The first feeding of chicks is called "open feeding". The open feeding feed can be crushed corn , millet or compound feed . When the chicks grow a little bigger, they can be fed energy feed , protein feed , and some green vegetables, small insects, corn kernels, etc.
What should we feed the chicks?
1. Energy feed
Energy feeds include corn, brown rice, paddy rice, sorghum, wheat bran , wheat middlings, whole rice bran, defatted rice bran, wheat, and oils.
2. Protein feed
Protein feeds include extruded soybeans, soybean meal , soybean cake, cottonseed meal, peanut meal , rapeseed meal, sesame meal, sunflower meal, corn gluten meal, corn germ meal, whole fish meal, offal fish meal, hydrolyzed feather meal, meat meal, and meat and bone meal, etc.
3. Other foods
Chicks prefer to eat green vegetables, scallions, corn kernels, millet, and coarse yellow flour. For the first few days, you can feed them semi-cooked millet rice mixed with egg yolk. After a few days, you can feed them some commercial feed, and occasionally some rice, grains, rice bran, and leftovers.
How to feed and manage chicks?
1. Start feeding
The first feeding of chicks is called "initial feeding." Generally speaking, the digestive organs of newly hatched chicks do not fully develop their digestive function until 36 hours after hatching. Feeding too early is harmful to the digestive organs and detrimental to their future growth and development. Feeding too late will deplete the chicks' energy, making them weak and affecting their future growth and survival. The ideal time for initial feeding is between 24 and 36 hours after hatching. Initial feed can include crushed corn, millet, or formulated feed.
2. Preparation for the start of the meal
Before introducing feeding, lay a shallow dish or plastic sheet on the ground or net, and evenly sprinkle the prepared millet and crushed corn on it to entice the chicks to peck at it. Chicks are very good at imitating; once one chick starts pecking, the entire flock will quickly learn to eat. The lighting should be bright and the room should be quiet when introducing feeding.
3. Feeding frequency
After the chicks are introduced to solid food, they should be fed 6-8 times a day, with each feeding lasting about 15 minutes. The amount of food should be controlled so that 80% of the chicks are about 80% full.
