How Often Should I Feed Chickens?

No matter if you’re raising your flock for eggs or meat, feeding them correctly is absolutely crucial. For most chickens, the optimal method for doing this is providing them with complete feed that includes vitamins and mineral supplements as well as sources of calcium. Feeding such an abundant diet can have a dramatic impact on their health and productivity – you could see an uptick in productivity!

If you choose to provide your chickens with free-choice access to treats and kitchen scraps, it’s essential that they be monitored. Too much high-calorie, low-nutrient food like seeds can lead to obesity. Eating more than needed could even cause health issues like fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome.

Hens require plenty of energy for egg production. Unfortunately, many owners mistakenly think that giving their hens food scraps high in carbohydrates will be okay; however, this can have adverse consequences on egg quality and production; for instance, feeding your hens potato skins and old eggplant leaves may provide too many carbohydrates while providing too few proteins – all factors which hinder production.

Another mistake often made is using one feeder to distribute feed, supplements and limestone. This can cause problems as hens may prioritize pellets over minerals and supplements when mixed together in one feeder; by providing individual feeders instead, you can ensure each element gets its due importance.

Wherever possible, use whole grains rather than ground mash or pellets due to the grinding process’s oxidation effect, which depletes its nutritional content. You could purchase chick starter feed for your birds until they begin laying eggs before switching over to layer feed which contains more protein and calcium for stronger and healthier eggs.

Selecting high-quality chick feed is also key. There are various companies offering specialty chicken food tailored for different age groups of chickens; this can make a significant impactful difference in egg quality and production. When changing brands of feed, however, it may take up to several weeks for the hens to adjust and begin producing again.

As soon as your hens reach 16 weeks of age, it is time to switch them over to a high-calcium and protein-rich layer feed designed to promote strong egg production. You can find this type of feed at most farm and home supply stores as well as online.

Keep in mind that even with a large, secure coop and plenty of forage plants to occupy your chickens, it won’t provide all of their nutritional needs. In winter months when green grass and insects are scarcer, you should continue feeding laying hens quality layer feed to maintain their growth and health; meat flock owners should do the same when providing balanced layer feed containing nutritious ingredients; adding supplements such as vegetables, fruit or insects in moderation may offer additional rewards!


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