Increasing healthy chickens starts with good diet. Feeding your flock the best diet program at Every single stage of lifetime is essential for advancement, egg generation, and General very well-remaining. Irrespective of whether you happen to be boosting chicks, pullets, or adult hens, understanding their shifting nutritional needs will help make sure a cheerful and successful flock. This rooster feeding tutorial walks you through what to feed your birds from day 1 for their golden laying years.

1. Starter Feed (0–6 Months Outdated)
The main couple months of a chick’s daily life are essential. All through this era, chicks demand superior-protein starter feed to assistance speedy expansion and enhancement. Most starter feeds include 18–20% protein, along with the proper harmony of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Sort: Crumbles or mash (easier for tiny beaks to eat)

Dietary supplements: Grit is needless if feeding only business starter feed.

Suggestion: Keep away from offering treats way too early—starter feed really should be their sole food plan to be certain well balanced diet.

2. Grower Feed (6–eighteen Months Previous)
As chicks expand into pullets (teenage chickens), their diet program shifts to grower feed. This feed has marginally reduced protein material, usually fifteen–seventeen%, and less calcium than layer feed to prevent kidney issues in youthful birds.

Function: Supports regular growth without encouraging untimely laying.

Type: Crumbles or pellets.

Supplements: Grit for those who introduce grains or treats.

Suggestion: Steer clear of layer feed until they begin laying, as higher calcium levels can damage creating organs.

three. Layer Feed (18+ Months / First Egg)
At the time your pullets lay their 1st egg, it’s time to modify to layer feed. This specially formulated feed has about 16% protein and an increased degree of calcium to guidance eggshell formation.

Variety: Crumbles or pellets.

Dietary supplements: Give oyster shell or crushed eggshells free of charge-option for excess calcium.

Tip: Some hens want crumbles more than pellets—observe your flock’s desire.

four. Broiler Feed (For Meat Birds)
Should you’re boosting chickens for meat, your feeding technique is different. Broilers require a high-protein, Vitality-dense feed to assist speedy body weight gain.

Starter (0–3 weeks): 22–24% protein.

Finisher (3 weeks to reap): eighteen–twenty% protein.

Idea: Monitor feed carefully—overfeeding can lead to leg difficulties or coronary heart problems.

5. Treats and Scraps (All Ages, in Moderation)
Treats is usually a great nutritional supplement to the chickens’ food plan, but they must make up not more than ten% of day by day ingestion. Give healthy choices like leafy greens, oats, cooked rice, or QH88 fruits.

Stay away from: Salty foods, chocolate, avocado, raw beans, or moldy scraps.

Use grit: In case your flock eats entire grains or roughage, offer grit to aid digestion.

Final Tips
Always provide clean up, fresh new h2o—it’s additional critical than feed.

Keep feed appropriately to prevent mold and pests.

Regulate feed parts depending on flock dimension and age.

Feeding chickens correctly at each everyday living stage ensures a flourishing flock, greater egg manufacturing, and much less medical issues. With the proper diet, your birds will reward you with eggs, companionship, and perhaps a couple of clucks of appreciation!