Feeding Chicks and Chickens

[Baby Chick Farm]

I am excited to raise new chickens and I want to know if my recipe for chickens and chicks will work. I don't want to buy any commercial chick starter or chicken feed, and my chickens are going to be for egg laying only. I have calculated the protein percentages to the recommended amounts, but I am still unsure if my recipe will be fine and great for my chicks and chickens. Here is my recipe:

Chick Starter Feed:

Wheat 2 parts
Whole Corn 2 parts
Milo 2 parts
Peas dried 1/2 parts
Soybeans dried & roasted 4 parts

Protein Percentage = 20%


Basic Chicken Laying Feed:

Wheat 3 parts
Whole Corn 3 parts
Milo 3 parts
Soybeans dried & roasted 2 parts

Protein Percentage = 17%

Chicken Feed Additions:

Egg Shells for calcium
Scraps
Bread
Mealworms

One last question is, when should I start switching the chicks to adult feed? I am planning on raising chicks and watch them grow!

All help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If your calculations are accurate then either protein level would be sufficient for your birds from day one to the last day vs. having to have two formulas that you switch around - this may make it easier in the long run, especially if the different aged birds are to be housed/fed together, etc.
On the matter of calcium - egg shells are not a sufficient calcium source in and of themselves for supporting production. Yes, feeding them back to the flock is a great way to "recycle" the shells, but as far as the amount of calcium they are able to extract from those shells there is more readily available/soluble calcium in oyster shells, etc

 

[Baby Chick Farm]

You are absolutely right! I've heard of other remedies to supply the hens with calcium, as well as a plant called alfalfa hay. I should definitely go spend on these extra items to make sure my hens are healthy and all happy!

Wow, I like your method of feeding! It would save tons of time making separate feeds and knowing which is which, etc. but I plan on having chickens that all grow at the same amount of time, at least for now, so this will not be an issue. It feels great to know that there are more than just one choice in feeding them! Thanks a lot, Ol Grey Mare!

 

[centrarchid]

Owing to the reliance on so much grain I suspect you will have some mineral and vitamin issues. You indicate other items including meal worms although my assumption is they serve more as treats. Free-range with quality forage the mixes listed I would be willing to try. Confined I would watch the birds closely and would require a solid year to test. I would also have some vitamin and mineral premixes at the ready.

Also consider germinated / leafy greens as they contain vitamins the grains are short on. Sometimes even access to dirt and a little coprophagy is good.

 

[shortgrass]

You are absolutely right!  I've heard of other remedies to supply the hens with calcium, as well as a plant called alfalfa hay. I should definitely go spend on these extra items to make sure my hens are healthy and all happy!

Wow, I like your method of feeding!  It would save tons of time making separate feeds and knowing which is which, etc. but I plan on having chickens that all grow at the same amount of time, at least for now, so this will not be an issue. It feels great to know that there are more than just one choice in feeding them! Thanks a lot, Ol Grey Mare!

Yep, Ol Grey Mare and Centrarchid make good points I add oyster shell in my feed too, and they get their shells back too. One thing you might consider is molasses... It will give you extra vitamins and minerals, and it adds palatability, they love it

Alfalfa!!! Oh I can go on and on about alfalfa hay; its our main crop lol.. I don't use soy, I use alfalfa; great protein, vitamins, amino acids... Cheaper than soy by a mile, andceasyvto source organic, if that's your thing

Otherwise, your ratio looks good, and you've got the protein covered. You'll findca need to switch it up a little depending on needs; ie, molting, laying, whether they have fresh forage as well etc.. But its fun to get to try new things; like a recipe for a good cookie with different toppings

 

[aart]

Are you only looking at protein....what about other things like fat, phosphorus, vitamins, minerals?

Also wonder how to measure the protein contents of those grains, wouldn't they differ from source to source?

 

[Baby Chick Farm]

Hello aart! Hmmm... I don't know how to calculate all the others you listed, but sure! I will try to add some more kinds of vitamins and minerals, etc. as you listed.

Calculating the protein level is simple! I hope this will help!

The idea is to find the list of ingredients you have in a table of list them in one column, the number of parts in the column next to it, then the rough percentage of protein available,which is listed here:

FOOD SOURCE %PROTEIN, BY WT


Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Sunflower seeds 26.3
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5

Next you multiply the two numbers (# parts and protein percentage) of each ingredient to get the product of each.
After you get the products of each ingredient, add all the products up and divide it by the number of total parts you added! The result whole number is the percentage. If you don't understand, here is an example, following the calculation of the chick starter feed

Wheat 2 parts 12.5 % protein 25
Corn 2 parts 9 % protein 18
Milo 2 parts 9 % protein 18
Peas (Dried) 1/2 part 24.5 % protein 12.25
Soybeans (Dried) 4 parts 37 % protein (4 times 37 = 148) -->
Total 10 1/2 parts 221.25
Result
221.25 / 10.5
= 21.071
=21% protein

 

[Baby Chick Farm]

Shortgrass - Great! Thanks for your suggestions! Thanks for all your help and all the others, I will have my future chickens feel great! This was very educational!

 

[beginnergirl]

Great information! Thanks.

Hello aart! Hmmm... I don't know how to calculate all the others you listed, but sure! I will try to add some more kinds of vitamins and minerals, etc. as you listed. Calculating the protein level is simple! I hope this will help! The idea is to find the list of ingredients you have in a table of list them in one column, the number of parts in the column next to it, then the rough percentage of protein available,which is listed here:

 [B]FOOD SOURCE %PROTEIN, BY WT [/B] Dried fish flakes 76 Dried liver 76 Dried earthworms 76 Duckweed 50 Torula yeast 50 Brewers yeast 39 Soybeans (dry roasted) 37 Flaxseed 37 Alfalfa seed 35 Beef, lean 28 Earthworms 28 Fish 28 Sunflower seeds 26.3 Wheat germ 25 Peas & Beans, dried 24.5 Sesame seed 19.3 Soybeans (boiled) 17 Wheat bran 16.6 Oats, whole 14 Rice polish 12.8 Rye 12.5 Wheat 12.5 Barley 12.3 Oats 12 Corn 9 Millet 9 Milo 9 Rice, brown 7.5

Next you multiply the two numbers (# parts and protein percentage) of each ingredient to get the product of each. After you get the products of each ingredient, add all the products up and divide it by the number of total parts you added! The result whole number is the percentage. If you don't understand, here is an example, following the calculation of the chick starter feed
[TR] [TD]Wheat[/TD] [TD]2 parts[/TD] [TD]12.5 % protein[/TD] [TD]25[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Corn[/TD] [TD]2 parts[/TD] [TD]9 % protein[/TD] [TD]18[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Milo[/TD] [TD]2 parts[/TD] [TD]9 % protein[/TD] [TD]18[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Peas (Dried)[/TD] [TD]1/2 part[/TD] [TD]24.5 % protein[/TD] [TD]12.25[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Soybeans (Dried)[/TD] [TD]4 parts[/TD] [TD]37 % protein (4 times 37 = 148) -->[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Total[/TD] [TD]10 1/2 parts[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]221.25[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Result[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] 221.25 / 10.5 = 21.071 =21% protein [/TD] [/TR]

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hello aart!  Hmmm... I don't know how to calculate all the others you listed, but sure!  I will try to add some more kinds of vitamins and minerals, etc. as you listed.

That "other stuff"is important and needs to be provided in the correct balance.