How to feed laying hens at home and on poultry farms?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Chickens are not only very interesting birds that you can watch for hours. For many centuries they have been faithful companions of man, providing him with tasty and he althy food. Chickens are bred mainly for two purposes: obtaining dietary meat and eggs. And if in the first case it is important to get the best result in the shortest possible time, then in the second case, how to feed laying hens is crucial. Moreover, it should be noted that a good effect can be obtained by industrial breeding of chickens for both purposes, since food products such as chicken meat and eggs are always in unrelenting demand.

Laying hens

They are the ones who influence the profitability of the egg business. Their performance depends on various factors. To some extent, egg production is determined by the breed. Therefore, in order to get as much of the final product as possible, many farmers try to purchase laying hens of certain breeds. But keep in mind that such birds may be more demanding on the conditions of detention and susceptible to various diseases. How the laying hens are fed also matters a lot.

Feather diet

There is an opinion that hens, whose main task is to lay eggs, should be fed mainly with fish. This is not entirely true. Excessive amounts of such food can lead to an unpleasant smell of the testicles themselves. Therefore, when deciding how to feed laying hens, it is best to stick to a balanced diet. In large farms, it is more convenient to adhere to the dry type of feeding, and in relatively small ones, on mini-farms and in personal peasant chicken coops, they usually adhere to a wet or combined type. The main task is to provide all the necessary laying hens. How to feed them properly, you can learn from experienced farmers.

How often to feed the chickens?

An important element in breeding chickens for eggs is how often to feed them. It depends little on the type of food. Usually the bird is offered food twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Some owners, answering the question: "How to feed laying hens?", argue that it is better to do this three times a day. Chickens remember this time very quickly and tend to be near the feeder as soon as possible. You also need to consider that these feathered pets are gluttons. They can eat much more than they really need. The result will be overweight and loss of egg production. The approximate norm is 150 g of the mixture for 1 chicken.

What to feed?

Of course, the composition of the feed itself is of no small importance. In addition to compound feed, the bird is offered grain (wheat,barley, corn), boiled potatoes, bran, fish and bone meal. Chalk must be mixed in so that the eggs are strong enough. In a household setting, when deciding how to properly feed laying hens, owners often use various waste (cuttings from potatoes, carrots and other vegetables, leftover food, and so on). Chickens also need fresh grass or hay. With pleasure they peck and ordinary grape snails. In order to improve digestion, chickens should have access to small gravel or river sand. The more varied the composition of the feed, the greater the effect will be achieved.

In order to get more eggs, you have to work hard. The very room where the birds are kept, as well as their feeders, must be clean in order to eliminate the possibility of diseases. It is required to provide a certain temperature regime, as well as sufficient lighting.