What is the best way to feed chickens at home so that they lay a lot?

Beginning farmers are often interested in what is the best way to feed chickens. In order for birds to grow and develop normally, they require a specific menu. It should include the optimal amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. A sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals is of no small importance. Thanks to a balanced diet, it is possible to achieve high productivity and avoid the development of various pathologies.

Basic rules for feeding chickens

Laying hens are considered very picky birds. They can feed on weeds, grains, and food waste. However, with such nutrition it will not be possible to achieve good productivity. If chickens do not receive enough nutrients, they will begin to get sick.

In order for birds to feel good, they should be fed grain or mixed feed. Cereals should make up 60% of the total food. The menu should contain plant and animal products that provide sufficient amounts of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. If necessary, vitamin and mineral supplements should be administered.

When choosing cereals, you should give preference to the following products:

1. Wheat – includes vitamins B and E. The product contains vegetable proteins.
2. Wheat bran – its nutritional value is higher than that of whole grains.
3. Corn – contains a lot of carbohydrates. It is recommended to give this product to chickens in crushed form.
4. Oats – this product is recommended to be crushed and steamed. If you feed your birds unshelled oats, there is a risk of esophageal and intestinal irritation.
5. Oat bran can be an excellent grain alternative.
6. Barley – benefits meat birds. It is also permissible to give it to chickens of the meat and egg direction.
7. Rye and millet.
8. Buckwheat makes up a maximum of 10% of the diet.

Even the optimal grain mixtures contain little calcium, proteins, phosphorus and other important elements, so these components must be included in the diet.

The following are useful supplements:

• legumes;
• sunflower seeds;
• flax seeds;
• cakes and meals, including many protein ingredients and fiber.

Birds should definitely be given mineral supplements.These include fine gravel and ash. Shells and salt also contain useful substances.

Types of feed

There are a number of types of chicken feed, which allows poultry farmers to choose the best option:

1. Dry – most often used on large farms and poultry farms. In this case, the process of raising birds is as automated as possible.
2. Wet - owners of small chicken coops prepare special mash for the birds. They improve health and increase productivity.
3. Combined – is the optimal choice. In addition to porridges and mashes, birds receive dry, whole and crushed grains.

Feeding regimen and norms

At home, it is permissible to prepare food for birds yourself. If you make food yourself, there are a number of features to consider.

Cooking rules

To preserve maximum vitamins and minerals in the feed, it is recommended to follow the preparation rules. In this case, you should focus on the following:

1. Boil potatoes and drain water. This will help get rid of harmful substances. Mash the vegetable thoroughly and mix it with bone meal.
2. Root vegetables can be used fresh. Chickens should be given radishes and beets. Carrots also benefit them. Vegetables should be grated and put into the mash.
3. Cook leftover meat and fish. They should be given to birds crushed. The mixture can be prepared in advance. To do this, food should be mixed with whey and kept for 2 weeks. The temperature should be +20 degrees.
4. It is recommended to crush cereals. In winter, it is worth giving chickens sprouted grains. They contain many valuable substances and vitamins.
5. It is recommended to chop the legumes well and then steam them. This will help preserve the maximum proteins that birds require.
6. Fruits, vegetables and leftover plant food should be thoroughly chopped.It is recommended to steam solid foods. It is enough to pour boiling water over the nettle.

Amount of feed per day

The intake of certain components differs depending on the breed. This affects the productivity of chickens. In this case, there are approximate daily volumes:

• 70-100 grams of carrots, potatoes and other vegetables;
• 30-40 grams of greens;
• 40-60 grams of wheat;
• 20-40 grams of corn;
• 1 gram of yeast;
• 15-20 grams of other cereals;
• 10 grams of fish and meat and bone meal;
• 1 gram of salt;
• 15-20 grams of meal;
• 10-15 grams of chalk and shells.

The nutritional standards of birds depend on the stages of development and the needs of the flock - they are allowed to be slightly changed.

How to calculate portions depending on the weight of the chicken

The proportions of feed components are determined by the weight of the bird. Birds require 125 grams of food. This amount is enough for a bird weighing 1.5 kilograms, which lays a maximum of 100 eggs per year.

As the bird's weight increases, it is recommended to increase the portion by 15 grams per 250 grams of weight. It is recommended to round parameters.

The amount of food depends on the productivity of the hen. If it exceeds 100 eggs per year, for every next 30 eggs the feed dosage is increased by 100 grams.

What to feed laying hens

A complete diet necessarily contains valuable substances. Birds require an optimal amount of protein products, fats and carbohydrates.

Mineral feed

A chicken needs a lot of minerals per day. Laying hens need calcium, sodium, and iron. They need chlorine and phosphorus. All these elements maintain the strength of the shell.

Mineral foods include chalk, salt, and shells. It is also recommended to give chickens limestone and feed phosphates. All these products must be thoroughly crushed. Mineral components should be combined with grain or placed in a wet mixture.

Protein

Protein is considered the basis of the body. A lot of proteins enter the body if chickens eat plant and animal foods. Yeast, cake, and meal are considered sources of protein. This component is also present in legumes and nettle flour. You can get animal proteins from cottage cheese and milk. The source of this substance is considered to be fish and meat and bone meal. Experts do not recommend using a lot of fishmeal. It will have a bad effect on the taste of the eggs.

Vitamin

The daily menu of chickens should include vitamins. They strengthen the immune system and protect birds from diseases. In summer, fresh greens are considered a source of vitamins. In winter, chickens receive valuable nutrients from dry hay. Chickens should also be given tops, grass meal, and chopped carrots.

Rich in carbohydrates

This group of feeds includes grains and vegetables. Healthy grain crops include corn, oats, and barley. Chickens also require wheat and millet. Farmers advise germinating some cereals. This helps increase the amount of vitamin E.

Vegetables

Birds require potatoes from vegetables. They also have a need for root vegetables. Melon plants are a real delicacy for birds. To replenish your carbohydrate supply, you should use bran. They are placed in ready-made feed.

What to feed chickens for better egg production?

In order for birds to lay eggs well and produce large eggs, they are advised to choose the right diet. This should be done taking into account the seasonal factor. It is recommended for birds to harvest nettles for the winter. It is also useful to make pine flour. Procurement of various root crops is of no small importance. Birds should have a lot of cabbage on their menu.

If the temperature is below -20 degrees, it is recommended to feed the birds 2 times.At low levels, the number of meals is increased to 3.

In the morning they use soft food. It should be warm. Porridge is perfect. It is also acceptable to give mash. You need to add cottage cheese to it. Also in the morning, chickens should be given chalk, grass flour, and vitamin and mineral complexes. In the morning, the bird should receive boiled vegetables. Shredded cabbage is also offered to chickens. Cereals are given to the bird in the evening - before bedtime. The grains can easily be stored until the morning. To increase productivity, it is recommended to feed chickens maggots. Earthworms are also suitable.

The winter menu of birds is presented in the table:

The bird should be given potatoes every day. This vegetable contains a lot of starch, which provides birds with energy and helps them maintain optimal body temperature parameters.

In summer, the bird does not need to spend a lot of energy on heating. Therefore, the calorie content of the diet is significantly reduced. In summer, the diet includes the following:

• vegetable mash;
• yeast;
• bone flour;
• cereals;
• flour mixture;
• fish fat.

In summer, the bird is able to obtain some of the nutrients on its own. This is due to the fact that she can be outside.

What should you not feed birds?

Chickens are prohibited from feeding a number of foods because they can cause disease. These foods include the following:

• chicken meat;
• sprouted potatoes;
• potato broth;
• orange peel;
• moldy bread;
• quicklime;
• green potatoes;
• spoiled food.

If these recommendations are violated, there is a high probability of developing various pathologies in birds.

Possible reasons for low productivity

Strict adherence to bird nutrition recommendations does not exclude problems, in particular a drop in productivity. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon:

1. Shedding. The physiological period of plumage loss is accompanied by a large consumption of nutrients. They are required to renew the plumage of birds. This is why birds have too little strength left to lay eggs. During this period, birds have an increased need for valuable substances. Therefore, experts advise increasing the amount of animal food in the bird menu. They should be given a lot of protein foods.
2. Incorrect lighting. Decreasing day length is a common cause of problems.
3. Frequent change of nest location.
4. Sudden temperature fluctuations.
5. Unbalanced diet.
6. Overfeeding.
7. Lack of water or insufficiently frequent water changes.
8. Diseases.
9. Stress factors.

Chicken nutrition is of great importance. In order for birds to develop normally and be highly productive, their diet must be as balanced as possible.