The simplest way to feed a small flock of chickens is to purchase a complete chicken feed from a feed store. Complete chicken feed provides a nutritionally balanced diet for chickens.
Commercial chicken feeds from a reliable feed store have all the nutrients in the right proportions. A balanced diet is necessary for optimal growth and egg production.
If you use a good diet that meets the dietary needs of your flocks, supplementing with other items will upset the balance of the diet. The ingredients used in different types of feed are similar, but the proportions vary depending on the particular chickens being fed. Each bag of feed is labeled with its specific use.
Common mistakes made with supplements include the following:
- Supplementing complete feeds with cracked corn, oats, or other grains
- Regularly adding green chops, lettuce, or other low nutrition ingredients to the diet
A chicken’s daily consumption of feed depends on the composition of the diet. Chickens typically adjust their feed intake in order to meet their energy requirements.
If your hens are eating the right feed you will be rewarded with healthy hens that lay lots of eggs for you. In our complete guide to chicken feed, we are going to take a look at basic chicken feed requirements, different varieties of feed, terms that you will see on feed bags and lots more.
Basic Nutrient Requirements of Chicken Feed
Research has shown that many different nutrients are needed by chickens and other members of your flock. Any chicken feed you choose should include:
- Protein- the amount of protein will vary based on the age of the bird or type of bird.
- Amino acids – lysine and methionine are the most common
- Vitamins – A, E, D3
and B12 - Trace mineral elements- phosphorus and copper sulfate.
- Enzymes- to help with digestion
- Fiber- in the form of the grain
Always read feed product labels so that you know what you are buying.
Chicken Feed Varieties
There are three main types of chicken feed that are readily available to most chicken keepers. Below I have outlined the common varieties: starter feed, grower/finisher feed, and layer feed.
Starter Feed
Starter chicken feed is a variety of food that is very protein dense and is designed to meet the nutritional needs of baby chicks.
This feed has a higher protein content that is usually between 20-24%. These higher protein contents are what helps the chicks grow quickly into healthy pullets.
Once your chicks hit 6 weeks old it is important to switch their feed to a grower blend that has a slightly lower protein content. This is done to avoid excess protein causing liver damage to the pullets.
Grower Feed
A grower feed is essentially a feed blend for preteen and teenaged birds. A new chick that is still trying to grow feathers has very different nutritional needs than a young pullet that is scratching for bugs.
From 6 to 20 weeks, the grower feed should contain between 16-18% protein and has less calcium than feed used for egg layers. There is no reason to overwhelm their systems with minerals that they don’t need yet.
Sometimes you will see this called finisher
Layer Feed
Once your pullets reach 20 weeks or their point of lay you can begin them on layer feed.
Laying hens need a mixture with a 14-16% protein level. Other vitamins and minerals are blended into a commercial feed to round out the bird’s diet. Layer feed has added calcium to ensure that eggs have a clean, hard shell.
Other Terms You Will See On Chicken Feed Bags
When you are standing in the feed store isle it is easy to become overwhelmed by all the terms and jargon on those feed bags. Mash, crumbles, pellets, medicated, scratch grain, what?
Pellets
Chicken feed that had been compacted into tight pellets. Benefits of using pellet feed is that they are easy to use and result in less waste from spillage if your chickens knock over their feeder.
Crumble
Crumb feed is a loose variety of feed that resembles the texture of oats. With the smaller size, it is easy for the chickens to eat. Waste can be an issue when feed is knocked out of feeders.
Mash
Mash is a loose unprocessed chicken feed. Mash is the finest variety of feed available with a textrue similar to sand or soil. Mash is normally used for baby chicks because it is easy to eat and digest. Waste can be an issue with mash as well because of the increase of incidental spills.
Fermented Feed
Fermented feed is any type of chicken feed that has been mixed with water and allowed to naturally ferment. By fermenting chicken feed you are improving the vitamin and enzyme content and making it easier for the chickens to digest. Another great benefit of fermenting chicken feed is that the density of the feed increased and helps your chickens feel fuller longer and in turn eat less throughout the week.
Scratch Grains
Chickens have a natural instinct to scratch at the ground and by doing so they mix up their litter and scrape the ground in search of seeds, greens, grit, worms, or other insects to eat. By spreading scratch grains in the chicken run you can encourage this natural behavior.
Scratch grains include cracked, rolled, and whole grains such as corn, barley, oats, and wheat. Commercial scratch grains are relatively low in protein and high in fiber, all that fiber then is converted to energy.
Scratch grains should be thought of as a treat or snack for chickens and not a complete feed source. Chicken feeds have carefully formulated nutrition levels and mixing too much scratch grain into primary feed can dilute the nutrient levels of the primary feed.
Scratch grains are just like french fries- if we eat too many then we lose our desire for healthy food and only want junk. Give your chickens scratch grains in the afternoon after they have been eating well throughout most of the day. Only give them what they can eat within 30 minutes because you don’t want them to go crazy on
Medicated Feed
Medicated chicken feed is common in starter and grower/finisher varieties and is an easy way to prevent fowl diseases. The medicated poultry feed contains antibiotics and coccidiostats which protects against Coccidiosis and other diseases. Young chickens benefit from being fed low levels of coccidiostat and will then resist mild infections. Chickens can be given a medicated feed until around 16 weeks then they should be switched to an unmedicated feed.
Medicated feeds should not be fed to laying hens. Some coccidiostats you may see on feed bags include monensin, lasalocid, amprolium, and salinomycin. Some antibiotics added to feed include bacitracin, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline. Be sure to check the feed label for any warnings concerning the medication used in the feeds. Monensin, for example, can be toxic to horses and other large stock animals.
Unmedicated
These are feeds that are free of all coccidiostats and antibiotics.
Chicken Feed Supplements
Free choice feedings of supplements are ideal because chickens are able to regulate their own intake and they can tell when then they have enough in their system.
Grit
Since chickens don’t have teeth they need an alternate way to grind down their food. Therefore we call upon the GIZZARD.
The gizzard is a strong muscular organ that aids in mashing their food before digestion. Chickens store grit in their gizzard and that grit helps then mash their food enough for easy digestion.
All chickens need grit in their diet and it should be served in a separate dish from their regular laying feed.
Oyster Shells
Laying hens require high amounts of calcium to produce strong eggshells. The best way to ensure that your hens are getting enough is to provide free-choice feedings of oyster shells or calcium grit.
Hens that don’t get enough calcium will end up laying misshapen and fragile eggs. Free choice feedings of supplements are ideal because chickens are able to regulate their own calcium intake and they can tell then they have enough in their system.
Special Chicken Feeding Situations
There are a few situations which call for different chicken feed.
Chicks
Starter feed is what you should be using right from the time that your chicks hatch or you bring them home. A commercial starter feed contains everything that your new baby chicks need to thrive. Your chicks should be fed this chick starter until around 6 weeks old.
Meat Birds
Meat birds require a higher protein content in their feed than layers
Using a feed that does not have adequate protein could result in slower as well as
The life of a meat chicken is very short, sometimes as little as 5 or 6 weeks before they are culled. During this time they need a high protein diet, between 20-24%.
There are some commercial feeds made especially for broilers with 22% protein content. This type of feed can be fed from hatch to ‘dispatch’ without switching or modifying feed. This feed contains all of the essentials needed for rapid growth in meat birds.
Mixed Flock
If you have a mixed flock there are “All Flock” feeds availabve. These are suitable for a variety of birds including: chickens, ducks, guineas, turkey etc,
It will generally contain around 16% protein plus key vitamins and minerals. It should not be used for birds under 7 weeks of age.
- Step Aside, Old MacDonald: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Raise Chickens
- Complete Chicken Feed Guide
- 15 Things To know Before You Get Chickens
- 11 Reasons To Raise Backyard Chickens
- How Often Should You Collect Eggs?
DIY Chicken Feed
If you want to have complete control of what your chicken are consuming in their feed then making your own chicken feed is a great option. Just don’t count on it saving you any money.
Commercial feed manufacturers have the science and production figured out and that is why they are in business, but if you don’t want to go that route then here is a basic recipe for you.
If you want to keep your flock healthy and producing eggs, you must make sure you are feeding them with the proper balance of protein, energy
Feed Storage
Improper feed storage can spoil even the most nutritius feed that money can buy. Feed looses its quality quickly when stored to long.
Feed should not be stored for more than two months. It is also important to keep it in a dry, cool place. Old feed can lose its nutritional value and is susceptible to mold, especially in warm weather.
Ideally a 25 pound bag of high quality feed should last 10 hens about 10 days, if waste is controlled. You can expect to use 75-90 pounds of feed per year for each laying hen.
Chicken Feeder Options
Once you have found the perfect chicken feed mix, you need to get a chicken feeder to hold all that feed for your flock.
Once you have kept chickens for a bit you will realize that they will eat feed
Trough Feeders
Trough feeders are great for young chicks in the broader house. They sit low to the ground and can be moved easily.
Top Trough Feeder
This Miller plastic trough feeder is our choice for trough feeder.
Snap in hinge ensures long lasting use
Easy to clean and red color attracts chicks
Gravity Feeders
Gravity feeders are the most common feeders used today. You fill them up at the top and the feed trickles down as it is eaten. These
Top Gravity Feeder
This Harris Farms hanging feeder is our choice for gravity feeder.
Designed for fast filling with an open top
Simple 2-part twist lock assembly
Base is designed so chicks cannot scratch out feed
Automatic Feeders
Automatic feeders are a great option that can save you a significant amount of money on feed bills. The chicken feed is housed inside the feeder which means it is protected and stays dry even in
These feeders generally work by the hen standing on the bottom pedal to open the feed box and then they can access the feed.
Top Automatic Feeder
This Grandpa’s Automatic Chicken Feeder is our choice for auto feeder.
On-demand
It also helps to eliminate feed spillage, keeps pests away and as a result means you save on feed costs.
DIY Feeders
PVC Feeder
With a few PVC pipes, you can construct an easy yet effective feeder for your coop. Get the instructions here.
5 Gallon Bucket Feeder
Simple and effective – open the
Conclusion
There are a lot of terms and shinny advertising on feed bags but with some basic
Feeding your flock can be as simple or as complicated as you make it.
We hope that you found our complete guide to chicken feed educational and useful.
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