Chicken Feed

Providing the correct chicken feed is essential to the health of your flock.

In most cases, you are going to be starting your backyard chicken flock with day old chicks. Making sure that the chicks receive the proper nutrition will be essential in your success raising chickens.

Chick starter is a blend of feed designed for all newborn chicks to the age of 3 weeks. The feed is usually in mash or crumbles form and should have a protein content of 21-24%. The high protein content is needed for optimum muscle development and weight gain.

 

If you are raising one of the fast growing "white broilers" so common today, you will continue to feed a feed blend with a protein content of 20-25% for the entire remaining life of the broiler, which you will normally harvest anywhere from 6-9 weeks of age. It is not cost effective or good for the birds to keep these fast growing breeds for any longer than 9.5 weeks.

Because of the extreme growth, the white broilers are known to develop heart and leg problems. You will need to add a vitamin-electrolyte supplement to the water of these fast growing birds. This supplement will be needed from day one to keep them healthy.

For heritage breed chicken and "ranger" type broilers, we recommend a complete grower blend of feed with a protein content of 17-20%. This blend is good for the ages of 3 weeks to a butchering date of 9-16 weeks depending on the breed.

Broilers will consume a total of approximately 13-16 pounds of feed per chicken by the time they are ready for butchering.

For egg layers, you will feed a grower blend with a protein level of 17-20% protein until they start laying at around 5 months of age. Once your egg layers start laying, you can switch to a layers blend of feed with a protein content of 15-17% protein. Layers will also benefit from a supplement of oyster shell, which will help in developing strong egg shells when the hens are laying.

Even if you intend to free range or pasture your flock, you will still need to provide feed as the birds will not be able to get enough nutrition on grass and bugs alone.

We do not recommend using feed that contains chemical additives or medications. Whenever possible, use non-gmo, non-soy, organic feed if you can find a supplier near you. A good example of this type of feed supplier would be Hiland Naturals or Natures Best. Other sources of chicken feed are your local farm store or grain milling store.

Scratch grains are beneficial for chickens but should not be used as a main source of feed. If your chickens are confined, you will need to offer chicken grit that will aid the birds with digestion.

Always have a fresh supply of water available for your chickens.