How to feed chickens? Chickens are a great addition to any backyard or farm. They are relatively easy to care for, provide fresh eggs, and are excellent for controlling pests in the garden. However, feeding chickens can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. In this blog, we’ll cover the basics of how to feed chickens to keep them healthy and happy.
You may also want to read about the best chicken feed.
How to feed chickens?
- Provide a balanced diet
Chickens need a balanced diet to stay healthy and produce high-quality eggs. Their diet should consist of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as vitamins and minerals. Protein is essential for muscle growth and egg production, while carbohydrates provide energy. Fats are necessary for healthy skin and feathers. Vitamins and minerals are also essential for overall health.
The best way to provide a balanced diet is to offer a commercial feed formulated for chickens. These feeds are designed to meet the nutritional needs of chickens at different stages of life. For example, starter feeds are high in protein to support growth in young chicks, while layer feeds are higher in calcium to support egg production.
In addition to commercial feed, you can also provide your chickens with kitchen scraps, fruits, and vegetables. However, it’s important to avoid feeding them anything that is toxic or harmful, such as chocolate, avocado, and onions.
- Provide clean water
Chickens need access to clean water at all times. Water is essential for digestion, egg production, and overall health. Make sure to provide your chickens with fresh water every day, and clean their waterers regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria.
- Offer grit
Chickens don’t have teeth, so they need grit to help them digest their food. Grit is small rocks or sand that the chickens swallow and store in their gizzards. The grit helps grind up their food so that it can be digested properly.
How to feed chickens?
You can purchase commercial grit at a feed store or offer your chickens sand or small rocks from your yard. Make sure to provide grit to your chickens at all times, especially if you feed them whole grains or other large pieces of food.
- Provide access to pasture
Chickens are natural foragers and love to scratch and peck in the dirt. Providing access to pasture or a large outdoor area is an excellent way to supplement their diet and keep them active and healthy. Chickens will eat grass, weeds, insects, and other small creatures they find in the soil.
However, it’s important to protect your chickens from predators if they are free-ranging. You can do this by providing a secure coop and run or by supervising them while they are outside.
- Supplement with calcium
Calcium is essential for strong eggshells, so it’s important to provide your laying hens with a source of calcium. Layer feeds are usually formulated with added calcium, but you can also offer your chickens crushed oyster shells or eggshells.
Crushed eggshells should be washed and dried before offering them to your chickens. You can crush them up in a blender or food processor and mix them into their feed or offer them in a separate dish.
- Watch for overfeeding
Overfeeding can lead to obesity and health problems in chickens. Chickens will eat as much food as you give them, so it’s important to monitor their intake and adjust accordingly. A good rule of thumb is to offer enough feed so that there is always some left over at the end of the day.
If you notice your chickens are gaining weight or becoming lethargic, you may need to adjust their feed or reduce their portions. It’s also a good idea to limit their access to treats and kitchen scraps.
