by Christy Caplan|
September 22, 2019
As a Certified Vet Tech (CVT), I’m trained to care for small animals, chickens included. One question we often get is how to transition animals from one diet to another. Transitioning food can be complicated and pet parents need patience. When switching feed for your chickens, you need to transition it slowly. You may be going from pellets to whole grain feeds or vice versa. It doesn’t matter how similar or different the types of feed are, your chickens will thank you if you do this slowly.
Digestive upset can happen in chickens.
Chickens have well-developed ceca and they are designed to create an ideal environment for the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria to ferment the food.
The plural of the cecum is ceca, which is useful to know because birds have two. The ceca are blind pouches located where the small and large intestines come together. Birds extract a little extra nutrition out of their meal, especially fatty acids, and B vitamins, through the fermentation process that happens in the ceca.
Chickens may do better when it comes to transitioning foods than dogs and cats as a result of this ‘system’. The cecum of a dog or cat is more rudimentary and susceptible to imbalances.
That said, look out for loose stools with your chickens! That will indicate you’re transitioning too quickly.
We interviewed experts at Scratch and Peck Feeds about the best method before we started our transition and here’s what they recommended for the ladies.
What ratio is best to start with when you transition?
Because of the new flavors and textures, start your transition slowly by mixing a 3:1 ratio of your flock’s current feed with the Scratch and Peck feed that is formulated for the age of your chickens.
How much time does the transition take?
Feed transitions can take about a month. Start at the 3:1 ratio and continue transitioning over the next month, each week introducing slightly more Scratch and Peck feeds to the mix and slightly less of the current feed.
What if your birds pick out the ingredients they enjoy the most?
If you notice that your birds are picking out their favorite ingredients and leaving the rest untouched, mix their feed with a little water to create an oatmeal texture. That will help combine the ingredients more so they can’t pick and choose
My birds absolutely pick out what they like and leave the rest. Sometimes I end up tossing feed at the bottom of the bowls. The above tip about adding a little water has worked well.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!
Disclaimer: This is sponsored. We received product and compensation in exchange for an honest review. I only share information about products that I believe in and already fit into our doggie & chicken lifestyle and routine.
Medical Disclaimer: I’m not a Vet so please check with your Vet or holistic vet when you start transitioning feed for any small animal.
