What And How To Feed Hens

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Novice poultry farmers often forget that only balanced feeding will stimulate bird performance. Consider in this article the principles of competent menu design and feeding modes that solve problems with low clutch rates

Laying hens feeding rules

At home, it is easy to adjust the diet and organize proper feeding. What should it be?

1. The composition of the feed should be optimally balanced and varied: compound feed, grain, soft mixtures, vitamin and mineral supplements.

2. Layers are fed twice (morning / evening). When using mixed feed mixtures, vegetables, herbs, and grain should not be excluded. In winter, young animals also need 4 meals a day.

3. Natural additives are prepared independently: a moistened mash of crushed moistened grain, plus table waste.

4. The vitamin mass is vegetable tops, greens. If the bird does not walk outside, then the amount of greenery increases.

5. Overfeeding / underfeeding negatively affects the health of the livestock and wear.

How to feed chickens correctly

You can improve egg production with the help of the quality of the feed. In addition to grass tops and mineral and vitamin supplements, millet, wheat bran, sunflower meal, meal, sprouted or steamed grain should be included in the feed.

In addition to the composition of the menu, it is important to monitor the regime. In the morning, feed is given as early as possible. Breakfast includes crushed grain, boiled potatoes, salted table waste, bone meal. After an evening meal, an hour and a half later, they create rest conditions (turn off the light) so that the bird sleeps with a full goiter.

Calculating the dose for one chicken weighing 2 kg is simple: a day requires 100-125 g. The portion is adjusted according to the weight category of the birds. When feeding with monofeed, the annual ration averages 45 kg. When using the combined menu, you will need 28 kg of compound feed and another 17 kg of grain additive (flour for layers).

Drawing up a chicken menu to increase egg production

To improve digestion and enrichment with fiber, it is imperative to use complementary foods from kitchen waste, vegetable / green mixtures. If the chickens do not walk, then alfalfa, dandelion, tops, nettles, etc. are introduced. Root crops are given only boiled in the form of moistened mash. Grain is the main additive. Since each cereal has its own properties, you should alternate oats, wheat, millet. By the way, the first two species actively affect the productivity of layers.

Chickens who are not outdoors need soft food. These are leftovers from garden and kitchen products that are crushed and mixed with layer flour. The output is a crumbly, loose-moist mass, which chickens really like. It is important to remember that such food spoils quickly, especially in summer. For these purposes, the feed is not prepared in the evening - only in the afternoon or in the morning. When placing in a container, give a volume that is eaten in half an hour.

When using soft food, you need to have wide dishes from which all chickens can peck at the same time. Otherwise, the weak will be pushed away, and they will be deprived of full-value food. With this option, the livestock will be heterogeneous.

How to ensure egg production in winter

Chickens age and season do not affect performance. They need a well-maintained clean chicken coop and a balanced diet. How can this be achieved?

1. Daylight hours in winter should be extended to 14-15 hours.

2. During the moulting period, more vitamins and minerals are introduced into the feed. This contributes to increased activity, weight gain and activation of the ability to lay eggs in the required volume.

3. In winter, you need to give sprouted wheat, ground grain and a large dose of boiled vegetables and kitchen waste.

4. The feeding regime is changed - it is brought up to 4 times. Drinking water is warm.

5. Closed space, lack of sun negatively affects the chicken state and egg production. Experienced poultry houses stimulate their pets with increased attention. It is recommended to go into the hen house more often, talk to the bird in a calm voice. This is a proven method that gives results in the form of increased appetite and productivity.

Feed quality, condition of chickens, quality of eggs

Lack of nutrients manifests itself in decreased appetite and egg production, weight loss, and slow growth. The lack of amino acids and hormones causes the development of rickets, abnormal feather formation, and poor quality of eggshells. Poor quality feed characteristics affect the color of the yolk.

Light yolk is an indicator of intense content, if a dark tone or reddish tint appears, then the chickens do not have enough vegetable products, corn, flour from green grass. The color of brown shells is affected by the increased incorporation of carotene.