Chicken Feed

We've owned chickens for 4 years and have come a long way.  We certainly were novices when we started out.  Even the basic information on what to feed them was foreign to us.  Fortunately, our local Atwoods store, where we bought our first chicks, makes things easy for new chicken owners by providing a basic starter kit that includes a little feeder, waterer, heat lamp and a bag of chick feed.  So, home we came with our new babies and got them all set up to start life in grand style.

Reality, however, set in a few weeks later when they outgrew their brooder and we had to improvise a bigger pen for them until we could get their permanent home ready.  By the time we got their coop ready, they were looking more like mature chickens than baby chicks, and we realized we could not feed them chick feed forever.  So, back to Atwoods we went to look at the alternatives.  As it turns, out there are a variety of poultry feeds and it can be somewhat confusing.  So, here's the low-down on what we have learned.

Below is a picture of the kinds of feeds we currently have on hand.

The bowl on the left contains an all purpose "growth" formula.  It contains high protein and can be fed to all poultry regardless of their age.  The middle bowl contains "layer" formula.  It is lower in protein, but high in calcium and is meant for mature hens who are actively laying eggs.  The calcium helps make the eggshells strong.  Layer formula should not be fed to young chickens, as they are actively growing and need more protein than it contains.

When introducing young chickens who are not as yet laying (these are called pullets) into a flock of older hens, you can feed the entire flock the growth formula until the pullets begin to lay eggs.  Then, switch them all over to layer formula.  It is a good idea to put out some calcium in the form of ground up oyster shells while you have the flock on growth formula to give the laying hens the calcium they need for strong eggshells.

The last bowl contains "scratch" feed.  This is a mixture of several grains, such as cracked corn and millet.  It should only be used as a treat because it does not contain enough protein.  I keep it in a kitty litter bucket in the shed next to their coop and give them a couple of handfuls each day.  They have learned to recognize that bucket and get all excited when I bring it out.

Once the bucket is open, they can hardly wait to get at it.

 I normally just throw the scratch feed out on the ground and let them peck it up off the ground.  They love it.