Feeding Chickens- important tips

Feeding chickens is more than just throwing grain, you must take into account the age of the hens and your goal for them. Chickens being kept for meat will require different feed than those being kept for eggs.Feeding ChicksChicks grown for egg laying should be fed a starter that is 20-22% protein, chicks raised for meat should have up to 24 percent protein in their feed. Use chick starter until the age of 6-9 weeks (depending somewhat on the breed of chicken and how quickly it matures). Meat hens should be fed a "broiler finish" after maturity until they are ready for slaughter.If you are raising meat hens you should think about choosing hen feed that has antibiotics to prevent Coccidiosis. Even egg layers are often given these antibiotics unless they are being raised as free range or organic.Commercially grown meat chickens are often loaded with hormones, so raising meat chickens at home is a popular way to avoid ingesting those.Chickens as AdultsAdult hens should be put on a 14 percent protein feed. Another important nutrient for egg layers is calcium, especially for large breeds such as Jersey Giants. Adult hen feed comes in pellets, crumbles, mash and scratch. The best way to get the most balanced diet for your hens is to mix some scratch in with pellets or crumbles and then supplement with vegetables and calcium.Many supplement their hen's calcium intake by adding clean, crushed egg shells into the feed. Chickens know what they need, so they'll eat what they require if it's available.Vegetables and PeelingsHealthy and happy hens can be had by adding things like spinach, romain, carrot peels, apple peelings, and whole grains like oatmeal, barley, and small amounts of fruit. Just remember this is a supplement to chicken feed, not a replacement. Your chickens must have the protein and other nutrients that is provided by a good chicken feed unless they are totally free range in a very nutritious environment.So long as it's fresh and not a meat product, it can be thrown to the hens instead of the garbage.A Chicken Tractor/MobileMobile chicken houses (hen tractors) are a great way to easily move your chickens around the yard. This allows the hens exercise and gives them fresh available bugs, vegetation, and grit. For areas that are a little too small to allow the hens easy range, you can use a tractor to move them in rotation, keeping the ground fresh. This movement will keep your yard from getting brown areas where the chickens have been. HazardsBeware of using pesticides and fertilizers in any area where your chickens might feed. Chickens will eat anything and everything they eat ends up in them and their eggs. Chickens can be poisoned by grass and plants where weed killers or sprays have been used. Whatever your hens eat, you will end up eating too. Pesticides and chemicals can be in your eggs before the hen shows any sign of illness.If done properly, your home-grown hens and eggs will provide wonderful nutrition for your family. When you feed hens well they will provide you with years of fresh eggs every day.For information about building a chicken coop, check out Chicken Coop Plans.For an even easier project, view Chicken Coop Kits.

Posted in: Chickens-,Feeding,important