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In general, chickens are quite easy to care for. Regardless of why you raise backyard chickens, it's important to make sure they get the right type and amount of food every day to stay happy and healthy.
What nutrients do chickens need?
Your backyard chickens' feed should contain basic nutrients such as:
- Amino acids
- Enzymes
- Trace elements
- Egg white
- Vitamins
Depending on the breed, age and life cycle of your chickens, they may need a specific type of feed with different levels of these important nutrients. For example, as they get older, chicks will go through these feeds:
- Starts/grows feed:Because they are still growing, chickens need a starter/growth feed with approximately 18-22% protein.
- Finishing Feed:When broiler chickens are about 12 weeks old, they can be started with broiler feeds with a lower protein percentage.
- Feeding laying hens:When the chicks reach laying age around 18 to 20 weeks, they can start with a laying hen feed of 16%.
How many chickens to feed per day in cups:
The amount of feed your chickens need can vary depending on factors such as their age and size, as well as:
- Weather. During the fall and winter months, your chickens need more feed.
- If they have free range. Because they have access to other food sources, free-range chickens don't need as much feed.
- When they lay eggs. Because laying an egg takes a lot of energy, chickens need more feed during that time.
In general, the average chicken needs 1/4 to 1/2 cup of feed per day. In addition to regular food, you can also supplement their diet with fresh fruits and vegetables orPoultry crab groats. However, these additional snacks should not exceed 10% of their daily feed intake.
How many times a day should you feed chickens?
How often andhow much feed per chickenyou feed your flock may depend on your own preferences and also whether they are free-range or not. On average, most chickens benefit from two pellets per day. You can hand feed them this meal or use an automatic feeder. To divide the meals, give a small portion in the morning and the other portion in the evening.
Will Chickens Eat Too Much?
Unless they are broilers, most chickens will naturally stop eating their food when they feel full. The main cause of obesity and overeating is often due to excessive amounts of sweets, table scraps and crabs. Overfeeding your chickens can cause obesity, which can then lead to a number of health problems, such as mobility problems, pressure sores and egg jamming.
To prevent these health problems – some of which can be fatal – it is important to feed your backyard chickens the right type and amount of food. Although they can be fed treats such as mealworms, you should try to keep these to a minimum to avoid overfeeding your chickens.
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