Your chickens play an important role in your backyard. They are a source of eggs and meat for you, as well as fertilizer for your garden. Their beauty is also an aesthetic benefit to your yard. All of these things make chickens an essential part of your farm, but some people worry about their food choices.
What kind of chicken feed do you feed them? Here is what you need to know about all the best chicken feed options available to you, from layer mash to scratch.
What Is Chick Feed And What Do Chickens Eat?
Chick feed, also known as layer mash, is made of a mixture of corn, soybeans, and other grains. Chickens eat this feed and convert it into protein through the process of fermentation in their stomachs. They digest these nutrients into amino acids that they can absorb, allowing them to grow and develop properly. Chickens also get calcium from the layer mash and can produce eggs with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids.
Chick Starter Feed
Chick starter feed is food for chickens that are used to help them grow and develop. It is usually designed to provide the chicken with all the nutrients they need to grow. A starter feed is typically formulated with a higher protein and lower carbohydrate content than other feeds, such as layer feed, which is formulated for egg production.
The chicken starter feed can be in the form of pellets, crumbles, or mash. The difference between these three types of feeds is the size and shape of the feed. Pellets are small and round, crumbles are larger and irregularly shaped, and mash is a type of food that has been mashed into a fine grainy paste.
This is the best option for newly hatched chicks ages 0-10 weeks, as it contains a blend of high-quality grains as well as protein from soybean meal. This mix also provides your chicks with vitamins and minerals that they need in order to grow.
Grower Feed
A chicken grower feed is a type of feed that is used to provide food for chickens. It consists of a mixture of grains and other ingredients, such as vitamins and minerals, which are added to the feed to help the chicken grow.
The basic idea behind this form of feed is that it provides all the nutrients needed for the chicken’s growth in one easy-to-eat meal.
In addition, it can provide a certain balance between protein, carbohydrate, and fat. This helps ensure that the chicken has all the nutrients it needs for healthy growth.
In order to produce enough protein from these types of feeds, animal byproducts such as blood meal and bone meal are often added. These byproducts are high in nitrogen and phosphorus which help increase egg production and weight gain in chickens
Layer Feed
The layer feed is a type of feed that’s specifically formulated for hens that are laying eggs. This feed is made to support their bodies for egg production.
Layer feeds consist of ingredients that are high in calcium. Calcium is important for both the hen and the eggs. Hens need calcium to keep their bone strength and in good health while laying eggs.
As for the eggs, calcium helps make the eggshell stronger.
When feeding layer feeds to the hens, make sure to not feed them to those that are not laying eggs. High calcium is harmful to the liver and kidney if it’s consumed in large amounts.
Broiler Feed
Broiler feed is a type of feed that is made specifically for chickens who are bred to become broilers. These chicks are fast-growing, and they have been designed to reach their peak weight in as little as six weeks.
Broiler feed contains a wide variety of nutrients and proteins that help the bird grow quickly but also maintain a high level of energy during growth. T
his type of feed is often fed to poultry that will be slaughtered as soon as they have reached their maximum weight so that the meat can be preserved for human consumption.
Game Bird Feed
If you want to provide your birds with high-quality food options, you can feed them game bird feed. This is a mix of different grains that are high in protein and low in fat. It also contains the nutrients needed for healthy bird growth. Game bird feed is an excellent source of nutrition for chickens.
There are three types of game bird feeds, which are starter, grower, and finisher. Starter feeds are typically used for young birds that need to be put on a diet before they can be fed grower or finisher feed.
Grower feeds are designed for birds that have reached a certain age and are in need of more calories to continue growing.
Finisher feeds are usually used for birds that have reached their full size and require less food to maintain their weight.
Fermented Feed
Fermented feed is a type of chicken feed that is made from scratch and requires a little more work than other types of feed. It contains about 40 percent protein, 20 percent fat, and 30 percent carbohydrates. Fermented feed helps the chickens’ digestion and provides them with energy.
A fermented feed recipe typically consists of three ingredients: molasses, bran, and water. It’s important to remember that your chickens need to have a good amount of moisture in their diet so they can drink enough water.
You should also keep in mind that organic food sources are recommended as most people don’t want any chemicals or antibiotics in their food sources.
Cracked Corn
Cracked corn is a type of feed that is the cheapest out of the other feeds available Due to their price, they lack a lot of nutrition. Cracked corns do not have enough protein and nutrition that the chicken needs.
Instead, this type of feed is very high in fat and carbohydrate.
During the winter, chickens need a lot of fats to keep them warm. For that reason, crack corn makes an excellent treat to feed the chickens.
Conclusion
Chickens require a certain type of chicken feed so your chickens can grow, lay eggs, and thrive. At each stage of their life, they require a certain amount of nutrition for them to grow and stay healthy. Each feed is formulated differently according to the chicken’s requirement. By feeding the correct type of feed, your chicken will be healthy and happy.
