Proper poultry nutrition is important for raising healthy birds.
Poultry nutrition is fairly easy. Most chickens and roosters will eat commercial chicken feed as the main staple of their diet. If you are raising hens for their eggs, you may choose to use only organic feed products. There are different types of feed available, with differing levels of proteins, based on the needs of your fowl. Chicks need a high level of protein (usually around 20-22%), while grown chickens require less (around 16%). Hens that are raised to lay eggs need an amount in between (15-18%), so specially formulated food for layers is recommended; calcium levels are also higher in layer feeds.
In addition to the commercial feed, cracked corn and oatmeal or all-natural grain cereals are good occasional treats for chickens. If you are giving your flock commercial food that is “complete,” additional grains are not needed daily. Most chickens and roosters also enjoy snacks like green leafy vegetables, such as spinach or kale. Most birds will also forage for common pests they can find in the ground, such as spiders, insects, and worms. Always be sure your birds have plenty of fresh clean water to drink. Chickens and roosters need to eat small rocks or grit, which their gullets use to grind up food for digestion.
If you are raising both chickens and ducks, feeding commercial chicken feed to ducks is fine. If you have ducks only, specially formulated duck feed is a better choice. Ducks and chickens require essentially the same nutrients but the exact levels of them differ, making feed designed specifically for ducks a better choice. As with chickens, ducks being raised for their eggs require more protein, as well as more calcium.
Always keep poultry feed dry. Moisture in the bag can result in the feed getting moldy. Not only can this be unappealing to your poultry, who may refuse to feed on it, but it can be harmful or even fatal to those birds that do eat it. Check the feed trough daily and remove and wet food. Never add fresh food to a wet trough.
Water is an essential part of poultry nutrition. Birds do not drink very large amounts of water at any given time, so access to water throughout the day is critical. Be sure the water your poultry receives is clean and fresh. Many birds prefer not to drink water that is either too cold or too warm, so emptying and refilling the water troughs several times a day may be necessary in very hot or very cold climates.
Poultry nutrition, whether you are raising the birds for fun or production, is an essential part of the health of your poultry. The correct feed for your species of bird, as well as for the stage of the bird, is important. Properly fed birds produce better, and are healthier and happier.
