There are three basic formats of homemade poultry feed: mash, crumble and pellets. Each style describes a texture preferred by poultry.
Mashed feed is typically reserved for chicks, but it can also be fed to fully grown hens as part of their regular diet. When mixed with water it forms a porridge-like consistency that will delight their flock.
Scratch Mix
Scratch Mix is an array of seeds, grains and treats intended to supplement your chicken’s primary feed. It can be purchased pre-bagged at your local feed store or even homemade from scratch at home; both options offer plenty of varieties that keep their flock entertained!
Scratch mixes are generally high in carbs and provide an enjoyable treat for chickens, but should never become their primary food source. Doing so could result in nutritional imbalances for your flock that could include protein deficiencies, decreased egg production and vitamin and mineral deficiency issues.
Mash is a fine, powdery feed suitable for chicks and full-grown laying hens alike. When mixed with hot water it forms a porridge-like consistency which many chickens find irresistible.
Pellet feed is a type of mash that has been compressed into long, thin pellets for your chickens to easily consume and digest quickly. Furthermore, this ensures all pellets contain equal nutritional value so your flock gets all they require for living a healthy life. Furthermore, amprolium (an antimicrobial chemical) may be added as additional protection from certain diseases in their flock.
Mash
Mash feed is generally reserved for chicks as it’s easily digested. Some chicken keepers opt for using it with their laying hens too as it helps them reach peak egg producing ability – producing eggs with strong, well shaped shells and high nutritional value is what this feeding strategy will lead to.
Add finely cut green food such as onion tops, dandelions and green alfalfa to the dry mash mixture to increase nutrition and enjoyment for your flock. Incorporate some sour milk (or buttermilk) for acidification purposes and start providing hard insoluble grit in open hoppers from day one.
Mix mash feed with hot water for an easier-to-eat puree that your chicks will love, especially as newcomers become acclimated to eating and their digestive systems develop. Many hens actually prefer this mashed feed which saves you money and reduces waste, plus saves on feed waste and spoilage in feeders. Pelletized feed uses steam and pressure to compress mash into easy to swallow pellets that have an extended diet but tends to make the gut work less efficiently, often becoming rather dull to your chicks’ long term.
Pellets
Chickens require a balanced diet in order to thrive. A mash is composed of whole grains (corn, wheat and barley) combined with animal protein meal and additional vitamins and minerals for an all-around nutritionally complete ration that can be fed to chicks as well as laying hens.
Ingredients are crushed, heated and compressed into long, thin pellets similar to kibble. Once compressed into shape, they are further cut up into smaller pieces before being rolled into crumble or pellet form for easier consumption by chicks, bantams and young chickens. Small particle sizes help prevent picky eaters from picking off larger chunks and wasting feed.
Pellets can be fed to all age levels of chickens, but are especially effective at providing young ones with soft texture and gentle digestion. Starting as early as birth and continuing up until 12 weeks old (at which point mash or crumble feed are often recommended for improved weight gain), pellets provide the optimal food source.
