as Coccidia.
Baby chicks transition from chicks to pullets within eight weeks, and high-protein feed such as starter-grower chicken feed provides them with all of the energy they require to grow and flourish. A good feed should include amino acids, prebiotics and yeast for gut health and immunity support.
Your chicks’ diets should include nutritious treats like kitchen scraps and mealworms; just ensure to provide fine grit that helps digest these foods properly. Limit treats to 15 minutes each day and be wary that any of them replace a portion of their starter-grower ration; medicated chick starter is available for chicks up to three months of age.
Grower
Once your chicks reach around 20 weeks of age they should no longer be considered chicks and should instead be fed an adult/grower feed ration. Although more costly, this food provides your birds with essential protein and energy needed for optimal performance while remaining healthy. Grower feed is available as mash, crumbles or pellets depending on the poultry species being raised; excessive calcium levels could result in kidney damage in laying hens.
Mash varieties of chicken feed resemble the texture of potting soil, and should only be fed to newly born chicks or grown chickens that have started laying eggs. Pellets, on the other hand, hold their shape well so hens can pick them up if their feeder falls over, making them easy to store and use. As soon as your birds have begun laying their own eggs they should switch over to layer feed which typically comes in pellet or crumble form; layer feed is richer in protein (16-18%) than regular varieties while also having added calcium for egg shell development and shell formation.
Medicated
Chickens need an assortment of nutrients in order to survive and function, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Proteins provide essential building blocks for bones, skin feathers cartilage muscles and egg shells while carbohydrates supply instant energy while fats provide three times more than their counterparts.
Commercial chicken feed provides all the nutrition a chicken needs in one convenient formula and comes in three distinct forms – pellets, crumbles and mash. Pellets are usually the largest variety with compact cylindrical shape while crumble and mash are coarser options with similar nutritional value.
Some chicken feed contains amprolium to combat coccidiosis disease that often strikes baby chicks. You can find organic, soy-free and corn-free varieties too. Furthermore, shell grit may be helpful as an essential part of their diet for digestion and bone health – made by grinding up seashells into coarse gravel that resembles coarse gravel!
