Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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Adult hens should be fed laying feed
to provide calcium for their eggshells
and the nutrients they need to maximize egg production.
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Baby chicks should eat starter/grower feed.
For a typical laying flock,
chicks continue to eat starter/grower feed until they are about 20 weeks old,
or until they begin to lay.
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Chicks being raised for meat can be put on grower/finisher feed at 4
weeks of age.
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You may need to feed your chickens grit if they do not have access to the
dirt.
Store-bought feeds come as mash (ground up bits) or pellets (larger chunks). Although
mash can get lost in the grass and require you to buy more feed than when feeding pellets,
some people believe that hunting mash in the grass gives chickens something to do and cuts
down on pecking.
As you become more experienced with chicken care, you might consider growing
some of your chickens' feed. Some options include raising black-soldier-fly larvae on
your kitchen waste or planting perennials in their yard. A century ago, most farmers
knew that an everbearing mulberry can feed a flock of chickens all they need for three
months in the summer. To learn more about innovative chicken feeding options, visit ht-
tp://www.avianaquamiser.com/tag/chicken_feed/
