Chickens require a balanced diet consisting of protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins in order to develop efficiently and grow healthy feathers and eggs. Protein helps build muscle while carbohydrates provide energy while fats provide heat as well as aiding the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Commercial feeds come in three forms, pellets, crumbles and mash. Each form offers different particle sizes; young birds such as chicks must initially consume mash until their digestive systems can accommodate larger items.
Contents
Protein
Chickens in the wild rely on insects, seeds and grains as sources of protein and energy, with grass, fruits and green forage providing additional nutrition. In order to give your flock all they require for proper nourishment, feed a balanced and complete feed containing protein, calcium and any supplements as necessary; occasional treats like fresh green forage, bugs or other special foods should not exceed 10% of their diet per day – provided they have consumed their primary feed first!
Chicken food comes in various textures and shapes, from pellets and crumbles to crumbles and mash. Chicks typically begin eating mash until they’re 12 weeks old and begin laying eggs; adults may opt for either mash, crumbles or pellets depending on their preferences. Chicken feed contains protein as well as carbohydrates, fats and vitamins for fuel and maintenance – these provide energy as fuel while fats aid their bodies by keeping body parts functioning well while helping absorb essential vitamins into their systems.
Carbohydrates
Chickens rely on energy sources like carbohydrates to stay warm in winter and active during summer, and produce eggs. While carbohydrates provide energy at an approximate rate of 4kcal per gram, protein and fat both contribute 9kcal per gram – so some poultry feed should include meat meals for optimal nutrition.
Protein can come from both plant and animal sources. Vegetarian sources include legumes (such as soybeans, peanuts, field peas and lentils), oilseeds and fish processing byproducts; while meat meal is one source that also provides essential fatty acids.
Minerals are essential to healthy body functions, and most poultry feed is fortified with them. Common examples of minerals include calcium, phosphorus and niacin. Vitamin intake is also crucial for optimal health – fat-soluble vitamins A-D E&K as well as water-soluble ones like C&all the B’s are usually included.
Fats
Chickens require an effective balance of proteins, carbs, fats and vitamins in their diet to stay healthy and perform at their best. Therefore it’s crucial that your poultry receives complete commercial chicken feed tailored specifically to their specific nutritional requirements by experts in poultry nutrition.
Commercial poultry feed comes in three distinct forms, pellets, crumbles and mash. These varieties differ mainly in size; pellets being compact cylinders; crumbles being smaller but dustier due to finely ground ingredients; while mash offers even finer powdered feed without being as compact or dense.
Chicken feed contains protein sources like wheat, corn and soybean meal as its primary protein sources, with animal byproducts like bone meal and feather meal also being included. Vitamin and mineral supplements may also be added for optimal health of laying hens; such as calcium (essential for egg production), niacin and vitamin D3. Meat type chickens typically receive additional B12 supplementation.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds required in small amounts for proper growth and reproduction in chickens. Chickens require both fat-soluble (A, D & E), and water-soluble vitamins (C and the B’s) in small doses for their health and reproduction. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to disease; sources include poor diet quality, inadequate sunlight exposure or certain infections; their bodies also synthesize some vitamins while others must come from diet sources.
Minerals are essential in small amounts for blood, metabolism and muscle function, including macrominerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and chlorine; and microminerals like iron, copper manganese zinc iodine. Grain diets tend to lack minerals so supplements like aragonite ground oyster shells crushed eggshells are often added as supplements; free range chickens may receive much of what they need through foraging and some complete feeds account for this fact.
Addition of fish meal or flaxseed can give chickens an omega-3 boost, while some additional vitamins and minerals such as kelp can provide essential supplements.
