What is the best food for chickens?

chicken food

Choosing the right feed for your chickens is essential for ensuring their health. Firstly, you need to consider the age of your chickens and what chicken food is appropriate for their life stage: 

Chick Starter Feed / Chick Crumb:

This should be given from day one up to around 6-8 weeks of age. It is high in protein (18-20%) to support rapid growth. Chick crumb is as it sounds, a crumble like texture to make it easy for small beaks to peck. At this stage, typical pellets would be too large for them to consume.  If your chicks are just eating chick crumb they will not need any grit at this stage as the feed is easy to digest. 

    Grower Feed:

    After the initial 6-8 weeks, you can transition to grower feed, which has slightly less protein (around 15-18%) but is still balanced for growing birds. This is usually fed until they are about 18 weeks old. Growers pellets tend to be slightly smaller than typical layers pellets. When your growers start foraging this is the time to introduce grit to help them break down grasses, seeds and herbage etc. It is important to offer only insoluble grit, sometimes called ‘chick grit’ as it is in small granules to suit their size. At this age they should not have mixed grit products as they do not need the extra calcium from oyster shell, and too much calcium could actually harm them. 

      Layer Feed:

      Once the chicks reach around 18-20 weeks of age and are close to laying age, you can transition them to layer feed. Layers feed has higher levels of minerals, including calcium for egg laying, and slightly less protein – usually 16 – 18%. Layers feed can be in the form of pellets, crumb or mash and the choice is your personal preference. Pellets tend to be less messy to feed, with less waste.  From 18 – 24 weeks your hens will be ‘point of lay’ and at this stage they will benefit from a mixed grit product such as Gastro Grit. Gastro Grit provides insoluble grit to aid digestion, along with oyster shells for calcium. There are also lots of other ingredients included to support the health of laying hens. 

        Providing the right feed at each stage of development is crucial for the health and well-being of your chickens. As your chicks transition from one stage to the next, make changes to to their diet gradually. As you move from chick crumb to growers pellets for example, allow about a week to gradually mix in the growers pellets to the chick crumb so they can adjust to their new feed. 

          Always ensure they have access to fresh water and feed appropriate for their age.

          Can Chicks have layers feed? What is the best feed for chicks?

          what feed is best for chicks.

          Chicks should not be fed layers pellets because these pellets are formulated specifically for laying hens and contain high levels of calcium, which can be harmful to young chicks. Instead, chicks require a specially formulated chick starter feed that has the appropriate balance of nutrients necessary for their growth and development.

          Key reasons why chicks should not eat layer pellets:

          1. Calcium Levels: Layers pellets have high calcium levels to support eggshell production in laying hens. Excessive calcium can cause kidney damage and other health issues in chicks.
          2. Protein Content: Chicks need a higher protein content for growth compared to what is found in layers pellets. Chick starter feed (Chick Crumb) typically contains around 18-20% protein, while layer pellets usually have around 16-18%.
          3. Nutritional Balance: Chick starter feed is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing chicks, providing the right balance of vitamins and minerals.

          Recommended Feed Types for Chicks:

          1. Chick Starter Feed / Chick Crumb: This should be given from day one up to around 6-8 weeks of age. It is high in protein (18-20%) to support rapid growth.
          2. Grower Feed: After the initial 6-8 weeks, you can transition to grower feed, which has slightly less protein (around 15-18%) but is still balanced for growing birds. This is usually fed until they are about 18 weeks old.
          3. Layers Feed: Once the chicks reach around 18-20 weeks of age and are close to laying age, you can transition them to layers pellets or mash.

          Providing the right feed at each stage of development is crucial for the health and well-being of your chickens. Always ensure they have access to fresh water and feed appropriate for their age.

          Feeding and Care Tips for Pet Chickens

          feeding and care of pet chickens

          Chickens make great pets, and like all animals they need the correct care to thrive.

          Setting Up the Coop

          When setting up a coop for your pet chickens, it’s important to provide them with a safe and comfortable living space. Make sure the coop is secure and protected from predators. It should also have enough room for your chickens to move around freely and roost comfortably. Nest boxes for your hens to lay their eggs in can be incorporated into the coop or provided separately. Ensure there is adequate ventilation for good air circulation and prevent the build-up of moisture. It is a good idea to raise the coop off the ground to deter vermin. Lastly, use suitable bedding material such as hemp, chopped straw or wood shavings and clean out regularly to keep the coop clean and cozy.

          Feeding Your Pet Chickens

          Feeding your pet chickens a balanced diet is crucial for their health and well-being. A commercial chicken feed, such as layers mash or pellets is specifically formulated for their nutritional needs and should make up the major portion of their diet. Supplementing this with mixed seeds or grains such as Super Seeds or Cheer Up Chicken will add variety, enrichment and provide a more diverse range of natural nutrients. In the UK it is illegal to supplement their diet with kitchen scraps like vegetable peels and leftover cereal. Make sure to provide them with fresh water at all times and avoid feeding them spoiled or mouldy food.

          Providing Water and Grit

          Water is essential for your pet chickens’ hydration and overall health. Make sure they have access to clean and fresh water at all times. You can use a water dispenser specifically designed for chickens or a shallow dish that they can easily drink from. I like to use a container that hooks onto the run as this prevents them from knocking it over and helps to keep the water clean.

          Grit made of small stones and crushed oyster shells, is important for your chickens’ digestion. It helps them grind their food in their gizzard since they don’t have teeth. Insoluble grit helps to break down the food, oyster shells are a source of calcium for egg shell production. Gastro Grit combines both sources in a tasty mix.

          Health and Wellness Checks

          Regular health and wellness checks are essential to ensure the well-being of your pet chickens. Spend time with your chickens and get to know their characters so you can spot if one is behaving unusually, or is feeling unwell. Keep an eye out for any signs of illness or injury, such as changes in behaviour, decreased appetite, or unusual discharge. Inspect their feathers, skin, and eyes for any abnormalities. Check their nails regularly to prevent overgrowth and check their feet for any signs of infection or injury. It’s also important to regularly worm your chickens to treat against internal parasites. In the UK Flubenvet is the only wormer approved for use in chickens.

          Enrichment Activities

          Engaging your pet chickens in enrichment activities is important for their mental and physical stimulation. Provide them with a spacious outdoor area where they can roam, scratch, and dust bathe. Consider introducing perches, ramps, and platforms to encourage natural behaviors like jumping and roosting. You can also provide them with toys or hanging treats to peck at, such as a cabbage or a peck toy filled with seeds. Giving your hens lots of things to keep them occupied will massively improve their quality of life and reduce instances of bullying and feather pecking. If you can allow them to free-range on grass they will love exploring and foraging for bugs and plants, but you must consider their safety from predators.

          Wha’t the difference between Activated and Non-Activated Charcoal?

          charcoal for dogs, charcoal for horses, charcoal for chickens. non-activated charcoal

          Nutritional charcoal comes in two forms – activated charcoal and non-activated charcoal. But what is the difference?

          Activated charcoal is where ordinary charcoal has been treated to increase its surface area. This may be carried out by physical activation using gasses and super high temperatures or chemical activation. The result is a highly porous charcoal with a massive surface area which acts a bit like a sponge. As activated charcoal is so porous there is a danger that it will take out some of the good stuff as well as the bad. This includes medicines as well as vitamins and nutrients which could have a detrimental effect if fed long term. 

          Non-activated charcoal is exactly how the carbonated wood comes out of the kiln. By it’s very nature, it is still very adsorbent, but not as porous as the activated version. This means it can be fed on a more long-term basis without the risk of flushing out important nutrients in the diet. 

          What makes our Britain’s Best Charcoal different?

          1 – Britain’s Best Charcoal is not activated. It is a traditionally made, natural product without the involvement of chemicals or modern science. Therefore, it has a more gentle, natural, effect and is more suitable for long term use. It wouldn’t be the first choice for treating an acute poisoning, but as it isn’t so porous you won’t be losing vitamins from the diet when feeding everyday.

          2 – Our product is made from sustainably sourced hardwood in England. Most other charcoal in the UK (whether activated or not) is made from imported wood and coconut shells. Transporting wood around the globe just for making charcoal supplements obviously has a massive environmental impact! 

          3 – Our charcoal is a truly artisan product, made by hand to exacting standards.

          What is it for? 

          🐎 For Horses: 

          Feed Charcoal to horses with a sensitive gut – they could be twitchy, stressy and generally uncomfortable around the gut area, ex-racehorses are particularly prone to this. They could have loose droppings as a result of a change in feed or routine, or have habits such as crib biting or soil eating. These horses are often difficult to keep weight on and fussy feeders with feisty or ‘hot’ temperaments. 

          🐕 For dogs:

          Charcoal is great for dogs with a sensitive tummy. It helps to prevent flatulence and soothe the gut, making it a great natural choice for dogs prone to upset tummies. It can help those dogs who are difficult to keep weight on and picky eaters. Most dogs find it palatable, just mix it with a damp feed.

          🐔 Chickens:

          If you have ever had a bonfire in the garden, you may have seen your chickens pecking around in the ash. Charcoal sweetens the crop and  maintains a healthy digestive system. It also promotes weight gain and egg production. As charcoal helps to adsorb ammonia it improves the environment within their coop by improving air quality. 

          We offer three products containing charcoal…

          Learn more about our Britain’s Best Charcoal here

          Learn more about Chirpy Chicken

          Learn more about Cheer Up Chicken