How much food do baby chicks eat
How Much Feed Does a Chicken Eat?
Knowing how much feed a chicken should eat is the key to managing your flock budget and doling out the proper amount of food.
It's important to have at least a ballpark idea of how much feed chickens eat. This helps you to budget for your chicken feed bill, and also determine how much feed to keep on hand.
Fortunately, it's a pretty easy and straightforward question to answer.
An adult, laying chicken will eat about 1.75 lbs of feed a week. That translates to about 3.5-4 ounces (about 1/4 lb.) a day which roughly measures out to about 1/2 cup of feed per chicken per day.
Inadequate amounts of feed will almost immediately result in a decrease in laying, so you don't want your chickens to ever go hungry. Since a chicken won't overeat their feed, the best practice is to feed free-choice, leaving out feed for them all day.
How Much Feed do Baby Chicks Eat?
Baby chicks will eat approximately 1-2 ounces of feed a day for the first 8 weeks. That comes out to 3/4 to one pound of feed a week.
And they'll drink about three times more than they eat.
Don't worry, chicks and chickens won't overeat, so you can fill the feeders with several days' worth of feed, comfortable in the knowledge that each will eat only as much as she needs to get the nutrition and energy that their body requires for that day.
A quick tip is to ration out your flock's daily feed by measuring out the half cup per chicken into a pail.
Make note of how much feed that is and then either use a scoop of that size, or find a container that fits that amount of feed. Then in the future, you can just fill your feed scoop and dole it out each morning without having to measure each and every morning.
I generally put out my chickens' feed in the morning and then early afternoon I check to see if they have eaten it all.
If they need more, I measure out a bit more, and if they leave any at the end of the day, I make note and might reduce the amount I give them the next day.
There are several factors, of course, that can result in your chickens eating either more or less feed than is the norm.
That half cup guideline can be influenced by several factors:
- the size and breed of chicken
- the time of year***
- the age of the hen (layers require more feed than older, non layers for example)
- the quality of the feed
- how much the flock is allowed to free range
- how many treats they get (treats should always be limited to no more than 10% of their total diet, and be given in the afternoon, after they have filled up on their feed)
***Chickens will eat more in the fall when they require extra protein to regrow feathers during the molting season and more during the winter months when they require extra energy to stay warm and can't be out supplementing their diet eating worms, bugs, seeds and grass.
Once the temperatures start to rise during the warm months, chickens will also eat less. In general, feed intake will begin to decrease a bit once the temperature hits around 68 degrees F and then decrease considerably once temperatures rise above 86 degrees F.
You can save some on your feed bills if you ferment grains for your chickens. They'll eat less if you ferment their feed because the process of fermentation boosts the nutrient levels in the feed and makes those nutrients more readily available, so chickens need to eat less to get the same amount of energy.
Similarly, you might think that you're saving money by buying the cheapest-priced feed, but most often, investing in a high-quality feed will actually save you money (and trips to the feed store!) because your chickens will need to eat less in order to get the energy and nutrients they need.
As a rule of thumb, chickens will drink two or three times as much water as the feed they eat, so figure on about two cups (one pint) of water per chicken per day, although during the summer, their feed intake will decrease while water intake will remain the same or increase.
Then once the mercury really begins to rise, their water intake will really begin to increase while feed requirements still remain fairly low.
Either way, chickens need nearly unlimited access to both feed and water all day long to remain in optimal condition and lay you delicious eggs!
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.
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diet in the first days of life, chicken feed norms
| The diet of chickens, especially small ones, is different from the diet of adult chickens. Many breeders who raise chickens in the household are interested in how and what to feed the chicks so that they develop properly. For healthy growth, chickens require a balanced diet in sufficient quantities. The composition of the products depends on the direction and age of the chicks. | nine0009 |
Content:
- What does healthy chicks eat?
- General rules for formulating rations
- What to feed chickens?
- General rules for feeding
- Feed for chickens of various ages
- Feeding frequency
- Feeding Features
- Farmer's Councils
What does a healthy chicken diet consist of?
Sources of proteins, vitamins, micro and macro elements are products of plant and animal origin, as well as substances synthesized in the laboratory.
For the production of finished formulations in the factory, only high-quality proven raw materials are used. In feed for laying hens and broilers are introduced:
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It is quite difficult to independently calculate the proportions and mix the components thoroughly without the appropriate equipment.
General dietary guidelines
The terms of growing meat breeds are 1.5-2 months, laying hens - up to six months. During this time, the bird should gain weight of 2.5-3 kg. To accelerate the growth of muscle mass in broilers, it is recommended to use specialized feed. It fully meets the needs of the bird in proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The composition and consumption of feed should be appropriate for the age of the chicks.
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At 1-2 weeks of life, the foundation of the skeleton is laid in chickens, muscle mass increases at an average pace. At this time, it is necessary to introduce a sufficient amount of proteins, fiber, and mineral components into their diet.
In the growth phase, chickens are gaining weight intensively. They need as many amino acids and proteins as possible, which act as a building material for cells, as well as complex carbohydrates. The dose of vitamins and minerals received with food is increased. nine0013
At the finishing stage, the amount of carbohydrates is reduced so that the broilers gain more muscle mass, and not fat. At this stage, it is important to prevent weight loss. For these purposes, finishing compound feed is introduced into the diet.
What to feed chickens?
Cereals form the basis of the diet.
| Corn | One of the most useful and nutritious ingredients. Corn is the leader among grains in terms of protein content, while it contains less fiber than other cereals. The product is easily digested and well absorbed. nine0006 |
|---|---|
| oats | Source of many amino acids. It is considered a dietary product, but contains a lot of fiber. In large quantities, it causes blockage of the intestines, so its share in the composition of the feed does not exceed 20%. Oats are given in a purified form, completely removing the film from the grains. The size of the fraction depends on the age of the bird. Sifted oatmeal is usually added to prestarter formulations. |
| Wheat nine0087 | Contains a large amount of vitamin E, B. Feed wheat is usually used in bird feed. The percentage can be up to 30%. |
| Rye | It is a source of a number of useful proteins, but contains too much mucus, which negatively affects the digestive system of chickens. It is added to some feeds in small quantities. |
| Barley nine0087 | Practically not inferior to oats in useful properties, but also contains a lot of fiber. It is introduced into the composition only in a purified and sifted form. |
| Buckwheat | Despite the fact that the product contains components useful for poultry, it is rarely used. Basically, it is added to granulated feed, because. in loose form, chickens do not peck it. |
| Bran nine0087 | Products of processing grain crops are introduced to increase the caloric content of the diet. By themselves, they have no nutritional value, so they are rarely used. |
Peeled vegetables are used as succulent feed.
| Potato | Improves poultry digestion, promotes the absorption of nutrients. It is introduced in boiled dehydrated form. In the process of preparing food, it is unacceptable to use green potatoes, since poisonous solanine has formed in them. nine0006 |
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| Beet | It normalizes the work of the intestines, prevents its blockage, provides the needs of chickens for vitamin B2, carotene, sugar. It can be given both fresh and boiled. The content of beets in the diet is about 15%. |
| Pumpkin | It contains a lot of vitamins and microelements. The product is added in an amount not exceeding 15% of the total volume. nine0006 |
Protein components provide the daily requirement for amino acids. Protein sources are also rich in vitamins and minerals. They can be of plant and animal origin. Amino acids are well absorbed by the body. Animal proteins are obtained from various types of flour:
- fish. This product makes up to 8% of the diet, but is not used in broiler feed so that the meat does not have a specific smell; nine0016
- bone. In terms of the amount of proteins, it is not inferior to cereals, and at the same time it is rich in fats (11%) and vitamins A and E. It is given to chickens from a month old;
- blood. The product is rich in essential amino acids, but in high concentrations it provokes indigestion.
Its share in the diet should not exceed 4%; - pen. This component is used as an available source of protein to balance the feed composition. It is added in small amounts (up to 2%). nine0016
Dairy products are also a source of well-digestible animal protein: cottage cheese or whey. Their inclusion in feed mixtures for laying hens increases the egg production and fertility of chickens.
Legumes are richest in vegetable proteins:
- soy in terms of percentage and qualitative composition of proteins and amino acids is practically not inferior to products of animal origin, it also contains vitamins and minerals; nine0016
- peas also provide protein requirements for poultry, although to a lesser extent; chickens do not eat it well because of the specific smell and taste, therefore, no more than 10% is introduced into the feed;
- soybean and sunflower meal and cake are an inexpensive, highly digestible source of amino acids. In compositions for adult chickens, their share is 15-17%, for chickens and young animals - 10%.
General feeding rules
| nine0005 Each individual should consume approximately 15-30 g of food per day: how much depends on the breed, weight of the chicks, and the intensity of their development. In general, the amount of feed each time should be such that the young hens will eat it in 30 or 40 minutes. The remains must be removed from the feeders so as not to deteriorate, and the feeders themselves must be washed and dried. |
If the chicks do not eat the feed given to them often, then its rate should be reduced. If, on the contrary, the food is eaten quickly, then it is desirable to increase its volume. nine0013
Feed for chickens of various ages
| PC-2 | Designed for chicks under 7 weeks old. It is produced in the form of finely ground grains, designed for an insufficiently unformed digestive system, easily digestible, contains all the useful trace elements. |
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| PC-3 | Balanced mix for young animals 8-20 weeks old. Promotes rapid growth and proper formation of the reproductive system. It is produced in the form of grains with medium-sized fractions. nine0006 |
| PC-5 | Designed for broiler chickens from 2 weeks to 1 month of age. It consists of a complex of easily digestible components that stimulate a set of muscle mass. |
| PC-6 | It has similar characteristics, but is designed for broilers older than a month. |
All types of feed can be divided into three groups: nine0013
| carbohydrate | Protein | Vitamin |
|---|---|---|
Promote accelerated growth and muscle mass gain. Their composition is dominated by cereals and vegetables. Chickens digest foods high in carbohydrates well, which cause a slowdown in metabolism and rapid weight gain. Such feeds are designed for broilers and increase the average carcass weight. | nine0005 Such compound feeds are developed mainly for laying hens. A large amount of protein increases the productivity of the bird, improves the palatability of the eggs, and makes the shell stronger. Strengthen the immune system, help to survive the winter period. Usually produced in the form of concentrates, which enrich the main diet. |
According to the form of release, the compositions are of 2 types.
| nine0012 Loose ones consist of fine-grained components. The disadvantage of such compositions is that they are worse absorbed. The chicken chooses tasty crumbs from the feed, and the less appetizing ingredients are thrown away. As a result, the bird receives less nutrients. In addition, a lot of dust remains in the feeder. However, it is impossible to completely abandon loose compositions. Chickens in the first weeks of life are not able to swallow and digest large granules, therefore they can peck only small grains. |
Expanded feed is produced by short-term heat treatment under high pressure. Nutrient mixtures are in the form of granules and contain liquid components in their composition. The advantages of expanded compositions include:
However, when heated, some of the vitamins are destroyed. |
For broilers, loose compound feed can be introduced into the diet from the first days of life, and for laying hens - from the second week. When using dry mixes, it is important to provide the hens with sufficient drinking water. nine0013 Feeding frequency
The first time chickens are fed on the same day they are born. Then, until the age of 7 days, the chicks of meat breeds are fed 6-8 times a day, from the 2nd week of life - 6 times, from the 3rd - 4 times a day, by the age of one month, chickens are fed three times a day.
Chicks of egg breeds up to 1.5 weeks are fed 5-6 times a day, and by the month they are gradually transferred to 3 meals a day. nine0013
When choosing a mixture, it is recommended to give preference to complete formulations. However, if the breeder has enough of his own food, you can limit yourself to concentrated additives to enrich it. Such compositions are marked with the QC marking. Concentrates for meat and egg-bearing breeds solve different problems:
| for broilers | for laying hens |
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It is unacceptable to use concentrates as the main feed, since an excess of nutrients is no less harmful than their deficiency.
BVMB is introduced into the composition of the mash, taking into account the age of the chickens.
Feeding Features
| 1st day of life | Feeding of chickens of egg breeds begins immediately after they dry out. The first food for newborn chickens should be a hard-boiled egg. It is cut as small as possible so that the chicks can swallow small crumbs and roll it in semolina to prevent pieces from sticking to the paws and fluff. In the brooder where they are, they put a drinker with clean, boiled and cooled water. Newly hatched chicks are also fed boiled eggs under the brood hen. nine0006 |
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| 2nd day | On the 2nd day, the chicks are already given a mash of eggs and homemade low-fat fresh cottage cheese (the ratio of ingredients is 1 to 1). The formula for feeding day-old chicks should be fresh and fed every 3 hours. |
| 1 Week | From the 3rd day, chickens are fed with a more varied mixture of cottage cheese, boiled eggs, crumbly porridge from corn, oat or wheat chips (the share of cereals should be 65%). Finely chopped greens and boiled red carrots grated on a fine grater are added to them. You can give germinated grain or grass flour at the rate of 2-3 g per chicken per day. More than 5 g of such flour cannot be fed due to the high content of fiber in it. Separately, a little skimmed milk or yogurt is poured into the container; it is better not to add them to the mixers. Twice a week, a few crystals of potassium permanganate are added to the water so that it becomes slightly pink. Keep it in drinkers for no more than 0.5 hours, and then replace it with clean water. This protects chickens from stomach diseases. You can feed the chicks with special industrial compound feed for chickens from the first days of life. It is made up of products that are easily absorbed by the body of small chickens and fully satisfy all their needs. nine0006 |
| 2-4 weeks | From 1.5 weeks of life, a little sunflower or soybean meal (3-4% of the total food volume), chalk or shells, bone meal (5-7% of the feed amount or 2-3 g per 1 chick). Particles of top dressing should not be more than 1-2 mm. Very fine gravel or sand washed in water is placed in a separate container. After 10 days, eggs are removed from the diet, but other components are introduced, for example, root crops (boiled potatoes, etc.). Salt, rice, rye, wheat bran (up to 10%), herbal flour (6-10%) are introduced into the menu of two-week-old chickens. From 3 weeks old, chicks gradually begin to accustom themselves to whole grains. nine0006 |
| 1 month | At this age, the young are already quite strong, they can spend time walking, where they independently find greenery, seeds of various plants, worms and beetles. If the birds are in a closed aviary and cannot pluck the grass, then they need to be given it along with grain and vegetables. In general, the share of green grass in the diet of one-month-old young animals should be about 1/3 part, no less. Grain can be given both ground and whole: the birds are already able to peck it. It can be anything: wheat, barley, corn, oats, etc. At this age, legumes can also be fed: peas, chickpeas, small beans, etc. In addition to grain products, you can feed root crops, fresh or boiled, to monthly chickens, vegetables from the garden and their tops, kitchen waste of both plant and animal origin, bran, meal and cake, compound feed. From mineral additives - bone and fish meal, chalk or lime, shell rock, salt. In addition to food, young animals should always have clean water in drinking bowls and pebbles that the bird needs for normal digestion. nine0006 |
Chickens of meat breeds differ from egg breeds in that they need more complete proteins and vitamins, so their diet should be tailored to this feature. Therefore, it is necessary to give more protein feed, such as legumes (grains and green mass), meat and bone and fish meal, fresh kitchen waste. It should also be borne in mind that they eat more, so they need to be fed more often, especially in the first days of life.
Farmer's councils
When changing nutrition, the sensitivity of chickens to changes in composition should be taken into account. For this reason, birds should be transferred to a different diet gradually, over 3-5 days, daily adding new food to the usual food, gradually increasing its amount.
There should always be fresh water in the drinker, in which a little potassium permanganate is diluted - so much so that the liquid does not turn pink.
It is advisable to mix common salt (up to 5 g per 1 kg of the mixture) and ground egg shells into the feed. nine0013
The main disadvantage of self-prepared mixtures is the fragility of their storage. In contrast, prepared feed can be left in the feeder for as long as the chicks need to saturate.
In our company, you purchase safe, certified mixtures with high nutritional value. Products exceed the requirements of GOSTs in quality. At your request, it is possible to develop an individual recipe for specific chicken breeds.
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The MEGAMIX company cooperates with a network of dealers in Moscow and regions. You can clarify the terms of the order and delivery by phone +7 (8442) 97-97-97 or on our website.
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nine0012 09.11.2020How to feed chickens from the first days of life to adulthood at home?
Important factors in the choice of feed for chickens should be its completeness and nutrition, but at the same time it should be easy to digest.
Chicks need to be fed enough, there should always be food in the chick feeder. Chickens should not be given coarse, hard-to-digest food. For each age there is a special compound feed. The ration must be correct. nine0013
Must include:
- Carbohydrates. They are mostly found in grain feed.
The bird consumes carbohydrates when moving, and the rest is deposited as fat. - Protein. The most important component of chick growth. Chicken meat itself is 20% protein. In order to provide birds with this microelement, in addition to grain, it is necessary to give boiled meat leftovers, lentils, cake.
- Fats. Chicken feed is rich in fat. Separate fats should not be given, this can lead to problems with digestion. nine0040
- Vitamins. Do not forget about vitamins. Without them, normal growth and development of chickens is impossible. Insufficient amount of vitamins can lead to beriberi. Avitaminosis disrupts metabolism, and the bird becomes vulnerable to many diseases.
- Vitamin A is found in large quantities in carrots, greens, fish, and dairy products. If the chicks are in a closed space, it is necessary to include fresh grass (dandelion, quinoa) in the diet, approximately 30 grams per chick. nine0016
- Vitamin B. Found in yeast, sprouted grains.
- Vitamin D.
A vitamin obtained from sunlight. Very important for the prevention of rickets, and for the formation of eggshells. The bird can be fed with fish oil (from 3 to 10 grams per day) and yeast irradiated in the sun. - Vitamin E. Very important in the metabolic process. Found in legumes and wheat germ.
Contents:Display
- Healthy diet and feed intake for chickens
Chicks must have access to water at all times and be careful not to get wet or the chicks may get sick. The drinker and feeder should be located in a warm, bright place.
Week-old chicks should be given boiled water at 30 degrees, then gradually reduce the temperature, by the age of three weeks the drinking temperature should be 18 degrees.
Vitamins and amino acids can be mixed into the water of chickens, and antibiotics in case of diseases. nine0013
The norms of feed consumption are clearly shown in table 1.
Table 1
Age in weeks Feed consumption in grams for: 90009000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 per day per week total per day per week total 1 5 350006 6 42 42 2 12 84 119 14 98 140 3 20 140 259 22 154 294 4 28 196 455 210 5 9000 35 350006245 700 40 280 784 6 43 300 1000 900050 1134 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9,000 1350 60 420 1554 8 57 399 1749 70 490 006
9 65 455 2204 75 525 2565 10 70 490 2694 82 574 3139 11 75 525 3219 87 609 3748 560 85 665 4413 What to feed the chickens?
Newborns
As you know, the first food for a chicken is provided in the egg .
Before hatching, he eats the rest of the yolk, so there is no particular need to immediately feed newborn babies. Let them dry and rest for a while. The first feeding should take place no later than 12-16 hours after hatching. According to statistics, the survival and viability of chicks fed in the first 16 hours is significantly higher than chickens that were not fed at all for the first day. nine0013
The optimal diet for chicks in the first week of life is every 2 hours, including at night. By the end of the week, feed should be reduced to 7-8 times a day. Make sure that the feeder is always full, rinse it with boiled water.
There are a lot of disagreements and disputes about the first food. The fact is that for many years, crushed boiled yolk was considered the optimal food after hatching. But recent discoveries have found it too fatty for the delicate stomachs of chicks. In view of this, it is now customary to consider the best first food is corn grits .
Afterwards, babies can be given hard-boiled yolk mixed with semolina (so as not to stick together), starter feed, boiled and finely chopped nettle greens. On the third - fourth day, you can diversify the diet by adding wheat and barley groats, grated boiled potatoes and carrots, chopped green onions.
Chickens should be given yogurt to drink or finely crumbled cottage cheese, because chicks need calcium. Some poultry farmers mix linex or bifidumbacterin into the water of chickens to maintain the intestinal microflora. nine0013
In the first week, be sure to check the stomachs of the chicks before going to bed. Feed those who have them empty separately.
Week-old
Week-old chicks are fed with a mix of corn, barley, wheat and oatmeal (or compound feed for chickens) + grass, vegetables (potatoes and carrots) and fermented milk products. The number of feedings per day is at least 7 times. At a week old, chicks should be given a weak solution of potassium permanganate 3 times a week to prevent infections.
nine0013 Two-week-old
Already grown chicks can be added to the diet of soaked bread (mixed into cereals), boiled fish. Remember to keep the food in the feeders fresh, always give the chicks as much food as they will eat at a time so that they do not trample it. Compound feed can already be slowly replaced with bran. The number of feedings of two-week-old chickens is 6-7 times a day.
Monthly
Month old chicks can already be allowed outside, so fresh greens are considered an integral part of their diet. At this age, young animals can be given a little coarse grain, and by one and a half months - whole. nine0013
We also continue to feed the birds with vegetables and vegetable waste, fermented milk products and cereals. You can give low-fat meat waste (boiled). Chicks should have a separate feeder filled with gravel, sand, or crushed eggshells.
Earthworms should not be given to chicks, even though they love them very much.
From such food, chickens can become infected with helminths and even die. Three-month-olds
From the age of three months, chicks are already switched to adult hens, but the young should be fed more densely and more often. nine0013
The main food continues to be grain, but the birds will not refuse table scraps either. It can be: bread crusts, leftover meat, fish, etc.
If the young animals do not grow greenery in the paddock, you need to give them fresh grass every day. Most often, hanging feeders are made for birds so that the greens do not get trampled.
An incubator is best for home raising chickens for beginners.
What is egg candling and how is it done? We talked about this in detail here. nine0013
You can find the recipe for chicken masher in our article.
Feeding considerations
Laying chicks
For the first five days of life, future laying hens are fed the same way as all chicks.
From the fifth day, you can feed dry food. Before feeding with oatmeal or barley flour, it is necessary to weed out grain films, as chickens do not digest them well. There must be feed containing proteins and vitamins (sour-milk products, herbs, yeast, carrots, coniferous and grass flour). nine0013 Try to immediately accustom the bird to eating greens. This will help you avoid additional costs for vitamins and supplements in the future. After all, fresh herbs are a real pantry of vitamins.
Calcium is of particular importance for egg breeds, it is necessary for the correct formation of the shell. Feed the bird the same crushed eggshell, chalk, bone meal.
If the chicks are in an enclosed space, fish oil should be given to them from 5 days of age at 0.1-0.2 g per chick. It is advisable to mix fish oil with crushed grains, so it will feed faster. nine0013
At the age of one month, young hens should weigh 220-270, males 290g; at three months - 970-1000 and 1150; at the age of five months - 1600-1700 and 1900.
Thus, weight should be controlled in order to select the strongest individuals. Table 2 Table 2
Feed Chick age, days 1-5 6-10 11-20 21-30 30-41 41-50 9000 9000 51-60 7 11 18 28 38 45 Circles - 0.2 0.5 9000 1 .5 2.0 Boiled potatoes - - 4.0 10 14 18 COMURE 9000 44 4 Eggs in Cool 2 2 - - - - 9000 -A fermented milk products - 0.2 0.4 0. 
5 0.8 0.9 0.9 Gray salt 9000 -- 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.08 0.1 0.1 That is why most poultry farmers prefer broilers. In two months, birds reach 1.4–1.6 kg of weight. nine0013
They are usually not grown for more than three months, because later they grow worse, and it becomes not so profitable to feed broilers.
Broiler chicks are usually given little space. They should not move much, their main task is to gain weight.
After hatching, the diet of broilers is almost the same as that of laying chicks, except that broiler chicks need to be fed more protein.
Compound feed should be introduced from the second day to 20 g. For the first two weeks, pre-start compound feed is better. It contains all the necessary elements for the growth and development of broiler babies.
Starting feed is suitable from 14 days, and from a month the birds are transferred to the finish feed. Be sure to read the composition of the compound feed before buying, it should contain only natural ingredients. nine0013 Vitamins A, D2 and E must be introduced into the feed from day 5. Taking vitamins will help to avoid many diseases, including rickets. From ten days old, chopped carrots are added to the main feed in the amount of 5 g per head per day. From two weeks, you can replace a quarter of the grain with boiled potatoes, at this age they begin to slowly give fish and meat. Do not forget about dairy products.
Number of feedings per day:
- in the 1st week - up to 8 times;
- in the 2nd - 6 times;
- in the 3rd - 4 times;
- from 1 month - 2 times.
A couple of weeks before slaughter, all additives and gravel should be excluded from the diet.
When fattening broilers, it should be taken into account that the bird grows faster in the first month if dry food rich in protein is fed.
