Topic of the Week - Feeding Chickens - What to feed and when?

[EddieSalita]

Question: Is there any way to raise the protein level of 16% layer pellets? I bought some in bulk and now must feed it out before I can afford to switch to an all flock or 20 % feed.

There is nothing particularly wrong with 16% for a while. Sure more may be better. But 16% isn't groundbreakingly deficient.

 

[chicken-tender]

I know but the higher protein is something I have been considering. I am changing my flock over from Chanteclers to Beilefelders, hoping to go toward a better meat bird still under the dual purpose heading. I have couple of Barred Rock hens and a Dominic that I hope to cross for that purpose.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

- Medicated or non-medicated feed?

I feed the chicks medicated feed, and the chickens that are six months old or more consume layer feed that is non-medicated. I feed my chicks medicated feed because there have been too many outbreaks of coccidiosis to risk buying non-medicated. It helps prevent coccidiosis and it strengthens their growth/energy.

- When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?

This is a topic that is often overlooked but extremely important. Chicks should only be switched over to layer feed when the pullets are getting close to lay, but the feed should never be switched suddenly. Instead, around the time they reach four months old, begin putting a little layer feed in their chick feed. Continue raising the amount of layer feed each week, and by the time they are about six months old or the time the pullets have started laying, they should be on layer feed. Never feed chicks younger than that layer feed, and never switch suddenly. Doing either or both of these things can easily cause vent issues, such as a prolapse.

- Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?

Yes. My roosters are perfectly healthy eating layer feed and they do so every day. Nothing is wrong with them and they are fine. You can also feed older chickens chick feed but do not make it their main diet. I give Ruby, my favorite hen, chick feed when I have some available because it is medicated and I want to boost her health. I also sprinkle medicated chick feed with the other chickens' feed because it cannot cause any harm in helping them stay healthy.

- Thoughts on organic feed?

I have never tried organic feed because it is more expensive, and neither have I looked into it. It sounds like it would be better for the chickens but I have no idea.

- When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?

The only treats my chickens enjoy is cat food. Because the layer feed that I give them does not have the correct amount of protein in it, I give my chickens cat food to supplement their protein. Contrary to what people say sometimes, cat food is perfectly fine for them (as long as you feed it like a treat and not a main diet). I have actually noticed the chickens I feed more cat food to look healthier than the ones I do not. I begin feeding treats only after the six month mark, unless they are healthy plant-related treats that will cause no issues. If it counts as a treat, then yes, I feed all ages of chickens things such as rose petals, clover, a small amount of bird seed, and more.

- Do you make/mix your own homemade feed? If so, what do you consider the best recipe(s)?

No. I have never thought about it much.

- Who uses fermented feed and what are your thoughts on that?

I have never tried that.

 

[FrostRanger]

1. Unmedicated. I don't believe in giving medicine unless there's a problem and I'd have to give them corrid anyways if they got sick plus I don't like how it interferes with thiamine absorption which is actually problematic for certain breeds such as silkies. I prevent coccidiosis by keeping their brooder clean and dry and building up their immune system by controlled exposure
2. I switch to grower super early, I started switching at around 2 1/2 - 3 weeks and they were on grower pellets full time by 3 1/2 weeks. I absolutely detest crumbles and don't want them on them any longer than they have to be. I'll probably switch them to layer whenever everyone is laying but i'm toying with just keeping them on the grower. Idk, we'll see but for now they're 16 weeks and on grower
3. Totally fine to feed adults chick feed as long as they have oyster shells on the side, roosters ideally shouldn't have layer feed unless you're seriously having a problem with hens laying soft shelled eggs despite the oyster shells. At that point I'd consider a roo on layer feed to be the lesser of 2 evils
4. I will not feed my birds organic 'cause it seems to me to be an overall inferior product a lot of the time. Methylene (forgive me if that's the wrong name, I can't remember it for the life of me) levels are often lower on average in organic feed and this can negatively affect the health of the birds. Plus many organic feeds tend to be lower on protein than I'd like. Then there's the cost. Look, I don't mind paying more for quality, but I'm not made of money and I'm certainly not going to pay more when there's a cheaper alternative that's nutritionally superior. I also know the organic label issue is kind of a hot mess.
5. I don't mix my own feed, it's neither practical nor economical for me to do so especially since there are no grain mills near me
6. I recently started occasionally giving my girls fermented feed as a treat, they enjoy that. I don't want to give it to them exclusively 'cause it is more work and if I can't make it for whatever reason I want them to be able to just eat dry food. Back in April I was so sick I was so weak that I wasn't able to get out there and tend my adult hens. Thankfully because i'm in the habit of leaving at least a week's worth of food and water at a time out for them I knew they'd be totally fine. I like having that convenience 'cause it's one less thing

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Medicated or non-medicated feed?


Non-medicated, its cheaper and here in North Dakota some feed stores and elevators don't even carry chick feed so if they do it's usually Non-medicated.


- When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?

It depends on the season, and breed for me. With my show Cochins I feed them chick feed to 20 weeks so that they grow to there fullest. For my layers, if they are hatched in the spring I feed them chick feed until about 12-14 weeks which is when I move them into the coop, or when they don't need a heat lamp. They can forage for bugs etc for the extra protein.
If layers are hatched in the summer they usually are only on for about 6 weeks since they don't need to stay under the heat lamp.
For the fall I keep them on til 14-18 weeks.
In the winter I basically keep them on until I run out of chick feed or til they hit 16 weeks or lay an egg.

The reason I take mine off so early is because 1. Right now I don't have the space to keep up to 40 almost full grown chickens and 2. They can go and catch bugs for that extra protein.

Also every night since mine don't usually start roosting til about 20 weeks I fill up a feeder and give them some chick food when all the other birds are roosting at night


- Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?

I would never feed my older birds chick food cause its EXPENSIVE, the only time I do is when a hen hatches chicks then she gets it but that's actually better for her since she has not really eaten for a while and needs that extra protein to get her strength back up.


- Thoughts on organic feed?

I agree with @SpeckledHen on organic feed.


- When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?

My birds had never had an actual treat like mealworms until July 2016, and only because I had just won 1st place in market trio, cockerel, pullet, and grand champion in breeding poultry and showmanship so I decided to reward them.
My birds get table scraps from a young age, basically when I let them outside for the first time. But even then only maybe once a week.
I think people should be able to make their own limit for their birds


- Do you make/mix your own home-made feed? If so, what do you consider the best recipe(s)?
I don't know what you consider mixing, but for my layers I have a large feeder that is basically a 6 foot rectangle on 4 legs. It is raised of the ground about 5 inches. About 2 inches away from the feeder there are boards for them to stand on that are raised off the ground to the bottom of the feeder. The feeder is about 6 inches deep and 4 wide
There are 3 compartments in it, one that is probably 3 feet long, one that is 2 1/2 feet long, and one that's 1/2 foot long.
In the 3 foot long compartment I have Whole corn mixed with oats, I get these free from neighbors who farm and they take eggs as a trade. In the 2 1/2 foot compartment is layer feed. I'm the 1/2 foot compartment is grit and eggshells


- Who uses fermented feed and what are your thoughts on that?
Water and feed is a big no no for me. There's always a possibility of mold. I like my feed dusty thank you.

Any chance of showing a pic of your 'feeding station'? Thanks!

 

[Alagirl]

I am a complete noob still.
I fed medicated the first few days, then unmedicated, because storebought chicks.
They are all two, laying, so layer feed it is. I seem to notice that they return to the coop when they are hungry although I try to let them out every afternoon to play in the backyard. I switched to pellets when the food ended up spilled half the time.

I have sprouted birdseed before, but not that regularly, never fermented, don't trust my brain to that right now.
The girls get half a cup of regular wild bird seed in the morning, because their run is barren. Just something to do. At bed check or when I put them up a small hand of worms makes sure they find their house in a hurry. Now they run toward me when I come out in the yard. Veggie scraps when I have them, but usually it's just as described, foraging a few hours in the afternoon.

 

[Altairsky]

My hens always ate scratch grains. They free range and have a lot of space to forage. They were happy, lots of eggs, very thick shell, never had a problem.
Then I joined this forum and everyone told me that the grains are the devil so I switched to balanced layers industrial food.
After a few months I got eggs with thin shell that explode when I boil them. The hens waste a lot of the food. Today I found out the the disgusting thing went completely moldy in the feeder. This never happened with grains. I will go back to grains and will never buy industrial chicken food again.
I'm a wholefooder, I only eat what grows on my farm, I buy everything I don't farm myself from local farmers and I never eat industrial processed food myself, so there is no reason I'm giving my chickens industrial processed food. All my animals always eat the same healthy food that I eat, they never had a problem and I believe also chickens won't have problems if they eat natural non processed food.

 

[Perris]

My hens always ate scratch grains. They free range and have a lot of space to forage. They were happy, lots of eggs, very thick shell, never had a problem.
Then I joined this forum and everyone told me that the grains are the devil so I switched to balanced layers industrial food.
After a few months I got eggs with thin shell that explode when I boil them. The hens waste a lot of the food. Today I found out the the disgusting thing went completely moldy in the feeder. This never happened with grains. I will go back to grains and will never buy industrial chicken food again.
I'm a wholefooder, I only eat what grows on my farm, I buy everything I don't farm myself from local farmers and I never eat industrial processed food myself, so there is no reason I'm giving my chickens industrial processed food. All my animals always eat the same healthy food that I eat, they never had a problem and I believe also chickens won't have problems if they eat natural non processed food.

I hope people pay attention to your experience. The scaremongers and naysayers will be along shortly to deny it or excuse or find a dozen other reasons for your experience of course, but anyone who dares to try real food, especially whole grains, will be able to judge the effect it has on their flock for themselves.

 

[thistlewick]

Chick food should be 99% of what they eat in their first few months.

Lovely article

But here I beg to differ. Our chicks have been outside, on grass from 2-4 weeks (we have a mixed age flock) and they have chick feed in a feeder available, which they DO indeed chow down on, but they LOVE BUGS and grass. LOVE love love love and are absolutely *thriving* on them.

You said they won't tackle what they cannot handle and then turn around and say they only need 99% chick feed -- but anyone who has chicks on grass it doesn't work out that way.

My chicks have all the chick feed they want and every day they are out foraging eating grass and bugs as a preference. It's their natural habitat and food, nothing at all wrong with that.

 

[CrazyChickLady64]

I am new to owning chickens only a year now and thanks for sharing. I have no idea what Kiss means please explain. Also I know this is about feed but what is your preference for avoiding/treating worms and mites/lice in your flock? Thanks