From newly hatched to four months, what your chicks need

Sarah Kearney BSc (Hons), PGCert, Head of Equine and Smallholder Nutrition at Allen & Page looks at those vital early weeks of a chicken's life

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FEEDING YOUNG CHICKS

During their 21-day incubation period, developing chicks rely on the yolk inside the egg to provide all the nutrition they need. After hatching, chicks have enough reserves to get them through their first 24 hours. However, it is important to introduce food and water as soon as possible on their first day to meet their nutritional needs from the very start.

Chick Crumbs, such as the Smallholder Range Baby Chick Crumbs, are the choice until six weeks old. These crumbs should be made available on a free-access basis, ideally using a chick feeder designed to prevent chicks from entering the feeder and minimize feed wastage. Spoilage can happen when chicks get into the feed with soiled feet or when the warmth inside the brooder denatures important nutrients in the feed. To maintain the feed's nutritional integrity, it's best not to provide large quantities at once, but instead, regularly top up the feeder throughout the day to keep the feed fresh.

For chicks hatched by a broody hen, they will naturally learn to feed and drink by following her lead. However, chicks incubated artificially must rely on their instincts to find food and water. To encourage them, tap the feeder with a finger to simulate the pecking of a mother hen. If purchasing chicks, it's wise to ask the breeder for some of the feed the chicks have been eating, then gradually transition them to a new brand to avoid digestive upset.

ESSENTIAL NUTRITION