Chicken

Chicken Assignment

Feeding Chickens
Community contributor Heidicat added to the many responses, saying that "A layer feed is the best." She also added that she feeds her own chickens healthy kitchen scraps. " The goodies from your kitchen, should be not rotten in any way, as it will make the chickens sick. But they LOVE greens, i.e., grass, lettuce, apples, leftover veggies from dinner the night before, and bugs." Continuing on, Heidi pointed out that "the main source of their food should come from the layer feed, as it has all of the vitamins [that] they need to be healthy."

As you can see, feeding chickens offers you some flexibility so long as you provide your chickens with the essential nutrients that they need to be healthy, be happy, and perform well (in this case, lay lots of eggs!).

A chicken, whether it is a meat chicken or an egg laying hen, needs: Grit, fresh/clean water, a good layer feed (or grower feed if he's a meatbird), oyster shell (or similar calcium supplements), healthy snacks, and lots of fresh air. That makes for happy, healthy chickens!

Essential Nutrients in Chicken Feed:

      Protein: Protein is an essential part of your chicken's feed requirements. Protein supplies crucial amino acids. Too much or too little protein is bad for your hens, so be sure to check that you're buying the right food for the type of chicken that you are raising.

      Minerals: Minerals are very important. Important ones include calcium, phosphorus and salt (also known as sodium chloride), all in the proper ratio. Calcium is especially crucial for layer hens, and a deficiency in this mineral will manifest itself as weak (or no) egg shells. We offer a short article about proving layer hens with calcium.

      Vitamins, Carbohydrates, and Fats: Energy, in poultry terminology, is portrayed as M.E., or metabolized energy. Your chickens will demand more carbohydrates and fats during the cold winter nights when they need extra energy to keep warm....