Feed recommendations vary with the birds’ age and intended use. Feeding is the greatest cost when raising chickens. However, always provide your birds with quality, commercially prepared feeds. It is not economical to feed an unbalanced diet.

Rations formulated for birds’ specific ages are commercially available. Multipurpose birds would require starter rations from day 1 until 6 weeks of age. Expect to use at least 4 pounds of starter per bird. Between 6 and 18 weeks, feed the birds a commercial grower ration. Many feed stores carry a combination starter/grower ration that will work well for both stages of growth. At 18 weeks, start the birds on a layer ration to prepare them for egg production. Do not feed layer rations to young birds or starter/grower rations to birds producing eggs. Problems associated with inadequate nutrition can occur rapidly in the growing bird and are often irreversible. What you think you are saving in feed may cost you in birds.

See Table on Feeds from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.

Whenever you are purchasing feed, it is important to know the kind of birds you are feeding, age of birds, and purpose you intend to raise them for. These answers will help determine the appropriate feed for your flock.

Feed for all meat-type birds will be pelleted. Doing so results in an improvement in feed efficiency which equates to about 2 lb. more meat for every 100 lbs. of feed according to research. Diets for starting broilers would be a “crumble” which is just the pellets passing through a roller mill. Feed for egg-laying birds most often comes as a mash though crumbled diets can be used to encourage feed intake during hotter months.

Scratch feed should not be considered a complete feed for any type of bird. It does not have a complete balance of any of the nutrients a chicken need. It should be used as an occasional treat for the birds. Do not mix with a complete formulated diet. Doing so will cause a nutrient imbalance in the total diet of the birds. It will increase calories but reduces vitamins, protein, and mineral content.

Do not overlook water as an important nutrient. A constant supply of clean, fresh water is essential for poultry health. Twenty hens can consume about a gallon of water each day in cool weather. Consumption will increase greatly during hot weather.

Animal feed may be the major expense in poultry production but providing your flock with a well-balanced diet and plenty of cool, clean water gives the birds a chance to produce fresh eggs or nutritious meat at their best.

The most common mistake in feeding poultry can be simple as feeding the wrong feed. For example, calcium levels in a layer feed will be upwards of 4%, which if fed to a young broiler can lead to leg issues and even death. Also, growing broilers require as much as 23% protein, whereas laying hens and finishing broilers may only need 17-18%.

Typical Nutrition Concentrations for Various Types of Poultry

Note: Scratch feed should never be fed as a complete feed for any type of bird.

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Matt Lee, Interim LSU Vice President for Agriculture
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station
Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service

LSU College of Agriculture
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