How to Transition Your Chickens to New Food

Published On: January 30, 2025

How to Transition Your Chickens to New Food

Switching your flock to a new diet, whether it’s transitioning chicks to layer feed or introducing a different brand, requires careful planning to avoid digestive issues and picky-eating problems. This guide covers everything you need to know for a successful transition, including tips for dealing with finicky chickens and ensuring they get proper nutrition.

Step-by-Step Guide: Transitioning to New Feed

A quick switch can upset your chickens’ digestive system, so gradual transitions are key. Follow this timeline for a smooth transition:

Transition Schedule:

Days 1-3: 90% current feed, 10% new feed
Days 4-6: 75% current feed, 25% new feed
Days 7-9: 50% current feed, 50% new feed
Days 10-12: 25% current feed, 75% new feed
Days 13-14: 10% current feed, 90% new feed
Day 15: 100% new feed

Tip: Add a few treats like Grubblies (black soldier fly grubs) to make the new feed more appealing.

Why Gradual Transitions Are Important

Even if your chickens seem eager to eat anything, their digestive systems need time to adjust. Feeds differ in composition (e.g., protein, fat, and fiber levels), and sudden changes can cause:

Digestive upset (loose or abnormal droppings)
Reduced appetite
Behavioral changes due to the disruption of routine

Transitioning slowly allows their digestive systems to adapt and prevents them from rejecting the new feed altogether.

Evaluating Your Chickens’ Diet

If your flock becomes picky, it’s time to assess their current diet:

Quality: Are you providing a nutritionally complete feed designed for their life stage?
Variety: Do they have access to snacks like insects, leafy greens, and other foraged foods?
Feed type: Are you feeding pellets, crumbles, mash, or fermented feed?
Freshness: Is the feed stale or improperly stored? Stale feed loses nutritional value and flavor, making it less appetizing.

Storage Tip: Keep feed in an airtight container in a cool, dry location to preserve freshness.

Why Some Chickens Are Picky

Chickens, like kids, don’t always pick the healthiest option. Some of the main reasons they become picky include:

Too Many Treats or Scratch: Overfeeding treats or scratch grains can lead chickens to ignore their nutritionally balanced feed.
Sudden Changes: Chickens thrive on routine, and changes in feeding schedules or new foods can cause temporary pickiness.
Social Influence: If the top hens in the pecking order avoid new food, the rest of the flock may follow suit.
Stale or Spoiled Feed: If feed smells off or has lost its freshness, chickens may refuse to eat it.

Signs of Picky Eating & Its Impact

Signs of Picky Eating:

Selectively eating only certain parts of their feed
Leaving grains or pellets behind
Ignoring new foods or snacks

Potential Issues:

Nutritional Deficiencies: A balanced diet is crucial for healthy egg production and overall well-being. If chickens skip parts of their feed, they miss essential nutrients.
Wasted Feed: If they’re leaving food uneaten, you’re wasting money and creating unnecessary waste.
Harder to Spot Health Problems: Pickiness can mask more serious issues like crop impaction or illness.

How to Encourage Picky Chickens to Eat

Mix New Feed with Favorites: Gradually introduce new feed by mixing it with their current feed or favorite snacks.
Use Familiar Feeders: Place the new food in a feeder or bowl they’re used to. Familiarity helps reduce hesitation.
Let Curious Chickens Lead: Chickens are influenced by their flock-mates. Once the more adventurous eaters start enjoying the new food, the rest will likely follow.
Turn Mealtime into Fun: Try enrichment games like scattering food or bobbing for treats in water.

Handling Sudden Pickiness

If your chickens suddenly refuse their usual food, consider these factors:

Freshness: Check if the feed has gone stale or is contaminated.
Feeding Routine: Have you recently changed their feeding schedule or introduced too many treats?
Environment: Stress from weather changes, new coop mates, or predators can temporarily affect appetite.

Solution: Return to a consistent routine, limit treats, and gradually reintroduce the regular feed.

Snack Ideas to Encourage New Foods

Adding variety to their diet can help picky eaters be more open to new foods. Try these Grubbly-based snacks:

Mix Grubblies with Scratch: The combination of protein and carbs is irresistible.
Scrambled Eggs with Grubblies: Extra protein helps with feather growth and egg production.
Grubblies on Fruit: Sprinkle them on watermelon, berries, or other favorite fruits.
Toss Grubblies into Regular Feed: Add a handful to their feed to make it more enticing.

Monitoring Your Flock During Transitions

Observation is key to ensuring your flock stays healthy during feed transitions. Monitor:

Eating habits: Are they finishing their feed or leaving certain parts uneaten?
Poop: Abnormal droppings could indicate digestive issues.
Egg production: Changes in egg quality may signal dietary imbalances.
Weight: Monitor for any signs of weight loss or gain.

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Cause	Solution
Refusal to eat new feed	Sudden change or unfamiliar food	Follow gradual transition schedule
Selective eating (picking)	Too many treats or scratch in diet	Reduce treats and provide balanced feed only
Stale or spoiled feed	Improper storage	Store feed in airtight, moisture-proof bins
Soft eggs or shell problems	Calcium deficiency or poor nutrition	Provide calcium supplements like crushed eggshells or Grubblies (rich in calcium)

FAQ’s

Q1: How long does it take to transition chickens to new feed?

It typically takes about two weeks to transition chickens to a new feed. Follow a gradual plan to mix the old and new feeds to avoid digestive issues.