The below is from
www.the-chicken-chick.com It's what I go by:
STARTER FEED, Day 1 to 8 weeks (Chicks)
Day-old chicks through 8 weeks old require
starter feed containing 20% protein. Starter feed contains the highest percentage of protein a layer will ever consume, which makes sense given their astronomical rate of growth in the first few months of life.
GROWER FEED, 8 weeks to 18 weeks (Teenagers)
With its higher protein content, starter ration can rush a young pullet's developing body into egg-laying before it's ready. Adolescent chickens (I call them teenagers) should be provided with
grower ration containing 16-18% protein, slightly less than starter.
Layer feed should never be fed to chickens younger than 18 weeks as it contains calcium that can permanently damage the kidneys, cause kidney stones, reduce lifetime egg production and shorten a bird's lifespan. Again, grit should be made available to teenagers that do not foraging outside who consume treats.
LAYER FEED, 18 weeks and older (The Big Girls)
Layer feed is available in mash, crumble or pellet forms, all of which describe the
size of the feed; mash is the smallest, pellets, the largest. Layer feed contains 16-18% protein plus added calcium, which is necessary for eggshell production.
Laying hens can be fed layer ration as early as 18 weeks or as late as the arrival of their first egg, but should not be fed to birds younger than 18 weeks old.
While layer feed contains calcium, an
additional source of calcium, such as
crushed oyster shells or clean eggshells, should be made available in a
separate dish, apart from the feed. All laying hens have different calcium requirements and will consume as much calcium as they need. Oyster shells should never be added directly to feed as excess calcium can be detrimental to those birds not requiring as much. Hens deprived of adequate amounts of calcium will utilize the calcium stored within their own bones to produce eggshells, which is unhealthy for them.
LIMIT TREATS
Commercial layer feed provides all of the daily nutritional elements a chicken requires. Providing snacks, treats or table scraps in addition to their feed interferes with that balanced diet to a degree, depending on the type of treat and amount consumed. Limiting
snacks and treats, even healthy choices such as
mealworms,
homemade flock block substitute and
pumpkin/pumpkin seeds, ensures that flock members are getting everything they need and avoids problems such as
obesity,
feather picking,
egg binding and r
educed egg production.
