Proper feeding of your backyard chicken is crucial in terms of health, productivity, and other aspects of life. And the great thing is that with the right approach, you can guarantee your flock’s well-being and top-quality eggs. This article will help you decide what your chickens should be fed and what you should avoid feeding them because you must know that feeding is very crucial for the health of the bird.
Basic Nutrients for Chickens
Proper nutrition is essential for the health of chickens and thus they require a balanced diet. Protein should be taken, and carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals also should form part of what they take. Proteins are essential for the growth and production of eggs while carbohydrates are essential for the supply of energy. Fats are essential in contributing to the overall health and quality of the egg. Micro-nutrients like calcium and phosphorus are required for the formation of bones and the development of robust egg shells. Select a good quality feed that has the following nutrients and that will suit the chickens that you have.
Life Stage Nutrition
Chickens also have different nutritional needs, depending on the stage of development they are in. Starter feed must be rich in protein to cater for the needs of chicks which grow so fast. As they grow, change from a starter feed to a grower feed that is less in protein content. When they start laying eggs, replace the grower feed with layer feed – this contains more calcium to ensure well-developed egg shells. Roosters, on the other hand, have different requirements and as much as they don’t need a lot of calcium, they need the right nutrition to be healthy and active.
Commercial Feed Options
Commercial feeds are formulated to feed your chickens depending on the results of an analysis made on their feed. These are normally designed to meet the dietary needs of the birds and can, therefore, be the only form of diet you feed your flock. The mixed feeds consist of a mixture of several grains and other ingredients but require some supplementation to guarantee complete feeds. Therefore feed your chickens with feeds from reliable brands and make sure that the feeds match your chicken's nutritional needs.
Kitchen Scraps: What’s Safe and What to Avoid
The food waste that is perceived as safe includes vegetable peels, fruits without citrus and cooked grains. It is advisable to refrain from feeding such things as raw potatoes, onions, garlic or any citrus fruits since they are toxic to the birds. Foods with high fats and sugars should not be allowed due to the adverse effects it has on the body.
Grit and Oyster Shells: Importance for Digestion and Shell Strength
Grit is required so that the chickens may grind up the food in their gizzards since this is the role that it will play in digestion. Ensure that you give them the grit in a container to be placed in the chicken house where they can be able to access them easily. Oyster shells are equally essential especially to the layer birds or hens because they supply them with adequate calcium for proper shelling of eggs. Oyster shells must be put in another tray for hens to take them as and when it is needed.
How Much and How Often to Feed
It is also important that you ensure that you feed your chickens in the right portions. Chickens normally require about 120 to 150 grams of feed in a day This may depend on their size, age and their levels of activity. Give your chickens a diet of feed twice a day and see that they have water always available for them.
Common Feeding Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The following are the points to keep your chickens healthy and productive, avoid these common feeding mistakes:
- Over-reliance on Kitchen Scraps
- Inconsistent Feeding
- Ignoring Age-Specific Needs
- Choosing Poor-Quality Feed
Using the above feeding guidelines, you will be in a position to maintain your backyard chickens healthy as well as productive.
Also, read here: Selecting The Right House For Your Chickens
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