Raising chickens in your backyard can be a rewarding experience, bringing fresh eggs and lively entertainment to your home. One of the most crucial aspects of keeping chickens healthy and productive is ensuring they receive the right nutrition. With so many chicken feed options available, knowing What Is The Best Food For Chickens can feel overwhelming, especially for beginners. This guide will break down everything you need to know about chicken feed to help your flock thrive.
Best Practices for Feeding Your Chickens
When it comes to feeding chickens, consistency and accessibility are key. Some chicken keepers prefer to offer feed twice a day, which can be a good strategy for minimizing pests. By limiting the time food is available, you’re less likely to attract mice, rats, and wild birds into your coop area. This method can be particularly convenient if you already have a routine of feeding other farm animals twice daily.
However, many, like myself, opt for a free-feeding approach, ensuring that chickens have access to food and water 24/7 within their coop. This is especially beneficial for larger flocks where competition for food might be a concern. In a pecking order system, dominant birds often eat first, and continuous access ensures that even the lower-ranking hens get their fill. During pleasant weather, supplemental snacks, treats, and kitchen leftovers can be scattered outside, encouraging natural foraging behaviors. In colder months, providing these extras inside the coop, perhaps scattering scratch grains in the bedding, encourages natural scratching and keeps them entertained while improving coop bedding.
Understanding Different Types of Chicken Feed
The best food for chickens isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Chicken feed is formulated differently depending on the age and purpose of your birds. Here’s a breakdown of the main types:
Chick Starter Feed
For baby chicks, the best food is a chick starter crumble. This feed is specially formulated with higher protein and essential nutrients to support rapid growth in their first few weeks of life. It’s crucial to choose between medicated and non-medicated starter feed. Medicated feed contains a coccidiostat to help prevent coccidiosis, a common and potentially fatal parasitic disease in young chicks. However, if you prefer a more natural approach, or are using supplements like First Peep which offers natural support for chick health, a non-medicated option might be suitable. Ultimately, the choice depends on your rearing practices and preferences.
Grower Feed
Around 8 weeks of age, as your chicks transition into pullets and begin to grow into mature hens, it’s time to switch to a grower feed. Grower feed is less protein-rich than starter feed, but still provides the balanced nutrition needed for continued growth and development. This stage is crucial for building strong bones and preparing them for egg-laying in the future. Making the switch from starter to grower feed at the right time ensures they receive the appropriate nutrients for this stage of life.
Layer Feed
Once your hens reach laying age, typically around 18-20 weeks, layer feed becomes the best food for chickens focused on egg production. Layer feed is formulated with increased calcium to support strong eggshell formation. It’s available in both crumble and pellet form. While crumbles are common, many chicken keepers find that pellets are less messy and reduce feed waste. Chickens may initially resist the change to pellets, but they usually adapt quickly.
Meat Bird Feed
If you are raising chickens for meat, they require a specialized meat bird feed throughout their short lives. Meat bird feed is very high in protein to maximize rapid growth and muscle development, allowing them to reach processing weight efficiently, usually around 6-8 weeks. This specialized feed is designed for the specific needs of broiler chickens raised for meat production.
Determining How Much Feed Per Chicken
Knowing how much to feed chickens is just as important as knowing what to feed them. On average, a mature, healthy chicken will eat approximately 1/4 to 1/2 pound of feed per day. However, this is just an estimate. The actual amount can fluctuate based on several factors:
- Age: Younger, growing chickens generally eat more relative to their size than mature birds.
- Weight and Breed: Larger breeds naturally consume more feed.
- Activity Level: Chickens that forage extensively or live in colder climates may require more calories.
- Egg Production: Laying hens have higher nutritional demands than non-laying hens.
During laying season, hens require sufficient calcium for eggshell development. Besides layer feed, supplements like Chicken E-lixir, added to their water, can provide extra calcium and support overall eggshell quality. Observe your flock’s condition and adjust feed amounts accordingly to maintain a healthy weight and optimal egg production.
Integrating Flocks with Different Feed Requirements
One common challenge arises when introducing new chicks to an existing flock of adult hens. The differing nutritional needs of chicks and adult birds complicate feeding management. The best approach is to keep chicks and adult chickens physically separated, particularly during feeding times. This ensures that each group receives the appropriate feed without competition.
Initially, house new chicks in a separate coop and run area. This separation is crucial for proper feeding and also allows the flocks to gradually acclimate to each other’s presence before full integration. Placing the separate enclosures adjacent to each other allows them to see and hear one another, reducing stress when they are eventually introduced.
When you decide to integrate the flocks, do so slowly and cautiously. Supervise their initial interactions to prevent bullying. Remember that transitioning chicks to adult feed should also be gradual, aligning with their age and developmental stage, not rushed by flock integration. Patience is essential for successful integration and ensuring the nutritional needs of all birds are met. For more detailed guidance, resources like “integrating flocks” offer valuable tips.
Chicken Scratch: Treats, Not a Food Replacement
Chicken scratch is a popular treat for chickens, and they love it! However, it’s important to understand that scratch is not a substitute for balanced chicken feed. Scratch typically consists of cracked grains like corn and wheat. While chickens enjoy it immensely, it lacks the complete nutrition found in formulated chicken feed.
Think of scratch as chicken candy. It’s perfect for occasional treats, encouraging foraging, or taming skittish birds. Products like Happy Tract and Golden Graze offer healthier scratch options, often enriched with beneficial ingredients. Use scratch sparingly to supplement, not replace, their main diet of chicken feed.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Chickens
While chickens can enjoy a variety of treats, some foods are harmful and should never be given to them. While chickens can safely consume many fruits and vegetables in moderation, including apples, berries, carrots, and cucumbers, certain foods are detrimental to their health.
Avoid giving chickens foods high in salt, sugar, or fat, such as junk food, chocolate, and avocado. Additionally, raw potatoes and tomato plants (leaves and vines) are toxic to chickens and should be strictly avoided. Always research before introducing new food items to your flock to ensure their safety. For a more detailed list, refer to resources about “other foods chickens should avoid”.
Conclusion
Choosing the best food for chickens involves understanding their changing nutritional needs throughout their lives. From protein-rich starter feed for chicks to calcium-enhanced layer feed for laying hens, providing the right feed at each stage is essential for their health, growth, and egg production. By following these guidelines and understanding the different types of chicken feed available, you can confidently nourish your flock and enjoy the many rewards of backyard chicken keeping. Welcome to the wonderful world of chicken ownership, or welcome back for a helpful refresher!
