Homemade baby chicken food
Types of Food Baby Chicks Can & Cannot Eat
1 December
Chickens are great companions. They provide fresh eggs, nutrients for your lawn and years of entertainment with their big personalities. Best of all, baby chicks are easy to feed, willing to finish almost any of your daily leftovers.
A baby chicks’ diet is extremely versatile, but there are some foods to rethink before throwing them into the coop. Here, we’ll outline the nutrient-dense foods baby chicks love and the leftovers to keep in your compost pile.
What Are the Essential Nutrients for Chickens?
Baby chicks require a more nutrient-dense diet than their adult counterparts. When feeding your baby chicks, ensure their feed has the following nutrients:
- Protein: After hatching, a chick’s diet should include approximately 18% to 20% protein. Protein builds chicks’ muscles, promoting strength and bone integrity during their crucial developmental stages. As baby chicks reach 19 weeks old, gradually taper their protein intake to about 16% of their diet.
- Vitamins: All poultry require fat- and water-soluble vitamins. Specifically, they require all vitamins except vitamin C, including vitamin A, D, E and K, niacin, folic acid, biotin, thiamine and riboflavin.
- Minerals: Minerals are equally important. Baby chicks require a diet with calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and copper, among others.
- Grains: Most chicken feeds incorporate healthy grains, like corn, wheat and soybean meal. These grains act as sources of vitamins, oil and protein, which all poultry require for energy.
- Fats: Most of a chicken’s fat content comes from oils that contain linoleic acid, an important fatty acid. Fatty acids break down vitamins and minerals, allowing chickens to receive all of their benefits.
Baby chicks’ feed should provide at least 90% of their nutrition, with the remaining 10% from their pasture.
On top of their feed, poultry require a constant source of water. Chickens drink almost three times their weight in water. A good water-to-chicken ratio is one quart per four chickens.
What Can Baby Chickens Eat?
Do you plan on feeding your baby chicks a homemade diet? Consider incorporating these nutrient-rich foods:
1. Worms
Chickens love worms! Worms naturally exist in a chicken’s environment, so it’s in their biological makeup to enjoy worms. Specifically, baby chicks can eat mealworms and red worms. Both are great sources of protein, but avoid feeding your baby chickens too many worms, or it may overwhelm their system.
2. Crickets
As with worms, baby chicks can eat crickets, and they often do in their natural environment. Crickets are high in protein, fat and carbs, making them an ideal snack, in moderation, for baby chicks.
3. Tomatoes
Baby chicks can eat tomatoes, but they can’t eat the plant, leaves or flowers as they contain poisonous solanine. Tomatoes themselves are full of essential vitamin K, folic acid, fiber, potassium and antioxidants. If you have a garden, toss any malformed tomatoes into your coop. Your chickens will be thankful!
4. Oatmeal
Oats are considered a superfood, full of vitamins, minerals and some protein. Baby chicks can eat both raw oats and warm oatmeal every now and then. Adding birdseed and plain yogurt boosts oatmeal’s nutrients, too!
5. Strawberries
Baby chicks can eat fruit, and they especially love strawberries. Strawberries contain many vitamins and minerals, namely iron, copper, magnesium, Vitamin B and potassium. Also, strawberries are packed with other anti-inflammatory antioxidants that keep your baby chicks healthy.
6. Bananas
If you have any brown, spotty bananas, your baby chicks will gladly eat them for you! Baby chicks can eat bananas, but avoid feeding them any unripe bananas. Bananas are high in Vitamin B6 and pyridoxine and a good source of magnesium, copper and healthy carbs.
7. Apples
Baby chicks can eat apples, but you should chop them up and remove any seeds for easier consumption and digestion. Apple sauce is another good apple alternative for chick food. Apples are a good source of carbs and contain fiber, potassium and Vitamin K, too.
8. Lettuce
When it comes to vegetables, baby chicks can eat lettuce, as well as kale, turnip greens and chard. Romaine lettuce is high in phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, vitamin K and folate, supplying your baby chick with almost all of the necessary minerals. Avoid iceberg lettuce, however, as it’s low in nutritional value and may cause diarrhea in your baby chickens.
9. Watermelons
Baby chicks can eat watermelons, but they should never consume watermelon rinds or seeds. Baby chicks may benefit from watermelon on hot summer days as an added source of hydration. Otherwise, it doesn’t offer many nutrients as chick food.
10. Grass
Adult hens typically peck through grass for insects and eat any smaller pieces of grass. Usually, day or week-old chicks won’t show much interest in eating grass. Some owners give their chicks the option, however, because it encourages foraging.
What Can’t Baby Chickens Eat?
Some of your groceries, however, are best left for your compost pile. Foods that baby chickens cannot eat include:
- Onions
- Chocolate
- Avocados
- Eggplant
- Peanuts
- Moldy Bread
- Rhubarb
- Pickles
All of these foods contain different toxins that make baby chicks, and all other poultry, feel sick — or even cause death in extreme cases. Most chickens instinctively avoid these toxic foods. If your baby chicks do consume these toxins and you notice illness symptoms, give them plenty of access to electrolytes and extra nutrients. Chickens heal themselves over time in less severe cases.
What Is the Best Food for Baby Chicks?
The best food you can give your baby chicks is organic chicken starter feed. The foods listed above are healthy for chicks — and you’re encouraged to recycle any leftovers — but they may receive too many or too little nutrients.
Organic chicken starter feed is packed with essential nutrients like:
- Organic carbs, including corn, soybean meal and wheat
- Organic soybean oil
- Calcium carbonate
- Zinc sulfate
- Copper sulfate
- Calcium iodate
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin
- Folic acid
Opting for organic chicken starter feed over non-organic alternatives ensures your baby chicks receive non-medicated and non-GMO nutrients. Natural feeds contain little to no cheap filler products, giving you more nutrients for your money and your chickens a healthier lifestyle.
How Much Should You Feed Baby Chicks?
Baby chickens are good at eating what they need. Ensure your chicks have a constant supply of organic chicken starter feed and refill their supply as needed.
Because baby chicks and adult chickens require different amounts of nutrients, it’s best to separate them until the chicks are at least 2 months old. Plus, older chickens tend to be aggressive with smaller chicks, sometimes bullying them away from food. Keep an eye on every chick and make sure they’re all getting an equal share of chick food.
Shop Organic Chicken Starter Feed at Nature’s Best Organic Feeds
Kreamer Feed believed in organic food well before the grocery chains. Since 1998, we have been the leading certified organic feed manufacturer — best known for our brand, Nature’s Best Organic Feeds.
If you’re looking for the best feed for your baby chicks, choose our high-protein organic chick starter. Our chicken feed is packed with essential nutrients, perfect for your growing backyard animals and baby chicks.
Learn more about our organic chicken starter feed online. You can find our products at your nearest Tractor Supply Co., which you can locate directly on our product page!
Simple and basic recipe for homemade baby chick mash
Sending you the best eggs for friendly and healthy chicks !
Août282017
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Today I would like to give you my basic recipe for homemade baby chick feed, you can always add other ingredients but these are the key elements.
This is the one I use for new borns (3-4 days old) but also for the ones recovering from something or as comfort food for youngsters having trouble pecking.
Basic ingredients : hard-boiled egg, dry breadcrumbs, salad.
This recipe is a must-have, they all love it !
Very easy to prepare, it’s a very good way to please them !
Here’s what you need :
- – dry breadcrumbs
- – salad, nettle, spinach, any edible green leaf…
- – 1 egg
Directions :
1- Cook the egg for 10 minutes in boiling water until it’s hard-boiled
2- While the egg is cooking, crush the breadcrumbs, I use a pestle and mortar. Continue crushing until you have the right sized crumbs depending on the age and size of the baby chicks.
3- Cut the green leaves you have chosen into tiny pieces, scissors work best.
Looks so good I could eat some myself !
4- Once the egg is hard-boiled, rinse it under cold water to cool it down, peel off the shell (you can crush it to feed the older chickens) and crush them whole with a fork into very small bits.
5- Mix the breadcrumbs with the eggs, if the mash is too soggy, you can always add some more bread. It’s more difficult the other way around ! Then, add the greens.
6- Mix well until you have something not too dry or too soggy, baby chicks will show you how they like it best !
Dinner is served !!
I usually feed the mash to them in two or three times throughout the day, it avoids wasting some of our special feed. You can store it in the fridge for a day or two.
As usual, our professional homemade mash tasters absolutely love it !
I found this recipe in a famous french book on poultry-yard.
Hope your little ones will like it 🙂
6 days old golden ardennais and blue brahma chicks just can’t stop !
Hazza, young recovering brahma enjoying his mash
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Sending you the best eggs for friendly and healthy chicks !
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10 recipes for juicy chicken fillet in the oven
December 16, 2019 Likbez Food
Interesting pairings with cheese, tomatoes, pineapple, bacon and more.
1. Chicken fillet with paprika and oregano in the oven
Photo: okkijan/DepositphotosIngredients
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar;
- 1 teaspoon paprika;
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or thyme;
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder;
- ½ teaspoon salt;
- ½ teaspoon pepper;
- 4 chicken breast fillets;
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil.
Preparation
Mix sugar with paprika, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper. Wrap the chicken fillet in cling film and beat with a kitchen hammer so that the thickness of the pieces is no more than 1.5 cm. Then rub with butter and seasoned sugar. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes at 200-220°C.
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2. Chicken fillet with Italian herbs in the oven
Photo: Ezumeimages/DepositphotosIngredients
- 5-6 of chicken breasts;
- 2 tablespoons olive oil;
- 1 teaspoon Italian spices;
- ½ teaspoon salt;
- ¼ teaspoon paprika;
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper.
Preparation
Brush the chicken fillet with oil and spices to coat evenly on all sides. Put in a baking dish and cook for 20-25 minutes at a temperature of 200 ° C.
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3. Chicken fillet in kefir in the oven
Photo: Gromovataya/DepositphotosIngredients
- 1 kg chicken fillet;
- 2 garlic cloves;
- 1 bulb;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste;
- 1-2 teaspoons paprika;
- 1 teaspoon dried basil;
- 1 liter of kefir.
Preparation
Cut the chicken fillet into halves lengthwise. Place in a bowl and add minced garlic and onion. Salt, pepper, sprinkle with paprika and basil, pour over with kefir and mix. Leave in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight.
Put the chicken in the dish along with the marinade. Bake at 200°C for approximately 45 minutes.
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4.
Chicken fillet in a creamy sauce in the oven Photo: ArenaCreative/DepositphotosIngredients
- 200 ml cream;
- 1 teaspoon flour;
- 1 teaspoon starch;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste;
- 1-2 teaspoons garlic or other seasoning;
- 500 g chicken breast fillet.
Preparation
Lightly beat the cream with flour, starch, salt, pepper and seasoning. Put the chicken fillet in a baking dish. Pour in the cream sauce and cook for about 25-30 minutes at 180°C.
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Preparation
Cut the spinach into small pieces. Pass the garlic through a press. Grate hard cheese on a coarse grater. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the spinach for 3-5 minutes. Add garlic with curd cheese and cook for about a minute more. Remove from fire and cool.
Salt and pepper the breast. Make several cross cuts on it and put the filling in them. Top with paprika and grated cheese. Lay the fillet with the filling on a baking sheet covered with parchment. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes at 200°C.
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6. Chicken fillet in soy sauce in the oven
Photo: Paul_Cowan / DepositphotosIngredients
- 2 chicken breast fillets;
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce;
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil;
- pepper to taste;
- thyme to taste;
- 1-2 garlic cloves;
- 2 bay leaves.
Preparation
Fold the foil in two layers and make small envelopes. Put chicken fillet inside. Pour in soy sauce and oil, sprinkle with ground pepper and thyme, add chopped garlic and bay leaf.
Seal foil envelopes tightly, place in a baking dish and leave for 15-20 minutes at room temperature. Then send them to the oven and cook for about 25-30 minutes at a temperature of 200 ° C. Leave in foil at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving.
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7. Chicken fillet stuffed with cottage cheese and herbs
Photo: photominer/DepositphotosIngredients
- ½ bunch green onions;
- ½ bunch dill;
- 2-3 garlic cloves;
- 200 g cottage cheese;
- 4 tablespoons of milk;
- ½ teaspoon turmeric;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste;
- 2 chicken breast fillets;
- 50 g butter;
- 50 g breadcrumbs.
Preparation
Chop the onion and dill, put the garlic through a press. Mix everything with cottage cheese, milk, turmeric, salt and pepper. Make an incision on the chicken fillet so that you get a pocket. Salt the chicken and put the stuffing inside.
Dip fillet pieces in melted butter and coat in breadcrumbs. Fasten the edges with toothpicks so that the filling does not fall out. Transfer the stuffed fillet to a baking dish. Cook for approximately 35 minutes at 200°C.
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8. Chicken in bacon in the oven
Photo: Alisafarov/DepositphotosIngredients
Preparation
Coarsely grate the cheese. Make an incision on the chicken breast so that it opens like a book. Wrap the meat in cling film and beat lightly so that the thickness is uniform. Salt, pepper, sprinkle with seasonings for poultry and put cheese on the fillet.
Wrap the chicken so that the cheese is inside and wrap the bacon on top. Pour into a baking dish and cover with foil. Cook for approximately 45 minutes at 200°C.
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9. Chicken fillet with cheese and tomatoes
Photo: ulitka108/Depositphotos- а
- 300 g hard cheese;
- 2 tablespoons sour cream;
- 1 teaspoon mayonnaise;
- 1 teaspoon dried garlic;
- 2 chicken breast fillets;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste;
- 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil.
Preparation
Slice the tomatoes. Grate the cheese on a coarse grater. Mix sour cream with mayonnaise and garlic. Cut the fillet lengthwise into thin flat pieces. Wrap in cling film and beat lightly. Salt, pepper.
Put the chicken in a greased dish with the peppered side down. Salt and pepper lightly again. Lubricate with sour cream mayonnaise sauce. Arrange tomatoes on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in the oven at 200°C for about 20-25 minutes.
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10. Chicken fillet with pineapples in the oven
Photo: oleggankod/DepositphotosIngredients
- 150 g of cheese;
- 150 g mayonnaise;
- ½ teaspoon curry;
- 500 g chicken breast fillet;
- 1-2 teaspoons vegetable oil;
- salt to taste;
- pepper to taste;
- 450 g canned pineapples.
Preparation
Finely grate the cheese. Mix mayonnaise with curry. Cut the fillet lengthwise into two parts. Wrap in cling film and beat lightly.
Place the chicken in an oiled baking dish. Salt and pepper. Lubricate with mayonnaise, put pineapples on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes at 200°C.
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Chicken fillet dishes for all occasions
Chicken fillet is a versatile and dietary product that has a lot of advantages. Chicken fillet is easy to cook, there is no trouble with it, the fillet is cooked quickly, it turns out delicious. But, unfortunately, many people think that chicken fillet dishes are rather monotonous. We decided to refute this idea and have collected for you the most interesting and bright-tasting recipes from different cuisines of the world.
The main nuance of the fillet preparation is not to overdry it, which means not to overcook it on fire or in the oven. Well, let's get down to the proper cooking of chicken fillet?
Kosychiki Files
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Baked chicken fillet with teriyaki sauce
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Chicken fillet in spicy marinade
Chicken fillet in spicy marinade
A fragrant chicken with thyme and rosemary
A fragrant chicken fillet with timyan and rosemary
chicken in soybean battles
Chicken fillet in soy batter
Chicken fillet in spicy sauce
Chicken fillet in spicy sauce
Chicken fillet with pineapple on skewers
Chicken fillet with pineapple on skewers
Chicken fillet baked with a tomato and cheese
chicken fillet with a tomato and cheese
Chicken fillet in apples
Chicken fillet
chicken fillet with pineapple
chicken with pineapple in estimated sauce
Gourmet baked chicken fillet
Gourmet baked chicken fillet
Baked chicken with vegetables and salad
Baked chicken with vegetables and salad
Chicken fillet, baked in honey-honey sauce
chicken fillet, baked in honey-honey sauce
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Salad with chicken and tangerines
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Salad with chicken fillet and pears
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Chicken fillet in mustard-honey glaze
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Chicken fillet in batter
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Chicken fillet baked in the oven
Chicken fillet baked in the oven
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Chicken fillet with vegetables in a slow cooker
Chicken fillet with vegetables in sour cream sauce
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Chicken fillet in lemon juice. Chinese cuisine
Chicken fillet in lemon juice. Chinese cuisine
Chicken fillet in onion cream sauce 9Ol000 Gongbao Jiding)
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Chicken fillet marinated in olive oil with rosemary and thyme
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Chicken breast nuggets
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Potato zrazy with chicken and carrots
Potato Zrazy with chicken and carrots
Nuggets
Nuggets
Stuffed cabbage with chicken fillet in sour cream
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Vegetables baked with chicken
Vegetables baked with chicken in the chickens oven
Chicken roll with cheese and mushrooms
Chicken roll with cheese and mushrooms
Chicken roll with gorgonzola
Chicken roll with gorgonzola
Chicken roll with mushrooms
Chicken roll with mushrooms
Chicken roll with mushrooms and cheese
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Chicken roll with tomatoes and peppers
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Chicken roll with dates.