Chickens - the most common type of bird that people grow in their own courtyard. This is due to the relatively low laboriousness of the growing process, unlike other farm animals, as well as the fairly rapid growth of the bird.
Chicken meat is in great demand due to its low fat content. But in order to achieve the optimal ratio of meat and fat in chicken, you must still make an effort.
The main focus in growing chickens should be on the feeding process. Feed daily chickens need 5 times per day, as you grow, reducing the number of feedings.
To achieve high results, the chicken must receive a certain set of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. All ingredients are collected in the required proportions in the feed. It is a dry bulk mixture consisting of crushed grain, feed additives, vitamins and minerals.
Chickens that feed on feed quickly gain weight. In addition, it is an economical type of feed. Waste when using compound feed is not formed, it is not required to be cleaned from feeders.
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Varieties of homemade feed for broilers
There are the following types of feed:
- for layers;
- for broilers;
- for roosters egg crosses;
- for roosters meat crosses.
Compound feed for layers increases egg production in chickens, improves the nutritional quality of eggs, strengthens the shell.
The use of feed for broilers reduces the time of growing birds, forms the optimal ratio of meat and fat in the carcass.
Feed for breeding roosters is aimed at increasing productivity and getting more healthy offspring.
In addition, it is divided into:
- for chickens;
- for young animals;
- for adult chicken.
This is because at each stage of the chicken’s life, it requires a certain set of nutrientswhich is contained in the feed.
Compound feed is distinguished not only by its composition, but also by its form. It is made of two types:
- powdery;
- granulated.
Powder is preferable to use for feeding chicks.
Tips for feeding birds at home
Feed is the main component of success in the poultry industry. Important to remember:
- Bird can not be fed spoiled food, fermented porridge. The remains of feed from the feeder should be periodically removed, otherwise it will cause fermentation in the intestines of the chicken and possibly even the death of the bird.
- Chickens need a variety of food. It is unacceptable to use only one kind of grain.as the bird will not receive all set of the proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals necessary for health and good growth.
- It is not advisable to feed the whole grain chickenespecially sunflower seeds. Uncrushed grain is absorbed longer, some nutrients in unchanged form are excreted from the body. The skins of the seeds are a coarse substance and clog the chicken intestines.
Growing broilers for meat is quite a popular activity in the countryside. The maximum fattening period for a broiler is 3 months.
The life of a chicken is conventionally divided into three stages:
- Chick.
- Youngsters
- Adult bird
Matching the age of the birds
At each stage of growth, the broiler should be fed with the appropriate type of feed. The following types of feed are distinguished:
- Start.
- Growth.
- The finish.
Chick Feed Starter
Some experts recommend the first stage of the life of the chicken divided into two phases. And that means, and use a different feed. For the period of life From 1 to 5 days it is recommended to feed broiler feed Prestart.
It consists of pro - and prebiotics. They increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestine. In this regard, improved digestion and overall health of the body of the bird.
Compound feed "Prestart" contains:
- vitamins B1, B2, B3, B4 B5, B6, B12, D3, A;
- trace elements zinc, iodine, iron, sodium, manganese, calcium, phosphorus;
- amino acids lysine, threonine, methionine.
- From 6 to 15 days of life, chickens are recommended to be fed with Start feed.
- It includes:
- corn
- barley
- wheat
- meat and bone meal or fish meal
- cake soybean and sunflower
- chalk feed
- salt
- vitamin and mineral complex.
The first stage of broiler fattening is very important, as it lays the foundation for the development of chicken. At this age, all organs and systems of a bird are formed. Inclusion of prebiotics in feed in the early stages of chicken life guarantees him a well-functioning system of digestion.
This means that all nutrients will be well absorbed, which will lead to rapid weight gain. In addition, the bird will have healthy joints and strong bones, which is especially important for broilers because of their heavy weight.
Feed Growth for young
From 16 to 30 days of life, Growth is applied to feeding the broiler. Its composition is balanced in such a way as to accelerate growth, increase the weight of the bird in a shorter time.
Feed for young stock is made from the following ingredients:
- Corn
- Wheat
- Barley
- Sunflower cake
- Fish or meat and bone meal
- Grass meal
- Feed Yeast
- Salt
- a piece of chalk
- Amino Acids
- Trace elements
- Macronutrients
- Enzymes
- Vitamins
It is important to feed the bird enough, then it will be healthyand give a good weight gain. During this period, chicks await molting, so they need a strong diet.
Finish for fattening mature broilers
From 31 days of life and until slaughter, broilers are fed with Finish compound feed. The task of this stage is to balance the ratio of meat and fat, maximizing weight.
The composition of the feed includes:
- Corn
- Barley
- Wheat
- Peas
- Sunflower meal
- Meat and bone meal or fish meal
- Fish fat
- Amino Acids
- Vitamins
The use of compound feed for growing broilers is the key to accelerated growth, poultry health, and therefore, obtaining tasty meat. Feed can be easily purchased in the store. But here you need to keep in mind that Not all manufacturers use natural ingredients, often replacing them with synthetic ones.
The bird can reluctantly use artificial additives, and therefore, will receive less nutrients. This will affect the time of broiler fattening and its health.
The second drawback is the high cost.
How to make the best mix with your own hands
Independently to make compound feed much cheaper. In addition, having prepared your feed, one hundred percent confidence in its quality and natural ingredients appears.
To make a mix with your own hands you need a grain grinder and a mixing tank.
Recipe homemade feed Start
- 48% corn;
- 18% of sunflower meal;
- 14% wheat;
- 6% meat or bone meal or fish meal;
- 3% herbal flour;
- 1% feed fat (can be replaced with fish oil)
- 0.1% common salt;
- 10% BVMK (protein-vitamin-mineral concentrate)
Recipe number 2:
- 47% corn;
- 19% sunflower meal;
- 12% wheat;
- 7% meat or bone meal or fish meal;
- 2% herbal flour;
- 2% dry;
- 1% feed fat;
- 0.1% common salt;
- 10% BVMK.
Grain is passed through a crusher, the rest of the ingredients are added (all of them are in the form of bulk powder). Then the starting homemade mix must be thoroughly mixed. This is a very important condition for good feed.
The composition of the mixture Growth
- 48% corn;
- 18% meal or meal of sunflower;
- 10% wheat;
- 7% meat or bone meal or fish meal;
- 2% feed yeast;
- 2% herbal flour;
- 1% feed fat;
- 1% dry;
- 0.1% common salt;
- 10% BVMK10%.
Recipe number 2:
- 48% corn;
- 15% meal or meal of sunflower;
- 8% wheat;
- 7% meat or bone meal or fish meal;
- 6% barley;
- 2% feed yeast;
- 3% herbal flour;
- 1% feed fat;
- 1% chalk;
- 0.1% common salt;
- 10% BVMK10%.
Feed Ratio - Blend Finish
- 45% corn;
- 19% meal or meal of sunflower;
- 13% wheat;
- 4% pea or soybean;
- 3% feed yeast;
- 3% feed fat;
- 2% herbal flour;
- 1% chalk;
- 0.1% common salt;
- 10% BVMK10%.
At the final stage of broiler fattening the composition of the mash can not include meat and bone meal and fish meal - a source of protein of animal origin, necessary for the growth of the organism.
Of course, domestic feed will not meet the established state standards, but the naturalness of the ingredients compensates for this defect.