Feeding chickens is more than just throwing grain, you must take into account the age of the hens and your goal for them. You will need to use different feed for hens which will be egg producers than you will for those meant for meat production.

How to Feed Chicks

Start out your chicks on 20-22% protein for egg producers and up that to 24% for meat chickens. Use chick starter until the age of 6-9 weeks (depending somewhat on the breed of chicken and how quickly it matures). After maturity, the feed should be switched to "broiler finish" grains until they are ready for slaughter (if meat hens) - otherwise, continue with the egg feed.

Often, antibiotics are added to the feed of meat hens to prevent Coccidiosis. This is often also given to other hens unless they are being billed as "free range" or "organic."

Often, those who raise their own meat chickens do so in order to avoid the large number of hormones given to commercially-raised hens.

Caring for Adult Chickens

Once chickens reach adulthood, they are often moved to a 14% protein feed. Calcium is extremely important for laying hens and in the extra-large breeds like Jersey Giants that need strong bones to hold their weight.

Chicken feed is sold as mash and scratch, pellets, and crumbles. The best way to get the most balanced diet for your chickens is to mix some scratch in with pellets or crumbles and then supplement with vegetables and calcium.

Adding clean, crushed egg shells into their feed can supplement the calcium for the hens. They will eat what they need if it is available.

Peelings and Vegetables

All leftover vegetables such as spinach, romain, carrot peels, apple peelings, and whole grains like oatmeal, barley, and small amounts of fruit will make for healthier chickens. These are supplements, however, not replacements for hen feed. Chickens need a nutritious environment and hen feed is a very important part of that.

So long as it's fresh and not a meat product, it can be thrown to the hens instead of the garbage.

Chicken Tractors

A chicken tractor has the advantage of allowing you to move your flock from place to place in your yard. This allows the hens exercise and gives them fresh available bugs, vegetation, and grit. For areas that are a little too small to allow the hens easy range, you can use a tractor to move them in rotation, keeping the ground fresh.

This will also help keep your yard from getting brown spots where the hens scratch to find morsels.

Hazards

Do not use fertilizers or pesticides where chickens might feed. They are not picky when pecking at granules on the ground and can poison themselves and your eggs.

Chickens can be poisoned by grass and plants where weed killers or sprays have been used. Whatever your chickens eat ends up in them and their eggs. In fact, pesticides and chemicals can show up in the hen's eggs long before the chicken itself shows signs of illness.

If done properly, your home-grown chickens and eggs will provide wonderful nutrition for your family. Well fed chickens provide excellent eggs and meat.

View Chicken Coop Designs for information about how to build your own chicken coop.

For an even easier project, take a look at Chicken Coop Kits.