Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
you are unable to find a developer diet feed, they can stay on the starter or grower diet until
they are twenty weeks old. As soon as a hen starts producing eggs, the diet will need to be
switched over to what is known as a lay ration. Once hens start laying eggs, they have high-
er calcium requirements and, due to this, may also be offered dishes of limestone grit or
oyster shells near, but separate, from their food bowls. Corn, bananas, tomatoes, and leafy
greens are considered special treats for chickens; however, they should never be given in
excessive amounts.
Corn will cause your chickens to get fat; a small handful every afternoon is a good idea, so
their crops stay full overnight but too much corn makes for fat chickens, and fat chickens
will not produce as many eggs. Scraps are hard to monitor, and there's a chance that one
of those items that chickens should not have may be present, so it's not really advisable to
give them much, if at all - unless you are absolutely sure of what is present, though they
will clear it out if given the chance. Greens they should have access to through the holes in
the chicken wire; however, more is always appreciated as long as they are not overly long
or overly large in size. As a side note, onions and garlic should only be avoided if you do
not want your eggs to taste like onions or garlic; if you do not mind the taste, then it is
perfectly acceptable to feed small doses of either to your chickens; however, too much can
make the flavor in the eggs overpowering. It is easier to simply avoid this in your chicken's
diet and add it in later while cooking if absolutely necessary.
Pellets for your chickens, or mash for your chickens, may easily be obtained either online
or through a feed store; it is possible to find these items in certain pet stores; however, most
of the common commercial pet stores are unlikely to carry them. Additionally, some com-
mercial pet stores like Petco will allow you to order the feed online and have it shipped dir-
ectly to you. Some of the brands that may be found include Brown's Layer Booster, Kickin'
Chicken, Nature's Best, and Nutrena.
Organic chicken feed may be made at home if it does not interest you to spend a large
amount on prepackaged foods. The ideal mix includes 2 parts whole corn kernels, ½ part
diatomaceous earth, 3 parts soft white wheat, 1 part hulled barley, 3 parts hard red winter
wheat, 1 part oat groats, ½ part peanuts, 2 parts sunflower seeds, 1 part wheat bran, 1 part
lentils, 1 part split peas, 1 part quinoa, ½ part kelp, and 1 part sesame seeds. This mixture
just needs to be mixed by hand. No additional items are necessary as long as it is thor-
oughly mixed. There are different mixtures that can be combined; however, it is important
to note that large batches of feed should never be made at once; as with other foods, exten-
ded storage can cause the necessary nutrients and vitamins to start leeching out, meaning
that the chickens won't get the same benefit from the food as they would when it is fresh.
Chickens are relatively easy to care for, and their food needs, while specific, are easy to
meet. In many aspects, they require less care than dogs or cats and although you cannot
