Broiler Chickens (meat)

Phase feeding is the most beneficial method for broiler chickens. The diet should be start with a pre-starter, then a grower, then a finisher feed. The type of feed will depend on desired market weight, with continual monitoring of calcium and phosphorus in their diets.

Chick (0-30 days)

Chicks should be kept in a warm, dry environment that is cleaned regularly. They should be fed a fine crumble feed mixture to ensure proper nutrition as they will tend to pick and choose what to eat if fed a mixed-grain feed (mash). Continue to monitor calcium and phosphorus in their diets.

Chicken (30-70 days)

Chickens can be fed a larger crumble from about 3-4 weeks and will continue to grow and grow, spending most of their time foraging for food, cleaning themselves (preening), and perching to sleep. They are typically ready to butcher anywhere from 7 weeks for a producer broiler to 12 weeks for a backyard broiler.

Layer Chickens (eggs)

Chick/growth (0-8 weeks)

Chicks should be kept in a warm, dry environment that is cleaned regularly. They should be fed a fine crumble feed mixture to ensure proper nutrition as they will tend to pick and choose what to eat if fed a mixed-grain feed (mash).

Chicken (8+ weeks)

Chickens can be fed a larger crumble from about 3-4 weeks and will continue to grow and grow, spending most of their time foraging for food, cleaning themselves (preening), and perching to sleep. They will start laying eggs around 8 weeks, depending on the amount of daylight (chickens need lots of sunlight to lay eggs!), and will lay eggs regularly until around 72 weeks.

Once they start laying eggs, they can be feed a layer ration in either a crumble, pellet, or a mash. While egg production will decrease as chickens get older, Chicken continue to lay eggs until its death.

Some chickens are described as multi-purpose and can lay eggs until about a year old when they are then butchered for meat.

Turkey

Phase feeding is the most beneficial method for turkey poults. The diet should be start with a pre-starter, then a grower, then a finisher feed. The type of feed will depend on desired market weight, with larger demands for protein and amino acids.