Chickens are an increasingly popular addition to many gardens and backyards. Although entertaining to watch and make wonderful pets, chickens do require some care in terms of proper nutrition, water quality, coop maintenance and fresh greens – taking these steps will ensure your flock remains healthy, happy, and producing a bounty of eggs!
Chicken feed comes in many different varieties to meet the lifecycle and nutritional needs of different chicken species, from chick starter feed for baby chicks to layer feed for laying hens to protein-rich pellets for broilers. Selecting appropriate feed is key to maximizing revenue without wastefully spending money or sickening birds; our Manna Pro poultry specialists or nearby feed stores can assist in finding what will best meet those requirements.
Chickens require less frequent feedings than dogs or cats; however, overeating may become an issue as their weight rises and obesity sets in. An obese rooster or hen won’t lay as many eggs and is more vulnerable to disease; so, for optimal weight management of your flock, treat foods like seeds, table scraps and fruit shouldn’t exceed 10% of their diet.
Most owners of chickens are familiar with their daily routine: chickens wake up and feed at dawn before roaming free in their gardens or yards in search of food, eating frequently throughout the day until their crop has been replenished; and will eat again just prior to roosting at night to ensure they will have sufficient calories for digestion overnight.
For optimal nutrition, chickens must use feeders instead of scattering their feed onto the ground. Thrown feed can become food for vermin and other wildlife while it could also become covered in dirt and debris; moreover, top-of-the-pecking order hens tend to devour much of it first and drive other chickens away from it.
As soon as a hen starts laying eggs, she should switch her diet over to high quality layer feed that’s high in both protein and calcium – such as blood meal or bone meal – that offers extra nutrients for her eggs to develop properly. Other helpful foods can include kelp for mineral absorption; greens for vitamins and fiber content; crushed oyster shells (especially during molting season); as well as herbs like oregano that will prevent disease outbreak.
Provide these supplements can increase egg production, but remember they must have access to fresh water at all times – clean water is vitally important to all animals but particularly so for chickens. If you are concerned that their water might not be clean enough for their needs, elevate their water fountain up off of the ground and scrub regularly; alternatively create an emergency plan in case frozen water damages poultry in cold weather.