Feeding baby chicks properly is key to their healthy growth and development. From teaching them where to find food to knowing when to switch to a layer feed, these tips will help ensure your chicks thrive from day one. Let’s explore everything you need to know to give your chicks the best start possible.
1. Setting Up the Right Feeding Environment
The location of the feeder in your chicks’ brooder can have a big impact on their feeding habits. For the first day, place the feeder close to the heat source, as young chicks may be hesitant to venture far from warmth.
Once they’ve adjusted to their surroundings (after about a day), move the feeder closer to the water source but away from the heat. This encourages chicks to leave the heat zone periodically, which helps with their growth and proper temperature regulation.
Make sure the feeder is designed for chicks—it should be easy to access and keep the food clean and dry. Before bringing home your chicks, have the brooder setup ready, including food, water, and warmth.
2. Teaching Chicks to Find and Eat Their Food
Chicks need to be shown where to find their food, especially if they are newly hatched. Here’s how to do it:
- For newly hatched chicks: Sprinkle some feed around the feeder and gently place the chicks near it. Use your finger to mimic a pecking motion to show them what to do. Chicks are naturally curious and will quickly learn that the feed is their food source.
- For older chicks: If you’ve brought home chicks from a farm store or breeder, they may already know what food is, but you’ll need to show them where the new feeder is located. If the feed looks different from what they’ve had before, spend a few moments introducing them to it using the same pecking trick.
This early teaching ensures that chicks know what to eat and where to find it, laying the foundation for healthy eating habits.
3. Free-Choice Feeding: Letting Chicks Eat Anytime
Chicks naturally eat small meals throughout the day, so they should always have access to food. This is called free-choice feeding, meaning the chicks can eat whenever they feel hungry. Unlike other baby animals, chicks don’t need a strict feeding schedule.
As they grow, monitor the placement and height of the feeder. Ideally, the feeder should be at the height of the chicks’ backs to reduce waste from “beaking out,” the behavior where chicks sort through their food. Adjust the feeder height weekly to match their growth and switch to a larger feeder if they outgrow their current one.
4. Switching from Starter Grower Feed to Layer Feed
The transition from chick starter feed to layer feed is crucial as your chicks grow. Here’s what to know:
- When to switch: Around 18-20 weeks, as pullets (young female chickens) approach reproductive age.
- Why switch: Layer feed contains higher calcium levels to support eggshell formation and the overall health of laying hens.
- How to switch: Gradually mix the layer feed with the starter grower feed over 1-2 weeks. Start with a small amount of layer feed and slowly increase the ratio to avoid digestive issues.
Once the switch is complete, continue free-choice feeding with constant access to clean water.
What About Roosters?
Although roosters don’t lay eggs, they can eat layer feed along with the hens. Just avoid giving them extra calcium supplements, as they don’t need the added calcium.
5. Adding Supplements and Snacks
Calcium for Layers
Once your pullets start laying eggs, they’ll need extra calcium. In addition to the calcium found in layer feed, provide free-choice calcium supplements like crushed oyster shells. This allows each bird to consume the amount of calcium they need.
Protein-Packed Snacks
Chickens love insects, and black soldier fly grubs are a great protein-rich snack. Compared to mealworms, they contain over 50 times more calcium, which helps support strong bones and egg production. You can start introducing small amounts of black soldier fly grubs to chicks when they are just a few days old.
Understanding Grit and Its Role in Digestion
Chicks eating crumbled starter grower feed don’t need grit to digest their food. However, once you introduce snacks like Grubblies or other treats, they’ll need access to grit to help grind and digest the new food.
Types of Grit:
- Chick grit: For chicks aged 0-20 weeks, used when snacks are introduced.
- Layer grit: For chickens 20+ weeks, used once they transition to layer feed and more diverse diets.
Switching Feeds During Molting
After laying begins, there may be times when you need to switch back to a higher-protein feed, such as during molting. Molting occurs when hens shed old feathers and grow new ones, requiring extra protein but less calcium since egg production temporarily stops. Switch back to a starter grower feed gradually, just like when transitioning to layer feed. After molting, switch back to layer feed to support egg production.
Alternatively, you can avoid switching feeds by supplementing their diet with protein-packed black soldier fly grubs during the molt.
Feeding baby chicks involves more than just giving them food—it’s about teaching them where to find it, adjusting their diet as they grow, and introducing supplements to support their development. By providing proper nutrition and making smooth feed transitions, you’ll set your chicks up for long-term health and productivity. Whether you’re raising them for eggs or as pets, a well-fed flock is a happy flock!
FAQ’s
Q1: What is the best food for baby chicks?
The best food for baby chicks is a chick starter feed or a combined starter-grower feed. These feeds are specifically formulated with the right balance of nutrients, including high protein, for proper growth and development.
Q2: When should I switch from chick starter feed to layer feed?
You should start transitioning chicks to layer feed at 18-20 weeks of age, just before they begin laying eggs. The gradual transition helps them adjust to the new nutrient content.
Q3: Do baby chicks need grit?
Chicks eating only starter feed don’t need grit, as the feed is easy to digest. However, if you introduce snacks like insects or grains, you should provide chick grit to aid digestion.
Q4: Why do laying hens need more calcium?
Laying hens require extra calcium to form strong eggshells. Layer feed includes added calcium, and free-choice calcium supplements (like crushed oyster shells) help ensure they get enough.
Q5: Can I give my baby chicks snacks like insects?
Yes, you can give baby chicks snacks like black soldier fly grubs as early as a few days old. The extra protein is beneficial, but introduce snacks in moderation and provide chick grit for digestion.
