• Nigerian Dwarf Senior Does
  • Nigerian Dwarf Does
  • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
  • Nigerian Dwarf Kids By Year
    • 2019 Goat Kids
    • 2018 Goat Kids
    • 2017 Goat Kids
    • 2016 Goat Kids

Better Hens & Gardens

of Bramblestone Farm

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Publication Credits
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart

Skills for Self-Reliance, Real Foods & Sustainable Living

  • Chickens
    • Basic Care
    • Breeds
    • All About Eggs
    • Feeding
    • Health Issues
    • Housing
  • Farm
    • Farm news
    • Help
    • Structures
    • Wild Things
  • Garden
    • Ornamentals
    • Seeds & Saving Them
    • How To Grow “X”
    • Starting Plants
    • Preparation & Tools
    • Pest Control
    • Varieties To Try
  • Goats
    • Basic Care
    • Conformation
    • Doe & Kidding Care
    • Feeding
    • Herd Basics & Behavior
    • Milk & Milking
    • Supplies & Equipment
  • Honey Bees
    • Feeding
    • Getting Started
    • Hive Management
    • Honey & Wax
  • Homemade
    • Beauty Products
    • Cleaning Supplies
    • Decorations
    • Miscellaneous
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Dish
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Vegetables
  • Pantry
    • Quality Choices
    • Canning
    • Condiments & Flavorings
    • Dairy
    • Drying
    • Freezing
    • Root Cellaring

Better Hens and Gardens may earn a commission for purchases made after clicking on links on this page. Learn More

Leave a Comment

How To Feed Your Chickens (What You Feed Is Important)

feeding chickens How to feed your chickens may seem like a simple subject but it’s important to realize how critical our feeding choices are in helping our birds thrive. 

The growth, beauty, and egg production potential of a chicken is determined by its genetics. However, chickens require feed that is nutritionally appropriate for their age and type (i.e. meat, egg, or dual-purpose chicken) to reach that potential. They also need water, calcium if they are laying eggs, and grit if they are getting supplemental foods or free-ranging.

BASIC CHICKEN FEED NEEDS

All chickens need protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. There are many commercial feed brands available that have been carefully formulated to provide optimal amounts of these nutrients for each type and age of chicken (see Table 1 below).

Chicken TypeChicken AgeFeed Ration
Egg or Dual Purpose Breed0 - 6 WeeksChicken Starter
6 Weeks - Laying OnsetChicken Grower
After Laying OnsetLayer
Meat Breed0 - 6 WeeksBroiler Starter
6 Weeks - SlaughterBroiler Finisher

Table 1 - Basic Chicken Ration Schedule

Every bag of chicken feed sold in the United States is required to have a nutrition tag specifying these ingredients. By reading these labels and controlling what we feed, we can also ensure the inclusion or exclusion of dietary additives we want to eat (like omega-3’s) or avoid (like antibiotics) in the eggs or meat they produce.

Feed rations can also be home-mixed, but the expertise, time, and expense required mean it’s typically better to rely on commercial products. We’ve always found that the Kalmbach brand had many formulations that work well.

chicken feed ingredient label

Example Chicken Feed Ingredient Label

For laying and dual-purpose chicken breeds, chick starter, chick grower, and layer feed rations are available. For meat chickens, broiler starter and finisher rations are available. These rations vary in formulation to promote excellent growth and production at each stage of a chicken’s life. Using the wrong formula to feed chickens can lead to weak bones, retarded growth, kidney damage, or reduced egg production.

CHICKEN WATER NEEDS

Although sometimes overlooked as a nutrition source, water is critical. An adult chicken needs to drink two to three times the weight of water that they eat in feed. Chickens will not eat if they are thirsty, which will limit growth and egg creation. So, a supply of fresh, clean water should always be available.

CHICKEN CALCIUM NEEDS

Mature egg and dual-purpose hens need large amounts of calcium to produce eggshells. Layer feed rations contain extra calcium to meet this requirement, but it’s a good idea to offer free-choice oyster shell or calcium grit. Top-producing hens may need more calcium than what is contained in the layer ration, or supplemental feeding may interfere with their ability to ingest sufficient calcium. When fed free choice, hens will self-regulate the amount of calcium they consume.

Feeding Baby Chickens

Feeding and Watering Young Chicks

SUPPLEMENTS – SCRATCH GRAINS, TABLE SCRAPS, & GRIT

Chickens love scratch grains and table scraps; but, a chicken will quit eating once it has taken in sufficient carbohydrates, regardless of whether it has consumed enough protein or vitamins. Scratch and table scraps are typically high in carbohydrates and low in nutrients, so they should be fed infrequently as a treat. It’s also better to feed these treats late in the day after the flock has gotten their dietary requirements from the feed ration.

Studies have shown that eggs from hens that free-range for grubs and insects are more nutritious and better tasting than those produced in typical commercial conditions. Free-ranging also promotes muscle development, which enhances the flavor in meat birds. So, providing chickens access to pasture is important; however, it’s best that they also have access to an appropriately formulated feed. Chickens can seldom fulfill all their nutritional needs from pasture alone.

free ranging

Free-Ranging Chickens

Chickens don’t have teeth, so it’s imperative that any chicken being fed table scraps, scratch, or free-ranging has access to grit. Grit is the only mechanism a chicken has for grinding its food into pieces small enough to swallow.

THEY ARE WHAT THEY EAT

How we feed our chickens determines whether they reach their maximum potential for size, good looks, and egg creation. When fed properly, homestead chickens will flourish and provide us with healthier meat and eggs that taste far better than standard grocery store fare.

If you’re looking to get started with some chicks check out Raising Day Old or Baby Chicks.


Related posts:

Easy Peel Hardboiled Fresh Eggs
Time for Chicks - Free Hatchery Catalogs/Links!
Getting Started With Chickens
64 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Chickens, Feeding

About Lesa

Lesa Wilke is a homesteader and freelance writer who loves to inspire others on their journey to more sustainable lifestyles. She accomplishes this by sharing the skills she’s learned (plus support, advice & tips) while farming goats, chickens, honeybees, and produce.

« 5 Fatal Goat Diseases To Avoid
Machine Milking Nigerian Dwarf Goats »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Oh, hi there! I’m Lesa,

and this blog is all about learning new skills around chickens, goats, gardens, honey bees, and DIY. Read more…

Read My Dairy Goat Books

  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201 - Getting Started Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201: Getting Started
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $6.99
  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101 Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101: Background & Basics
    Rated 4.95 out of 5
    $4.99

Visit Our Social Sites

Website Categories

The contents of this site are the property of Better Hens and Gardens. All content contained herein is copyrighted. We love it when you share, but if you do, please link back to the original post. Material included here is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, the giving of medical advice. This blogs content is for informational purposes only and Better Hens and Gardens or others associated with this site shall not be held liable for any damages incurred through the use of information provided in this blog. Better Hens and Gardens accepts products for review and other forms of paid advertising; however, although compensation received may influence the content or topics covered in this blog, it will never influence our opinion of any product. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are purely those of Better Hens and Gardens. Any product claim or other representation about a product or service should be verified by the manufacturer. Better Hens and Gardens is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2023 · Design by Erica Mueller Designs

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Pinterest
64 shares