Feed

I won't even begin to tell you what brand is good and what to stay away from. I have Agway, Blue Seal, Dumor and Nutrena brands available near me. Everyone has different brands that are offered in their area or favorite store. Ask ten different breeders and you will get ten different answers on what feed brand is best. What is the same is the nutritional needs of the waterfowl or poultry you raise. Each stage from hatch to adult requires different nutritional needs. The chart below is the basic requirements I use for feeding my bantam ducks and heavy breed layer chickens for each stage.

On the left is millet, to the right is whole oats.

*****Important, provide fresh clean drinking water at all times. Ducks cannot chew and need water to prevent choking while eating. Birds raised off the ground should also be provided with grit to help with digestion. Check the dates on the feed bags, store feed in a container such as a tote that will keep insects and rodents out of it and store the feed in a cool, dry place. Do not use feed that has mold or insects in it. Uneaten feed that has been setting out should be discarded if there is any doubt as to the quality or condition of the feed.

~Waterfowl~

Hatch to 3 weeks	Starter/Grower non-medicated crumbs 18 to 20% protein......between second and third week I will begin to mix in grower pellets. Greens in the form of chopped up grass and dandolion leaves chopped up are also added.
3 weeks +	Grower/Maintenance pellets 13 to 15% protein. Also whole oats and wheat are mixed in, they provide both vitamins E & B. Chopped up leafy greens.......always good. I pick up some white millet to throw in their pond as a treat.
Breeding season	Breeder pellets around 16%+ protein. Whole oats mixed in and oyster shell is provided for calcium needed in egg production. Oyster shell is taken away after the last eggs are laid. Chopped up leafy greens.....always good.

~Chickens (Layers)~

Hatch to 8 weeks	Medicated chick starter crumbs 18 to 20% protein
8 to 20 weeks	Grower/Developer pellets 13 to 15% protein. Free choice grit.
18/20 weeks + (begin laying)	Layer pellets around 16% protein. Free choice grit and oyster shell.

Like all farm animals, chickens need a constant supply of fresh clean water. Check the dates on the feed bags, store feed in a container such as a tote that will keep insects and rodents out of it and store the feed in a cool, dry place. Do not use feed that has mold or insects in it. Uneaten feed that has been setting out should be discarded if there is any doubt as to the quality or condition of the feed. Keep both drinking and feed dishes clean. Free range chickens will eat almost anything, scratch grains and corn are used but layer hens can have a decreased egg production if they get too fat. Most layer chickens will stop production of eggs during their molt, (the loss of older feathers) this can take two to three months. Some layers will also decrease production as the days get shorter, the reason many use artificial light. Layer hens need about 14 hours of light.