How Often Do Chickens Need to Be Fed?

Assuring your flock’s wellbeing by providing them with a nutritious diet is the key to helping your chickens live long, fulfilling lives. A well-rounded diet should include safe housing conditions, access to fresh water sources and even providing them with grit for digestion purposes! Offering your flock this kind of care could mean longer lives for everyone involved!

Your flock’s feeding requirements depend on several factors, including its age, breed and activity level. Young chicks require a starter diet with high levels of protein and calcium before gradually increasing it as they mature into sexual maturity and require higher protein and phosphorus content in their feed. Once sexual maturity has been reached, however, grower feed may be switched out for one with lower protein/phosphorus ratios specifically tailored for mature birds, while layer feed offers lower levels while helping produce eggs as well as an added calcium supplement.

Overfeeding your flock can lead to malnutrition and weight gain, leading to health issues in their overall well-being. Many veterinary nutritionists use the 10% treat rule when feeding dogs and cats; it should apply equally well when fed chickens: treats should not exceed 10% of your flock’s daily caloric intake.

If you decide to give your chickens treats, ensure that they are safe and clean! For instance, avoid feeding roosters or hens foods which have become rancid or have been tainted with rodent waste. Furthermore, avoid giving avocados, papayas, or bananas which contain toxic substances as these could harm their digestion. Also remember that fruits and vegetables contain high concentrations of sugars, fats, and starches which could make digestion challenging for the flock.

Weather should also play a part in how often to feed your flock. In hot and humid conditions, they will need the energy from water intake to maintain normal body temperatures; therefore, more food is consumed to meet their caloric requirements.


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