Hatching A Healthy Flock: A Comprehensive Guide to Feeding Baby Chicks

Bringing baby chicks into your backyard coop is an exciting and rewarding experience. However, ensuring their proper nutrition is crucial for their growth, development, and overall well-being. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to know about what to feed baby chicks, from their first days of life to maturity.

Nutritional Needs of Baby Chicks

Baby chicks have unique nutritional requirements due to their rapid growth and development. They need a balanced diet that provides them with the following:

• Protein (20-22%): For muscle growth and feather development
• Energy (3,000-3,200 kcal/kg): For activity and metabolism
• Vitamins and Minerals: For overall health and immunity
• Water: For hydration and digestion

First Week of Feeding: Starter Crumbles

During the first week of life, baby chicks should be fed a chick starter crumble. This feed is specially formulated to meet their high protein and energy requirements. Starter crumbles typically contain:

• 20-22% Protein
• 3,000-3,200 kcal/kg Energy
• Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Feeding Schedule:

• Day 1: Offer chick starter crumble ad libitum (as much as they want to eat)
• Days 2-7: Continue offering chick starter crumble ad libitum

Weeks 2-8: Grower Mash

Once chicks reach 2 weeks of age, they can gradually transition to a grower mash. Grower mash is a lower-protein feed that is still designed to support their growth and development. It typically contains:

• 16-18% Protein
• 2,900-3,100 kcal/kg Energy
• Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Feeding Schedule:

• Week 2: Gradually mix grower mash with chick starter crumble (25% mash, 75% crumble)
• Week 3-4: Increase grower mash to 50% of the diet
• Weeks 5-8: Continue offering grower mash ad libitum

Weeks 9-16: Pullet/Cockerel Feed

At 9 weeks of age, pullets (female chicks) and cockerels (male chicks) should be separated and fed different feeds.

Pullet feed:

• 16-18% Protein
• Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Cockerel feed:

• 14-16% Protein
• Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Feeding Schedule:

• Weeks 9-16: Offer pullet or cockerel feed ad libitum

Grit and Oyster Shells

In addition to their regular feed, baby chicks also need access to grit and oyster shells.

• Grit: Helps crush and grind food in their gizzard for proper digestion
• Oyster shells: Provide calcium for strong bones and eggshells (for pullets only)

Vitamins and Supplements

In some cases, chicks may need additional vitamins or supplements to ensure optimal health. These may include:

• Electrolytes: For hydration and electrolyte balance
• Probiotics: For digestive health
• Vitamins A, D3, and E: For immune function and bone development

What Not to Feed Baby Chicks

There are certain foods that should never be fed to baby chicks, as they can be harmful or even fatal. These include:

• Chocolate: Contains theobromine, which is toxic to poultry
• Avocado: Contains persin, which is toxic to poultry
• Citrus fruits: Can cause crop burns
• Moldy or spoiled food: Can contain harmful bacteria
• Table scraps: Can be imbalanced and unhealthy for chicks

Feeding Stories and Lessons

Story 1: Sarah, a new chicken owner, bought 10 baby chicks and fed them a combination of chick starter crumble and kitchen scraps. However, after a few weeks, she noticed that her chicks were growing slowly and were not as active as they should be. Upon consulting with a veterinarian, she realized that kitchen scraps were not a balanced diet and contained too much fat and salt.

Lesson: It's important to feed baby chicks a balanced diet that is specifically formulated for their nutritional needs.

Story 2: John, an experienced poultry farmer, always offered his baby chicks access to grit and oyster shells. He noticed that his chicks had strong bones and excellent egg production compared to flocks that did not receive grit and oyster shells.

Lesson: Providing baby chicks with grit and oyster shells is essential for their digestive health and bone development.

Story 3: Mary, a backyard chicken enthusiast, mixed vitamins and electrolytes into her chicks' water during the first few days of life. As a result, her chicks had a strong immune system and were less susceptible to disease.

Lesson: Supplementing baby chicks' diets with vitamins and electrolytes can enhance their health and well-being.

Step-by-Step Approach to Feeding Baby Chicks

Step 1: Week 1

• Offer chick starter crumble ad libitum
• Provide access to grit and oyster shells

Step 2: Weeks 2-8

• Gradually transition chicks to grower mash
• Continue offering grit and oyster shells

Step 3: Weeks 9-16

• Separate pullets and cockerels
• Feed pullets pullet feed and cockerels cockerel feed
• Continue offering grit and oyster shells

Step 4: Beyond 16 Weeks

• Switch pullets to layer feed
• Continue offering cockerel feed
• Monitor feed intake and adjust as needed

Pros and Cons of Different Feed Types

Chick Starter Crumble

Pros:

• High protein and energy for rapid growth
• Formulated with essential vitamins and minerals

Cons:

• Can be expensive
• Can encourage overweight and obesity if fed too long

Grower Mash

Pros:

• Lower protein for gradual growth
• Still contains essential vitamins and minerals

Cons:

• Not as readily available as chick starter crumble
• Can be more difficult for chicks to digest than crumbles

Pullet/Cockerel Feed

Pros:

• Tailored to the specific nutritional needs of pullets and cockerels

Cons:

• Can be more expensive than grower mash
• Requires separate feeding for pullets and cockerels

Call to Action

Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy and productive flock. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can provide your baby chicks with the nutrients they need to thrive. Remember to offer a balanced diet, provide access to grit and oyster shells, and monitor their feed intake regularly. With the right care and attention, your baby chicks will grow into healthy and happy adult chickens.