What to feed broilers at home for rapid growth

Raising broilers is considered a popular activity among farmers. For it to be successful, it is recommended that the birds be provided with proper care. It must include a whole range of components. One of the most important is the feeding regimen of broilers. In order for birds to develop normally and ensure high productivity, their diet must be carefully considered.

Features of feeding broilers

Feeding regimes for birds in households and large poultry farms differ. In the first case, broilers receive a more varied diet. Many farmers give chickens, in addition to feed, fresh herbs and vegetables. In addition, you can prepare various mashes, cereal mixtures and mixed feed.

For rapid growth, chickens need to be given vitamins and minerals. A balanced diet has a positive effect on the taste of the carcass. Homemade feed helps you save on ready-made feed. Moreover, it is often of dubious quality.

If you feed birds incorrectly or use low-quality products, there is a risk of sudden loss of the entire population.

In order for birds to develop normally, it is recommended to take into account the following features:

1. Provide constant access to fresh water. It is important that the liquid has a comfortable temperature. Birds do not like to drink warm water, but cold water can make them sick. The best option would be a temperature of +18-22 degrees. For 1 unit of feed there should be 1.7 units of water.
2. Keep feeders clean. After feeding, it is recommended to remove the feed. Thanks to this, it is possible to avoid the development of rotting processes and the emergence of pathogenic microflora.
3. Ensure stable temperature conditions and maintain sufficient lighting. Before slaughter, it is recommended to keep chickens at a temperature of +10-14 degrees. Chicks require parameters of +27-33 degrees. If these recommendations are violated, there is a risk of metabolic disorders and growth retardation.

Meat breeds do not require active walking. Their mobility is limited to a cage or room. This helps minimize energy loss. After the first week, chickens should install feeders with river sand.It is also permissible to use small pebbles. Minerals improve the digestion of foods.

Amount of feed consumed

A healthy broiler eats 5 kilograms of feed before slaughter. At the same time, it is recommended to properly plan the 42 days that are required to gain the required weight. To do this, it is recommended to use starter feed until 21 days, and then growth or finish feed. At the peak of consumption, which occurs from 4 weeks, the bird should receive 150 grams of feed per day. If this regimen is followed, a healthy broiler will gain 2.7 kilograms of weight by day 42.

Specific feed consumption rates are given in the table:

Frequency of feeding

Feeding rates vary depending on age. During the pre-start and start stages, birds quickly gain weight. At this stage, their backbone is formed. Therefore, birds should be fed quite often. In general, you should follow this regimen:

• first week – 8 times a day;
• second week – 6 times a day;
• third week – 4 times a day;
• fourth week – 2 times a day.

How many days do they fatten?

The period for raising birds for meat depends on the decision of the owners. They are usually sent for slaughter at 2-3 months. By this time they have gained the required mass. It is not worth raising broilers for too long, as the meat may lose its taste.

Calculation of nutrition for chickens

In the first 5 days, chickens should receive a maximum of 15 grams of feed. Over the next 5 days, the dose is increased to 20 grams. At 11-20 days, it is recommended to give birds 45 grams of feed.

Then every 10 days the volume of feed is increased by 15-20 grams. Thus, at 2 months the chicken will already eat 115-120 grams. Over the entire period of its life, a broiler eats about 5 kilograms of feed.

Types of feed for broilers

Compound feeds have different types. They depend on age:

1. Start – suitable for feeding chicks that have just hatched. The composition contains many proteins.
2. Grover – ensures rapid muscle development.
3. Finish – suitable for adult chickens. The composition contains a minimum of protein, but many vitamins and minerals.

What should the food consist of?

The bird must eat a certain amount of food per day (determined by its age). This feature should definitely be taken into account when raising birds.

From 0 to 5 days

From the first days, broiler chickens need a specific diet. It is worth feeding the birds 8 times a day. This is done at regular intervals. The basis of the diet of day-old chicks is crushed boiled eggs and cottage cheese. This helps strengthen the digestive organs and immunity. Then continue feeding with compound feed, starting with 20-25 grams. You can also fatten with a wet mixture of crushed cereals.

From 5 to 18 days

In order for the chicks to gain weight, they should be gradually transferred to starter feed. It is practically no different in composition from prestart. At the same time, the proportions of the ingredients change. Typically the feed should contain yeast and fat. Be sure to include flour - meat and bone, herbal and fish. Also at this stage of development, broilers need premixes. These dietary supplements ensure the harmonious development of birds and unlock their genetic growth potential. Otherwise, there is a risk of rapid development of muscle mass and impaired bone formation.

From 19 to 37 days

By the third week, the broiler’s digestive system is formed. Their need for nutrition increases. At this time, maximum weight gain is observed.At this stage, it is recommended to gradually reduce the amount of protein in the feed and increase the amount of carbohydrates.

It is recommended to maintain a balance of beneficial elements so that the bird receives everything it needs.

At this stage, chickens digest food well. Therefore, they do not have to be given food in granules. It is quite acceptable to use crushed mixtures of cereals and legumes. It is definitely worth feeding the birds with premixes. Their diet should include meal and cake. Chickens also need grass meal. It can be replaced with chopped root vegetables and herbs. It is recommended to introduce yeast, fish and meat and bone meal into the diet.

From 38 to 45 days

From the 38th day, feed conversion in birds decreases and growth slows down. Therefore, it is not advisable to fatten broilers for longer than 45 days. At this stage, finishing feed should be present in their diet. It has the same composition as a growth or fattening complex. However, the balance of ingredients is biased towards carbohydrates. The composition contains proteins, but their quantity is significantly less.

What not to feed

There is a whole list of products that are contraindicated for broilers. Prohibited products include the following:

1. Any food from the human table. It contains many impurities and components that are harmful to birds. Sweet and salty foods are contraindicated for broilers. Spices should not enter their body.
2. Boiled potatoes in their pure form. It is also strictly prohibited to use potato broth. It cannot even be used as a basis for mash. Boiled potatoes must be mixed with cereals.
3. Fine sand. This substance can clog the goiter.
4. Bread and bakery products. Any additives are prohibited.
5. Citrus fruit peel. The same applies to the peels of melon plants.
6. Cold cuts and cheese.
7. Chocolate, jam, cocoa.
8. New milk.
9. Alcoholic drinks, spoiled fruits and berries.
10. Pure vegetable oil and butter.

If some products for a balanced diet are missing, they cannot be replaced with prohibited foods. In this case, it is recommended to choose a suitable product.

How to reduce feed consumption when fattening

It is acceptable to feed broilers with ready-made feed. However, many farmers try to save as much as possible when raising birds. A high-quality industrial diet will be quite expensive. In this case, poultry farmers use cereals, food waste, greens and succulent feed.

It is recommended to purchase special additives – premixes – in advance.

They contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and medications. Birds also require antibiotics and coccitoxic drugs. Broilers do not have strong immunity. Therefore, there is a need to use such means.

To reduce the cost of fattening birds, it is recommended to properly organize their diet:

1. Feed with wet mash. Chopped root vegetables, potatoes, and greens can be introduced into the birds’ diet. Birds can also be given food scraps in combination with grains or feed. This helps to significantly reduce the cost of feeding birds. It is forbidden to completely abandon concentrates, as this negatively affects weight gain.
2. Add yeast to wet mash. They help to better absorb feed and reduce its consumption. As a general rule, nutritional yeast should be added to boiled and shredded potatoes. You can also make a cereal-based mash with herbs and root vegetables.To do this, it is recommended to take 200-300 grams of yeast for 15 kilograms of components, add 15 liters of water and leave for 6 hours in a warm place.
3. Introduce dairy products into your diet. It is useful to give fermented baked milk, yogurt, and whey to chickens. Such components can be used as a wet base for mash. These include potassium and animal proteins that broilers require.
4. Give the birds greens. The grass can be chopped or hung in the form of brooms. Greens contain many vitamins and help strengthen the immune system of birds.

In order for birds to grow normally and not get sick, it is important to maintain cleanliness. It is recommended to regularly disinfect feeders and drinkers and change bedding. This helps to minimize the likelihood of bird mortality and save on their fattening.

Causes of poor appetite

The cause of deterioration in appetite may be the following factors:

1. Spoiled food. It is recommended to pour food at the same time and remove it after 40 minutes. You should definitely monitor the quality of the ingredients. When mold or rot appears, there is a risk of deterioration in the health of the birds.
2. Lack or poor quality of water. It should be changed more often and left freely available.
3. Helminths. Birds must be periodically treated for worms and parasites.

Mistakes of breeding broilers at home

The main mistakes when raising broilers include:

1. Cold floors in the chicken coop. This provokes the development of diseases.
2. Neglect of sanitary rules. The presence of mold indoors is especially dangerous for chickens.
3. The lighting is too bright for the chicks. It can cause pecking, weight loss, and stress.
4. Lack of ventilation. The air in the room should not smell too strongly of ammonia.

Feeding broilers has a number of features.In order for birds to develop normally and not get sick, it is recommended to carefully consider their diet. The amount and composition of feed directly depend on the age of the chickens.