In order for domestic chickens to remain healthy and lay eggs well, they need a complete and balanced diet. The basis of the diet of birds is cereals. Experienced poultry farmers advise using sprouted grains to feed birds. This product contains many nutrients that are required for the development of chickens. So, how can you germinate grain for chickens yourself?
What are the benefits and harms of sprouted grains?
Sprouting grain increases the nutritional characteristics of the product. Thanks to this procedure, the following results can be achieved:
- soften food and make it easier to digest;
- stimulate bird weight gain;
- improve the quality characteristics of eggs;
- increase egg production parameters;
- strengthen the immune system of birds.
If the dosage is incorrect or there is an excess amount of sprouted grain in the chickens’ diet, there is a risk of various problems occurring. An increased amount of product provokes an oversaturation of the body with minerals - primarily iron. This disrupts the functioning of important organs.
Problems also arise when other important elements are missing from the diet. Even with high nutritional value, sprouted grain is considered a dietary product that is quickly absorbed and does not lead to full saturation. Therefore, the body of birds can be weakened due to a deficiency of carbohydrates.
In the long term, excessive consumption of the product can cause digestive disorders in birds.
What grain is best for chickens to sprout?
Sprouted grains can be used to prepare special mixtures. They are used whole or crushed. Wheat, oats, and millet are used for this. You can also give chickens sunflower, barley, corn, and buckwheat.
The introduction of grains into the diet of chickens has a beneficial effect on the parameters of their egg production, supplying the body with valuable substances and microelements. Each crop has certain advantages:
- Sunflower – provides birds with energy and helps increase egg production parameters. Experienced experts advise using these grains in winter. They provide a strengthening of the immune system.
- Barley is primarily used to feed meat breeds of chickens.The product can be used all year round. It is worth considering that the grains have sharp tips, which can cause damage to the digestive organs. Therefore, barley is mixed with other feeds.
- Millet – it contains a large amount of fiber. Therefore the product is suitable for young birds. Millet chicken is given in combination with a boiled egg. Grown-up chicks require a composition based on millet, greens and eggs.
- Wheat is considered a very high-calorie grain. It contains proteins that are easily digestible. Experienced experts advise giving birds wheat bran. In summer they should make up a maximum of 80% of the diet. In winter, this figure is reduced to 40%.
- Oats - this product contains many vitamins that are required for the full development and increase in egg production of birds. The cereal also contains a large amount of fiber. Digesting oats requires a lot of energy. Therefore, its volume should not exceed 10% of all food.
Diet variety
In order for chickens to develop normally, gain weight and produce a lot of eggs, it is necessary to provide them with a varied diet.
Grain mixtures
In winter, birds need a lot of energy. The fat layer will help prevent birds from freezing. Therefore, it is recommended to feed birds with grain mixtures. They are sold ready-made.
You can also make the composition yourself. It is important that it be balanced. To do this, you should focus on the optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. To prepare 30 kilograms of classic food, use the following ingredients:
- 11 kilograms of crushed wheat;
- 3 kilograms of oats;
- 3 kilograms of barley;
- 3 kilograms of crushed corn;
- 1 kilogram of shale sand;
- 600 grams of sediment after making sunflower oil;
- 10 grams of granulated flavoring additive;
- 2 kilograms of crushed pea grains;
- 3 kilograms of bone meal;
- 3.5 kilograms of cake.
All components should be mixed well. The finished composition is used to feed chickens twice a day.
The composition of the grain mixture directly depends on the goal pursued by the chicken owner. In any case, they all help increase egg production, improve bird health and improve meat quality.
Mash
The diet of chickens must include mash. It is very important when preparing the diet for chickens that cannot eat grains. The mash contains the following ingredients:
- crushed grain;
- vegetables;
- food waste;
- greenery;
- bone flour.
The portion of this product is selected so that the chickens eat it right away. The remaining mash must be disposed of and the feeders must be washed.
It is permissible to feed chicks with mash on the 4th-5th day of life. For adult chickens, yeast ingredients should be added to the composition. They provide the body with protein, B vitamins and enzymes. Yeast improves the digestive process and facilitates the decomposition of ingredients.
How to germinate grain for chickens?
To germinate grains for chickens, you should follow these steps:
- Choose quality raw materials. It should not be rotten or old.
- Select a container for soaking grain. Glass or ceramic dishes are suitable for this.
- Place the grains in a container and add warm water. Its temperature should be +35-40 degrees. The liquid should cover the grains by 2-3 centimeters.
- After the specified time has passed, the excess liquid should be drained and the grain should be scattered on a clean oilcloth.Germination of cereals should be carried out in a room with low air humidity and no drafts.
- Cover the grain with a damp cloth. As it dries, it needs to be moistened.
- After 2-3 days, strong shoots will appear.
You should not germinate many grains at once. The finished product has a short shelf life. If mold appears on the surface, the cereal will have to be thrown away.
How to make a cereal mixture at home?
To make 1 kilogram of a grain-based composition, you should mix the following components:
- 500 grams of wheat;
- 150 grams of corn;
- 100 grams of barley;
- 100 grams of meal;
- 140 grams of meat and bone meal;
- 50 grams of hay flour;
- 50 grams of yeast;
- 40 grams of peas;
- 15 grams of vitamin complex;
- 3 grams of salt.
Feeding chickens with grain in winter and summer
The diet of birds may vary slightly depending on the season. In summer, birds are free to range, so they have the opportunity to find food on their own. That’s why experts don’t include barley and corn in the birds’ menu.
Signs of overfeeding with wheat germ
Cereal sprouts contain a lot of iron. Excessive amounts of the substance accumulate in the body and can cause poisoning. An increased amount of iron interferes with the normal absorption of important elements - zinc, calcium, vitamin E, manganese.
Sprouted grain has high nutritional value and brings great benefits to chickens.
To achieve good results in formulating a diet, it is important to choose the right ingredients and follow the technology for sprouting cereals.
