Chicken Feed

Q. How often and how much should I feed my chickens each day?

A. Chickens should always have food available to them and they will eat what they require. If you're trying to minimize feed waste and don't want to put too much food that gets fouled then one idea is to put in a measured amount and then come back after one day and measure what's left. If you put 2kg and 1kg is left, then 1kg of feed is required per day.

I also managed to find this bit of information online.  "A well-known ballpark figure for estimating purpose is 1/4 pound (114 grams) of feed per chicken per day"

Q. Hi, I'm after a chicken feed which is high in omega 3, something with flax seed. Do you have anything like that?

A. The best feed for high omega 3 is Omega Show Poultry Layer Pellets 15kg which is high in omega 3,6 and 9.

Or another option is to supplement your hen's diet with flax/linseed seed which we also sell.

Q. I'm feeding my poultry organic layer pellets and kitchen scraps. Do I still need to feed them shell grit?

A.  Chickens that are fed processed food like layer pellets do not need to be fed shell grit. Shell grit is only required for birds that are fed grains of other hard substances. The grit is needed here to help grind up the grains and make it digestible. Also, birds that free range usually pick up the natural grit they need. However, it's still suggested to give your hens some shell grit occasionally just to be on the safe side and for some variety.

Q:  Which poultry feed should I buy for my laying hens?

A. Firstly, you need to find out what form of food your poultry will eat. Most chickens will eat any form or some will only eat certain form types like layer pellets, layer mash, layer crumble or grain mix. As a general rule its best to go with the form your poultry are used to just in-case they reject an unfamiliar form. Pellets, mash and crumble are homogeneous so hens can't pick and choose which part of the food they want. This helps provide more consistent nutrition. Another consideration is protein level. For laying hens its best to go with a higher protein feed. The typical layer feed has a protein level of 14 to 15% with high protein feeds ranging from 16 to 18%. There are many great foods to choose from but here are some suggested products for each form type.

Q. Hi I have both chickens and game birds (Guinea fowl) together. What’s the best feed for them as they share?

A. Since your chickens and Guinea fowl share the same space, you'll want a food that meets the nutritional needs of both species. A good option is a high-protein poultry feed, such as a 20-24% game bird or turkey starter/grower feed. Guinea fowl require more protein than chickens, so a standard chicken layer food (typically 16-18% protein) may not be enough for them.

Here are some feeding tips:

Starter/Grower Feed: Use a 24-28% protein feed for keets (baby Guinea fowl) and chicks until about 6-8 weeks of age.

Grower Feed: After 8 weeks, a 20-24% protein feed works well for both.

Layer Feed (if you have hens laying eggs): If you have laying hens, you can mix a 16-18% protein layer food with a higher protein grower food to balance their needs. Provide free-choice oyster shells for extra calcium for the hens.

Scratch Grains as a Treat: You can offer some scratch grains, but in moderation since Guinea fowl thrive on higher protein.

If you free-range your birds, they'll also supplement their diet by foraging for bugs and greens.