You brought home your own day-old chicks from the local feed store, you have them set up in a proper brooder with a heat source (or with a broody hen) and now you need to know what to feed them. You’re in the right place! This article will cover everything that baby chicks eat.
Raising baby chicks can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s important to ensure that they are receiving the proper nutrition and essential nutrients in order to thrive. Here are some guidelines for what to feed baby chicks:
- Chick starter: For the first 6-8 weeks of life, new chicks should be fed a commercial chick starter feed, which is specially formulated to provide the nutrients that young chicks need to grow and develop. This feed should be available to the chicks at all times, and it should be fed in a shallow dish or tray (appropriate chick feeders) so that the chicks can easily access it.
- Water: In addition to good feed, baby chicks also need access to fresh, clean water at all times. It’s important to keep the water dish clean and refill it as needed to prevent the chicks from getting dehydrated.
- Protein: Baby chicks need a high protein feed in order to support their rapid growth and development. Look for a chick starter feed that has a protein content of at least 20%.
- Grains: Grains, such as corn, wheat, and oats, can also be included in the diet of baby chicks. These grains can provide energy and nutrients that the chicks need to grow and develop.
- Greens: As baby chicks grow and begin to feather out, they can be offered small amounts of chopped greens, such as lettuce, spinach, and kale. These healthy snacks can provide additional vitamins and minerals that can help to support the chicks’ overall health and well-being.
- Treats: Baby chicks can also be given small treats, such as mealworms or chopped hard-boiled eggs, as an occasional supplement to their regular diet. Just be sure not to overdo it on the treats, as they should only make up a small portion of the chicks’ overall diet because they don’t have the same nutritional value as a complete, balanced feed.
- Medications: In some cases, baby chicks may need to be given medications to treat or prevent certain health issues. These medications can be mixed into the chicks’ feed or water, or they can be administered orally using a syringe. Commonly, you will see medicated feed. This helps prevent Coccidiosis. Coccidiosis exists naturally in the environment everywhere and can be easy for chicks to pick up.
- Supplements: Baby chicks may also benefit from supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, to help ensure that they are receiving all of the nutrients that they need. These supplements can be added to the chicks’ water or feed, or they can be administered orally using a syringe.
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Chicks with Confidence is a straight to the point, fact based digital course that walks you through exactly what you need to get raising your baby chicks without breaking the bank or causing you to panic everytime they make a weird sounding peep!
Transitioning to Layer Feed
Young laying chickens, or pullets, should start transitioning to a laying chicken feed, also known as layer feed, around 16-18 weeks of age. This is typically around the time that they start to reach sexual maturity and begin producing eggs. During this time, the chicks nutritional needs change from rapid growth (chick) to production (laying hen).
Layer feed is formulated specifically to meet the nutritional needs of adult hens that lay eggs, and it contains higher levels of calcium and other nutrients that are necessary for egg production. It is important to switch pullets to layer feed at this time in order to ensure that they are receiving the proper nutrients to support egg production.
Before switching to layer feed, it is important to gradually transition the pullets from their previous diet, such as a starter or grower feed, over the course of a week or so. This will help to prevent digestive upsets and ensure that the pullets are able to properly adjust to the new food.
It is also important to provide the laying hens with access to clean, fresh water at all times, as well as a source of grit, such as crushed oyster shell, to help with digestion. (This is a tutorial for a DIY large waterer.)
In addition to layer feed, young chickens and older chickens can be fed table scraps or safely free range along with having 24/7 access to a balanced layer feed.
It is crucial to provide laying hens with a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs in order to support egg production and overall health.
Should chicks be fed chick grit?
It is generally not necessary to provide grit to baby chicks, as they do not have the same need for grit as adult chickens. This is because baby chicks have a less developed digestive system than adult chickens, and they are able to digest their food more easily without the need for grit. Chick feed also comes in an easily digestible crumble form, as opposed to a harder pellet.
Baby chicks have a small, soft-tipped beak that is well-suited for pecking at small grains and seeds. They are able to easily pick out the small pieces of feed that they need from their feed tray and consume them without the need for grit.
As baby chicks grow and begin to transition to adult feathers, they may start to consume small amounts of greens and other types of food that are not as easy to digest. At this point, it may be necessary to provide them with a small amount of grit in order to help them grind up and digest their food properly.
It is generally not necessary to provide baby chicks with grit, but as they grow and start to consume a wider variety of foods, it may become necessary to introduce a small amount of grit into their diet.
What does feeding grit do?
Grit is an important part of a chicken’s diet, especially for laying hens. Chickens do not have teeth, so they rely on grit to help grind up their food in the gizzard, which is a muscular part of the digestive system.
When a chicken eats, the food passes through the esophagus and into the crop, which is a small pouch-like organ located just below the neck. The food is then mixed with grit in the crop and ground up by the gizzard as the chicken moves around. The ground-up food is then passed on to the rest of the digestive system, where it is further broken down and the nutrients are absorbed.
Providing chickens with access to grit is especially important for laying hens, as they need a source of calcium to support egg production. Crushed oyster shell is a common choice for grit, as it is a good source of supplemental calcium and can help ensure that the hens receive enough of this important nutrient. Flint or granite grit is also available and is made of flint or granite that is crushed into very small stones.
Grit plays a vital role in the digestion of chickens, and it is an important part of their diet. By providing your chickens with a source of grit, you can help to ensure that they are able to properly digest their food and maintain good overall health.
Looking for more in-depth chicken-keeping information? Take my course, Chicks with Confidence!
Chicks with Confidence is a straight to the point, fact based digital course that walks you through exactly what you need to get raising your baby chicks without breaking the bank or causing you to panic everytime they make a weird sounding peep!
Proper Nutrition Leads to Healthy Development
Baby chicks that are not provided with proper nutrition can be more susceptible to a number of health issues, including:
- Stunted growth: Chicks that do not receive enough nutrients can experience stunted growth and development. They may be smaller than normal and may not grow as quickly as they should. This will not lead to healthy adults.
- Poor feathering: Chicks that do not receive the proper nutrients may have difficulty growing feathers, or their feathers may be thin and weak.
- Weak immune system: Chicks that are not properly nourished may have a weaker immune system, making them more prone to illness and infection.
- Increased susceptibility to parasites: Chicks that are not receiving the proper nutrients may be more prone to infestations of parasites, such as lice and mites, which can further compromise their health.
- Poor egg production: In laying hens, poor nutrition can lead to reduced egg production and lower-quality eggs.
It is important to provide baby chicks with a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs in order to support their growth and development and help prevent health issues.
Overall, it’s important to provide baby chicks with a balanced diet that includes a commercial chick starter feed, plenty of water, and small amounts of treats and supplements as needed. By following these guidelines, you can help to ensure that your baby chicks are healthy and happy as they grow and develop.
Looking for more in-depth chicken-keeping information? Take my course, Chicks with Confidence!
Chicks with Confidence is a straight to the point, fact based digital course that walks you through exactly what you need to get raising your baby chicks without breaking the bank or causing you to panic everytime they make a weird sounding peep!
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