What grain is best to feed laying hens. Feeding laying hens at home. Homemade food recipes

Regardless of the purpose for which a farmer keeps chickens on his personal farm, the health and productivity of the bird always comes to the fore. And it depends on what to feed the chickens, what food to introduce into their diet, and with what frequency to offer food. If you properly organize the feeding of laying hens, you can get eggs from them all year round.

Nutritional value of feed

At home, when organizing feeding chickens, you need to take into account that the bird should receive varied and nutritious food. It depends on the ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, etc. in products.

1. Proteins are the main material used to build the cells of a bird’s body, as well as the main component of the egg. Feed intended for laying hens should include proteins of vegetable (sunflower cake and meal, rapeseed, soybean, legumes) and animal (bone meal, fish waste, incubation, mollusks and amphibians, earthworms) origin.
2. Fats are essential elements. They constitute the main energy reserve of the bird, which is deposited in the subcutaneous layer and is also used for egg formation. In order for the birds to obtain fat, corn and oats should be added to chicken feed.
3. Carbohydrates – ensure the functioning of all organs and muscles. Therefore, feed prepared for laying hens must contain the required amount of starch, sugars and fiber. Most carbohydrates are contained in succulent foods such as potatoes, beets, carrots, and pumpkin. But for normal life of a bird, fiber must be present in the food, which is contained in the shells of whole grains.
4. Vitamins are vital substances. Vitamins A, D and B are of particular importance for chickens. With insufficient amounts of vitamins in food, chickens begin to get sick and, as a result, their productivity decreases very quickly. The main sources of vitamins are green herbs during budding, fish oil, baker's yeast, silage, pine flour, etc.
5. Minerals are the main building blocks for the bird’s skeleton and egg shell. It is good if chickens always have chalk, gravel, bone meal, lime or wood ash, and crushed shells in separate feeders.

Types of feed

In a subsidiary farm, in order to organize high-quality nutrition for laying hens, if possible, you should first use waste from the garden, vegetable garden and kitchen.

• Potato. Potatoes that are unsuitable for food purposes (sprouted, small, green), as well as their peeling, are introduced into the feeding diet of laying hens. You can give 50-100 g of potatoes per chicken.
• Bread. Chickens readily eat dried and stale black and white bread when soaked.
• Kitchen waste. Fish heads and offal, leftover meat dishes, fresh crushed bones in the feed prepared for laying hens will have a positive effect on the productivity of hens.
• Green and succulent food. They are mainly represented by waste obtained from the garden and garden. These are tops of carrots and beets, carrion of apples, pears and plums, cabbage leaves, fruit and berry waste. All this in crushed form is used as additives added to mash for laying hens.
• Protein feed. In private farmsteads, milk and its processed products (cottage cheese, skim milk, buttermilk, yogurt, whey), shellfish, frogs, small fish, meat and fish waste are used to feed chickens. Vegetable cakes and meals are usually made from crop waste. They are offered to chickens as part of wet mashes, and also as one of the parts included in compound feed for laying hens. Complete protein foods include earthworms, chafers, and small amphibians.

Procurement of wild food

A good source of nutrition for laying hens is feed that grows in the wild. These include plant seeds (quinoa, horse sorrel, clover), pine and spruce needles, hay and silage from weeds (alfalfa, nettle, etc.), leaves and berries of wild shrubs and trees (acorns, chestnuts, rose hips, rowan , hawthorn).

Such feed additives are prepared in summer or autumn, during the period of greatest accumulation of vitamins and other useful substances. The preparations are made away from roads and industrial enterprises. The collected mass is crushed and dried in the shade or in a well-ventilated area, and in winter it is added to mash or dry feed mixtures for chickens.

Preparing food for laying hens

In order for the feed to be more readily eaten by the bird, and to ensure that as much of the nutrients as possible are absorbed by the chicken’s body, the farmer needs to take care of the appropriate preparation of the food.

• Sprouts and green potatoes contain a toxic substance - solanine, which turns into water when cooked. Therefore, the liquid after cooking is drained, and the potatoes are kneaded well, adding flour, and fed to the bird in this form.
• Potatoes and root vegetables can be grated into a paste or pulp, which is mixed with flour mixtures or added to other food.
• Moldy bread should not be allowed to get into the feed prepared for chickens, since waste products of mold fungi can lead to poisoning of the bird.
• All protein feeds must first be well ground and then added to the wet mash.
• Fish and meat waste can be stored for future use by canning in whey. The mass filled with fresh whey can be stored for up to two weeks at a temperature not exceeding 20°C.
• Grain mixtures are better eaten by birds in crushed form (grain size 1-2 mm) or flattened.
• Before feeding, legume grains should be soaked and then steamed in a minimum amount of water. This will increase the bird's absorption of proteins.
• Before use, garden and vegetable waste is thoroughly crushed and, if necessary, boiled (apple carrion) or scalded (nettle).
• In winter, it is very useful for birds to receive sprouted grain, as it contains more vitamins.
• To increase the content of B vitamins in food, feed yeast is used. Add 5-10 g of soaked baker's yeast per 1 kg of feed mixture and mix the whole mass thoroughly.

Feeding an adult bird

Follow the basic norms and rules of feeding and preparing feed and feed mixtures for chickens and they will thank you with good egg production, meat and health.

What do laying hens eat?

Today, the most optimal option for feeding laying hens is dry feed for chickens. However, it is quite expensive, which significantly increases the cost of egg production, and farmers prefer to make do in their personal farmstead with those feeds that require lower financial costs. Therefore, let's look at how you can properly feed laying hens without industrial feed.

The daily diet of laying hens should consist of whole grains, flour, green feed, and also include vitamin and mineral supplements. The best option for preparing nutrition for chickens would be to regularly alternate types of grain and flour, protein and green supplements. Mineral feed should always be available to the bird, as well as clean, fresh water.

Feeding rates in summer and winter

The daily feeding standards for laying hens in summer suggest the following composition:

• grain – 50 g;
• flour mixture – 50 g;
• vitamin hay flour – 10 g;
• juicy solid food – 30-50 g;
• protein feed – 10-15 g;
• bone meal – 2 g;
• mineral supplements and salt – 5.5 g.

In winter, green succulent feed is replaced with wet mash and potatoes, and protein feed is always used. The daily diet of chickens looks like this:

• grain – 50 g;
• mash – 30 g;
• potatoes – 100 g;
• cakes and meal – 7 g;
• hay flour or dried nettle – 10 g;
• curdled milk or dairy products – 100 g;
• bone meal – 2 g;
• salt and mineral supplements – 5.5 g.

The composition of industrial feed, developed specifically for feeding laying hens, contains most of these components, but transferring pets only to dry food in their own backyard is too expensive and unprofitable.

Feeding mode

After the composition of food for chickens has been determined, it is important to determine how many times a day laying hens should be fed. To maintain good egg production in chickens, you should feed them 3-4 times a day. During the first feeding of laying hens, they are given grain or dry mixture, and this is done as early as possible. The last feeding is always only grain, as late as possible. The remaining two feedings consist of vitamin feeds and wet mash. In time, they are given to the bird at regular intervals. In cold weather, wet mash should be cooked in warm water or the mixture should be heated so that the bird has time to eat the food warm.

All components of the feed must be of high quality; if any component is missing, it should be replaced with an equivalent nutritional value. Under no circumstances should laying hens be overfed, as they begin to get fat and stop laying eggs.

Broiler nutrition

When feeding chickens of meat breeds, it should be taken into account that the selection process that the chickens underwent was aimed at radically changing the bird’s body in order to obtain early-ripening meat. After a period of rapid growth, broilers enter puberty, when they hardly grow. As soon as the growth rate of meat line chickens begins to decrease, you should immediately respond to this by reducing the amount of feed provided. Broilers lay fewer eggs, and therefore have a lower metabolism and get fat faster.

When organizing the feeding of meat poultry, you can go in two different ways. In the first case, chickens are fed ad libitum, but with low-calorie mixtures in which the content of carbohydrates and proteins is limited. And in the second, complete feed is used for feeding, but the norms for each chicken are strictly taken into account.

How to feed during the molting period?

The molting period usually occurs with decreasing daylight hours and provokes a decrease in egg production. Therefore, some poultry farmers artificially induce molting - they reduce lighting in the chicken coop, and subject the birds to additional stress, forcing them to starve. For several days, the bird should receive only clean water, and after it begins to molt, it begins to be fed. During the molting period, chickens especially need complete food. During this period, it is necessary to add more minerals to the feed, including sulfur. Meals should be less high in calories, but more varied in composition.

The farmer should constantly monitor both the condition of the entire herd as a whole and its individual individuals. The easiest way to control the quality of food is by looking at the droppings left by the bird. The droppings of a healthy bird with a balanced diet are dense, dark in color with a light white coating. Any deviation from this norm should cause the owner to pay attention to reviewing the feeding process and the feed given to the birds.

For an amateur poultry farmer, it is not necessary to purchase expensive feed and additives in order to keep healthy and productive backyard chickens. Everything we need is around us; we just need a little effort and knowledge to please our pets with healthy and varied food.

» Chickens

What to feed laying hens to help them lay eggs better? This is a very important issue for poultry farmers. Since every breeder understands perfectly well that not only the health of the bird, but also its productivity depends on nutrition.

In this article we will look at the topic of feeding laying hens at home and talk about the composition of their feed with our own hands. And we’ll find out which is better, chicken feed or feed prepared yourself.

The daily diet for young chickens should be very carefully selected, if the poultry breeder wants to get the maximum number of eggs from each head. To do this, you should take care of the following components that should be included in the diet; the calculation is carried out per bird.

The birds are also fed with homemade feed, called mash. In addition to the main components, in the form of crushed grain, they contain additives of mineral content.

In order for the chicken to lay eggs more actively, experienced breeders know that the daily diet must include fresh grass and vegetables. Everything should be crushed as much as possible, which will enable complete absorption of food.

Water and gravel are the components that are vital in chicken digestion, so you shouldn’t forget about them either.

To ensure that the laying hen receives the correct amount of calcium, her diet includes feed that is specially adapted for this category of poultry.

Compound feed is a mixture that includes vitamins, grains, and microelements necessary for increased egg production.

Types of feed: which one is good for laying hens

For those who raise poultry, it is very important to remember that a correctly selected balance of all vital components will help raise a healthy and productive flock. In this regard, when composing the daily menu, it is worth considering the presence of the following components.

1. Protein. This component helps the full structure of chicken cells and tissues. Also in the egg, this substance plays a very important role and is one of the main components. To do this, the diet includes:
   legumes;
   cake;
   earthworms;
   sunflower meal;
   shellfish;
   bone flour;
   fish waste;
   rape;
   soybeans
2. Fats accumulate in the subcutaneous layer and form an energy reserve, which is actively involved in the structure of the egg. In order for the laying hen to receive this important component, the diet includes:
   oats;
   corn.
3. Carbohydrates help organize the full functioning of the bird’s entire body; for this it is recommended to add to food:
   pumpkin;
   potato;
   fodder beet;
   carrot;
   whole grain.
4. Vitamins are very important for chicken, especially vitamins A, B, D. If they are not enough in the diet, this can cause pain in the laying hen’s body, which will negatively affect her egg production. To avoid this, the poultry menu includes:
   pine flour;
   fish fat;
   green grass;
   silage;
   regular yeast.
5. Minerals are responsible for the structure of the chicken’s bone corset and for the formation of the egg shell. Therefore, the following should be added to poultry food:
   bone meal;
   wood ash;
   chalk;
   crushed shells;
   gravel;
   lime.

Composition of some feeds for laying hens per 100 g

Corn:

• carbohydrates: 66.7;
• proteins: 10.2;
• fats: 5;
• water: 13.9;
• vitamins: PP, A, E, group B, H;
• macro and microelements: manganese, potassium, boron, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, copper, phosphorus, sodium, chromium, selenium, tin, iodine, iron.

Wheat:

• carbohydrates: 56;
• proteins: 12.9;
• fats: 2.6;
• vitamins: group B, PP, C, A, carotene;
• macro and microelements: iron, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium.

Barley:

• carbohydrates: 9.5;
• proteins: 12.5;
• fats: 2.5;
• ash: 2.3;
• dietary fiber: 16.9;
• water: 2.4;
• vitamins: group B, K, C, A, E, folic acid;
• macro and microelements: selenium, potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, calcium, copper.

Oats:

• carbohydrates: 6.4;
• proteins: 58;
• fats: 6.4;
• water: 14;
• ash: 3.5;
• vitamins: group B, PP, E;
• macro and microelements: fluorine, potassium, copper, calcium, iodine, molybdenum, manganese, calcium.

Rye:

• carbohydrates: 61;
• proteins: 11;
• fats: 1.7;
• water: 10.3;
• ash: 1.7;
• dietary fiber: 14.9;
• vitamins: K, C, group B, A, E, choline, folic acid, niacin;
• macro and microelements: potassium, iron, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, zinc, sodium, selenium, calcium.

Vegetables and root vegetables:

What not to feed

1. Fresh, white bread or loaf. You can give bread, but it must first be dried and soaked; black stale bread is also suitable. Fresh bread is very poorly accepted by the laying hen's stomach.

   Before slaughter, the bird can be given mash with white bread. This is done ten days in advance so that the meat acquires a special pleasant taste.

2. Salted and fresh fish. It is recommended to include fish in the diet of chickens, but it should not be given very often in salted and raw form. Before serving, the product is boiled as much as possible so that the bones become soft. Before serving, it is mixed with the main food.

   On days when fish is served, you should definitely increase the volume of water you drink, as this product increases the desire to drink.

3. Potato peelings. Potato peels are quite rough food and therefore should not be included in the diet of laying hens. But it is recommended to give boiled potatoes to birds; this product is very useful and can be introduced into the feeding process, two weeks after the chicks are born, in the form of wet mash.
4. Beetroot. It is not recommended to feed chickens plain beets, this is due to the fact that it can cause severe diarrhea and lead to cannibalism, due to the possibility of staining it the color of blood. But it can be given in feed form and in the form of tops.

You also cannot:

• citrus fruits and their peels;
• celandine;
• sweet and salty foods;
• ambrosia;
• tomato tops.

How to start feeding laying hens

To ensure that chickens do not lose their egg production all year round, it is very important to feed them correctly and in a balanced manner. The bird should receive food three times a day:

• the first feeding should consist of dry mixture or grain;
• the second feeding includes wet mash and vitamin formulations;
• the last feeding consists of grain.

The intervals between serving food should be the same. During cold weather, the mash should be warm.

Be sure to make sure that the bird does not overeat, otherwise it will stop laying eggs fully.

When chickens begin to molt, they stop laying eggs well. During this period, it is worth improving the diet by increasing minerals; it is especially recommended to add sulfur.

What to feed by month for proper care: tips for farmers

Winter. The cold period of the year is very difficult for birds, so at this time it is worth paying special attention to nutrition and the norms of its components:

• grain – 50 g;
• mash – 30 g;
• potatoes - 1 medium root vegetable;
• cake – 7 g;
• nettle and chopped hay – 10 g;
• whey – 100 g;
• shells, chalk – 3 g;
• bone meal – 2 g;
• salt – 0.5 g.

All calculations are based on one bird. The cooler the room where the chickens are kept, the better and more often they should be fed. If the heating is good, then you should take care of intensive drinking.

In winter, fodder beets, cabbage, and turnips should be periodically given. Particular care should be taken to ensure that the bird does not become fat. Egg production in cold times noticeably decreases, but there is no need to worry, everything will recover with the advent of warm days and increasing daylight hours.

• sprouted grain – 40 g;
• yeast – 3 g;
• grain – 50 g;
• straw, hay – 15 g;
• cake, waste – 15 g;
• shells, eggshells – 25 g;
• bone meal, salt – 3 gr.

Summer. Summer is the most convenient period for feeding birds. At this time, chickens can feast on various herbs, insects, and worms. It is also very important to feed eggshells, which will help increase the egg production of laying hens:

• grain – 50g;
• bone meal – 1.5 g;
• hay flour with vitamins – 9.5 g;
• mineral supplements, salt – 6 g;
• flour mixture – 50 g;
• protein food – 12.5 g;
• solid food – 40 gr.

Autumn. During the molting period, it is important to correctly formulate the diet of laying hens; this will help to avoid large losses in egg production, which decreases greatly during this season. Autumn is the time when the bird becomes weakened and all its metabolic processes suffer, so every bird breeder must diversify and properly balance the diet. For this we recommend:

• increase the amount of proteins;
• include meat scraps and worms;
• fortify the feed more;
• give more greens, root vegetables and vegetables.

Add to main feed:

• whey, cottage cheese;
• eggshells, finely crushed;
• legumes, in the form of greens;
• beet tops and cabbage leaves;
• chalk and shells;
• pumpkin seeds and boiled potatoes;
• sprouted grains;
• yeast.

• Morning. The bird is offered 1/3 of the grain requirement per day.
• Dinner. The chickens are fed a special mash, to which minerals and vitamins are added. The norm is calculated so that the hen eats everything within half an hour.
• Evening. Chickens are fed plain grain.

Make sure that the bird does not become fat, as this has a very negative effect on the chicken’s performance.

How many times to feed in summer and winter?

The number of meals for poultry is calculated based on the time of year and individual characteristics. If the chicken is intended for eggs, then it should absolutely not be overfed. Therefore, the food supply is calculated so that the bird does not become fat. Usually feed is given twice a day, this is under positive weather conditions. During molting and the onset of cold weather, feeding is increased to three to four times.

Diet in the table

The table below shows the possible diet for laying hens per bird in grams by age.

How to calculate the norm by weight

For every extra 100 grams, add 5 grams of feed daily. If a chicken produces 130 eggs, the feed is increased by 5 grams from the norm. For 160 eggs add 10 grams of feed.

The age when chickens begin to lay eggs and how to increase their number: external signs

Now let's talk about external signs when chickens begin to lay eggs. It is believed that the chicken begins to lay eggs when its weight reaches 75% of an adult bird. Approximately this age occurs at 17–20 weeks.

Early egg production, in some cases, negatively affects the health of the bird, so you should not artificially rush the laying hen.

1. Small breeds lay their first egg much earlier than larger breeds.
2. Poultry hatched in February and March mature faster than May and summer hens.
3. If the hen is born too late, she may begin laying eggs only after a year.
4. Egg breeds of chickens begin to lay eggs from the 17th week and do this for ten months without a break.
5. The average laying hen produces about 200 eggs per year.
6. The English Leghorn breed is considered the most productive; it is this breed that is loved by domestic poultry farmers who breed chickens for eggs. The norm for this breed is 340 eggs per year, and for especially gifted ones, productivity can reach up to 370 eggs.
7. Hybrids lay 2% more eggs, but their descendants do not adopt these qualities, so in this case it is recommended to replace the pullets every 24 months.
8. Meat and egg breeds produce up to 170 eggs per year, but their maturation begins at 22 weeks.
9. Meat breeds begin laying eggs later than all other chickens, at about the eighth month. Their productivity is much lower, but the eggs are much larger in size. Such breeds lay eggs for no more than seven months. Such chickens can lay up to 120 eggs per year.
10. Fighting breeds lay eggs very rarely and all their eggs are mainly intended for hatching chicks.

Chickens can lay eggs for up to fifteen years. But it is worth knowing that every year the number of eggs decreases, which ceases to bring benefits to the breeder, and the old bird does not go to slaughter. Therefore, many try to keep a bird for no more than two years.

Egg production of different chickens per year and how to increase it

Factors that affect egg production:

• poultry health;
• lighting;
• breed;
• air temperature;
• age of the chicken;
• nutrition.

1. Food should be provided regularly and in equal portions.
2. The first meal should be as soon as the hen wakes up, that is, early in the morning.
3. Birds should not be underfed or overfed; all this can negatively affect the productivity of the bird.
4. The second feeding is carried out an hour before the chickens go to bed.
5. The diet should be varied and enriched with vitamins and minerals.
6. The number of eggs obtained depends on the quality of food, so it is imperative to maintain a balance between carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and fats.
7. It is recommended to increase the nutritional value of the feed as much as possible in the spring, since at this time the incubation period begins and this helps to get healthy offspring.
8. It is very useful to include in the main diet: whole grains, corn, barley, wheat, oats.

It is very important to provide good lighting it is this factor that can positively affect the productivity of chickens. It is advisable to provide birds with 17 hours of daylight.

The air in the room where birds are kept should be dry and as warm as possible. In this regard, the chicken coop must be well insulated. During cold weather, you need to take care of heaters in advance. If the hen gets cold regularly, she will stop laying eggs well.

The most productive breeds include:

Compound feed

Compound feed is an important food for poultry, containing several components including minerals and vitamins. Such nutrition is important for the proper maintenance and care of the bird.

PC 1: content of nutrients in grain for poultry nutrition

This compound feed contains wheat, corn, barley and bran as a base. Bone meal, which is also included in the feed, helps the bird to develop and grow more actively.

How to make it at home. For 1 kg take:

• wheat 640 gr;
• meat and bone meal 40 g;
• soda 7 g;
• salt 1 g;
• sunflower meal 170.5 g;
• premix P1-2; 10 gr.

Mix everything and add a small amount of regular yeast and sunflower oil, about 20.5 grams each.

Composition of PC 2 for proper feeding

Compound feed PC 2, just like the previous one, contains corn and wheat as a base. Sunflower oil, fat and fishmeal are also added to it, which helps increase poultry productivity.

How to make it at home, approximate calculation for 1 kg:

• wheat 550 gr;
• barley 300 gr;
• bran 50 g;
• sunflower cake 50 g;
• fish meal 40 gr;
• sunflower oil 20 g;
• shell 50 gr;
• salt 3 g;
• chalk 27 g;
• premix P-5 1 gr.

Mix everything thoroughly and use it to feed laying hens.

Chicken feed recipes for laying hens and young chickens

Mix the following ingredients:

• corn – 450 gr;
• peas – 70 g;
• barley – 120 gr;
• wheat – 120 gr;
• Sunflower meal – 70 g;
• herbal flour – 20 g;
• meat and bone meal – 60 g;
• fish meal – 60 g;
• chalk – 20 g;
• soda – 0.5 tsp;
• salt – 2 tsp.

Connect the following components:

• wheat – 640 gr;
• meat and bone meal – 40 g;
• Sunflower oil – 25 g;
• feed yeast – 25 g;
• soda – 7 g;
• soda – 1 g;
• limestone – 75 g;
• sunflower meal – 175 g;
• premix P1-2 – 10 g.

Conclusion

Chicken is a bird that is very popular among poultry farmers. She is unpretentious and has the ability to eat whatever is given to her, be it table scraps or special food. Also, very often breeders prepare a special mash for them, which it is advisable to feed at one time or divide into a daily allowance. All these feeding methods, if properly designed and calculated, will help increase the bird’s egg production.

Also, do not forget to add special vitamins, macro and microelements, tops, herbs, root vegetables, and vegetables to the diet that chickens need.

To prevent chickens from wasting food inappropriately, it doesn’t cost much to fill it up. If the bird has the opportunity to walk, then the supply of greens can be reduced.

Nutrition is a very important factor in the productivity of laying hens, so this issue should be taken very seriously. Below we suggest watching a short video from which you will learn tips on how to feed chickens in the summer.

Hello, dear readers! Today we will look at one of the most important topics in poultry farming - feeding standards for laying hens and the diet of the winged family. Even though chickens are considered omnivores, poor diet can cause health problems and reduced productivity.

A balanced diet is important for chickens of any type, and each type has its own rules. Let's look at this topic in more detail. Photo and video tips are included.

Depending on the age and stage of development of the bird, the correct feed should be selected. Highly productive, healthy and hardy blackfish are the result of a properly designed menu. Let's consider several points when it is worth changing the type and amount of food.

• Starting. This is the first 3 weeks after birth. Now it is necessary to very carefully introduce new positions, as well as monitor the well-being and reaction of the cubs. As a rule, acceptable diet ingredients are a boiled egg, starter feed, greens, cottage cheese and vitamin supplements.

• The next period that we will consider is the phase of intensive growth and development, lasting from the third week of life until the 4th month. As a rule, at this time young animals need nutritious, high-protein feed. The volume of food is gradually increased as you grow. In addition, intensive growth is associated with increased needs for calcium and other minerals, so at this stage special attention is paid to the nutritional value of food.

• Before starting masonry, some more changes are introduced to the main menu. At this stage, laying hens begin to be prepared for the upcoming work, the nutritional value is gradually increased, and the composition of the food is enriched.

• And of course, after the start of laying and throughout the entire peak period, the increased need for proteins and carbohydrates is taken into account. In addition, calcium is added daily, in the form of shells or chalk - about 10 grams for each worker.

• After finishing the laying, the last change of diet is made. Feed rates are not reduced, by about 10-15%, mineral and vitamin supplements are not given daily, the emphasis is on vegetables and green feed. Gradually, laying hens lose their productive qualities and no longer require strict adherence to the rules. Small errors in this phase are not as dangerous as in the previous ones.

Types of feeding laying hens

There are several types of food for the feathered flock. You can choose any of them based on your capabilities.

• Dry. As a rule, they are kept on dry rations in poultry factories and large farms, where the growing process is almost automated. It is practiced to supply exclusively dry concentrated and combined feed mixtures.

• Wet. Caring farmers, owners of small chicken coops, prepare wet chicken coops for their charges, which are rich in all the substances necessary for a full life, are easily digestible and nourish the birds. Feeding birds with wet mash helps improve their health, increase clutch rates and minimize losses.

• Combined type - this is perhaps the best option for all poultry farmers. Together with porridges and mashes, birds receive dry, whole and crushed grain. For a household, this type of feeding is the best.

The needs of feathered workers

Feeding standards for laying hens are based on their needs. It is important to understand what substances are necessary for the body of the black-bush so that they can remain healthy, bear fruit and serve faithfully to their owners.

Let's consider the main substances needed by the feathered family, as well as their sources.

Carbohydrates in the diet of laying hens

• Carbohydrates. Like humans, all living creatures need to receive energy from somewhere for life, activity and proper functioning of the entire organism. Carbohydrates should make up the largest portion of the total food. To a greater or lesser extent, carbohydrates are found in almost all types of foods, but the greatest amount is in starchy vegetables and root vegetables, as well as in grain crops.

Proteins in feeding laying hens

• Squirrels. A necessary component for muscle activity and egg formation. In addition, protein is the main component of all cells, and its deficiency leads to disruption of tissue regeneration processes. Protein products make up approximately 20% of the total. It is imperative to supply animal and plant proteins to the feeders. Both are easily absorbed by avian organisms and are beneficial. Small amounts of protein are present in many cereals, but legumes are the richest in this component. Sources of animal protein – meat and fish trimmings, “live” food – and other insects. In addition, concentrated animal protein is meat, bone and fish meal.

Fatty food

• Fats. Another important menu item. Fats promote the absorption of certain eggs, provide the chicken with warmth during cold weather, promote the growth of new feathers during molting, and are a component of eggs. The so-called cholesterol, which is often talked about in a negative way, is a material for cell membranes, so restoration processes do not occur without its participation. There are many fat-containing foods. In addition to being found in some cereals, they are also served separately. Animal fats are found in broths, meat and fish trimmings. During the molting period, and for prevention, it is recommended to give fish oil to winged workers in its pure form, or as part of porridges and wet mash.

Vitamins for laying hens

• Vitamins. Both people and birds need to consume all groups of vitamins to feel good. Some vitamins are found in various foods, but each of them is rich in its own way. For example, B vitamins, important for hematopoiesis and maintaining the immune system, are found mainly in meat. The fat-soluble ones, A and E, are found in fish and some plant foods such as pumpkin and carrots. Most of it is found in fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits and other plant products. But it should be borne in mind that during heat treatment some of them lose their properties.

Minerals

• Minerals. The most important mineral in the hen menu is calcium. Without it, the formation of the skeleton, the health of the musculoskeletal system and normal egg laying are impossible. Calcium is found in large quantities in dairy products, so it is recommended to periodically give cottage cheese to birds and steam porridge with reverse milk. But even daily feeding with cottage cheese will not satisfy the chickens’ need for this element. It is necessary to add chalk, crushed shells, and ready-made mineral preparations.

Feeding regimen for laying hens

Good nutrition also includes maintaining a stable diet. If food is served irregularly, late or too often, this entails a number of negative consequences. In order for black whales to lay actively, be healthy and hardy, it is important to establish a suitable diet.

How and how many times depends on their age and time of year. Here are some tips to help you create the right food supply schedule and determine feeding standards for laying hens and broilers.

1. The smallest ones need up to 8 meals a day, with a short break at night. In further phases, you can reduce the number of snacks to four.
2. Active laying hens also need to be fed more often, for this reason it is recommended to feed them 3-4 times a day.
3. In the summer, you can remove one meal if the winged family enjoys spending leisure time in a lush, green meadow. Green food will only be beneficial and will eliminate the risk of developing obesity.
4. In winter, especially on the coldest days, it is better to feed the birds more often so that they do not become hypothermic.

As you can see, the routine for serving food does not remain unchanged - it needs to be changed depending on age and time of year.

Daily feeding requirements for laying hens

The consumption rates for certain components are slightly different for each breed. Depending on the type of performance, the balance of nutrients differs. Let's look at approximate daily volumes.

Depending on the stage of development, taking into account the needs of the herd, you can slightly adjust the feeding norms for laying hens and the values ​​we described. In the pre-laying phase, the protein content is increased, and after the end of the peak, more carbohydrates and fewer minerals are given.

Winter and summer

Changes in food are made during different seasons. In addition to the fact that black whales need more food in winter, it should also be more nutritious. Greenery, which birds can peck in abundance in summer, is not available in winter. But poultry farmers are preparing for this difficult season in advance.

To avoid vitamin deficiency, you need dried greens during the season, and give them in the same quantity as in the summer.

Table

The productive activity of chickens directly depends on their nutrition. As a rule, these chickens do not require any special care - they can quite easily eat the grain itself.

But in this case, you will suffer, because poultry meat and eggs will not be rich in nutrients. Feeding laying hens is based on the balance of three pillars - VITAMINS, MINERALS and PROTEINS. Therefore, you need to carefully consider their diet so that they receive with food all the necessary components for growing tasty meat and increasing the egg production of birds. If you don’t yet know how to feed laying hens, then this article is especially for you.

A balanced diet is the key to increased egg production in chickens

It is important that the bird receives sufficient calcium. It is the basis for the formation and development of the egg. Therefore, an insufficient amount of this substance in the chicken’s body can lead to a significant decrease in egg production. To prevent this from happening, we recommend including in its diet special feed that is developed and adapted specifically for this category of birds.

Compound feed is a mixture specially developed according to technology, which is enriched with vitamins, grains, and microelements necessary to increase the egg production of chickens.

The AGRO - V company offers you two types of feed for laying hens. This:

Compound feed Layer for all types of Poultry
Premix ECOchick Layer 2%

Both products are developed using advanced technologies and do not contain any harmful substances or additives. Feeding them to laying hens eliminates the occurrence of deficiency conditions in the birds’ bodies. Using these feeds, you will notice that:

1. the health of the bird is improved,
2. immunity and vitality increases,
3. metabolism improves,
4. the chicken begins to lay eggs more often. Eggs have a strong shell. Its average weight increases, and the yolk acquires the natural color and taste of “homemade eggs”.

Creating a diet for poultry is not the easiest task, but it is possible!

Feeding of laying hens is carried out in accordance with the natural needs of poultry. In its natural habitat, a chicken, in addition to obligatory feeding by humans, “gets” its own food - looks for grains, eats a variety of herbs, leaves, seeds, berries and vegetables. She also doesn’t mind pampering herself with worms and larvae, and sometimes small reptiles. If you do not feed your chickens with compound feed, then the birds' diet at home MUST be varied and balanced.

We have compiled for you the basic TOP nutritional elements that make up the diet of laying hens.

1. Grain.

It is the basis of the poultry diet - grains make up 60% of the total “menu” of laying hens. Both whole and fractional grains are used as feed. Since the chicken body is characterized by a short digestive tract and active metabolism, grain is the most suitable feed for poultry. Do not forget the fact that grains contain a small amount of protein, such an essential substance for the animal. Therefore, it should be given in combination with protein foods - bone meal, legumes, fish waste.

Please note that not all grains have the same effect on the body. In the summer, it is best to give the chicken:

Barley - makes chicken meat juicy and tasty.
Oats - it is difficult for chickens to process, so its amount in the diet should be no more than 20% of the total amount of grain per day.
Millet is best fed to adult birds due to its high amount of fiber. It is recommended to replace millet with millet for young animals.

Grain is the basis of a chicken's diet

Their use increases the egg production of the animal. But in winter, feeding chickens is of a slightly different nature. The following grains are ideal for feeding:

Corn - contains the maximum amount of fats, carbohydrates and starches and is highly nutritious
Wheat is a source of vitamins B and E
Buckwheat is hard on the bird's stomach. Its daily rate should be no more than 10% of the total amount of grain per day.
Sunflower and flax seeds - they help to increase the excitability of the chicken, as a result of which it lays eggs better. They promote the accumulation of fat so that the body does not become hypothermic in the cold, and the accumulation of energy.

2. Green food

Green food is a complete source of minerals and vitamins. Their daily intake for laying hens is 20% of the total feed intake. Basically, the bird gets its own greens by walking.

Green feed enriches the bird’s body with useful substances that help digest food faster.

But if the animal is in a “no-walk mode”, then it needs to be provided with such green food as:
1. Clover
2. Young meadow grass
3. Alfalfa
4. Dill
5. Young peas
6. Nettle

In order to increase the egg production of chickens, it is necessary to ensure that their diet contains fresh grass and vegetables. All ingredients must be thoroughly crushed - this will allow the body to fully absorb the food.

Pine needles are especially good green food during cold weather. Pine and spruce branches have a large amount of carotene and vitamin C in their composition. The needles help increase the appetite of laying hens and have a beneficial effect on the digestive system - helping to quickly absorb food.

3. Root vegetables

Of course, if your farm has a vegetable garden, then the laying hens’ diet will include root vegetables. Vegetables that are useful for both young and adult birds are:

Turnip
Beet
Carrots - they are especially useful for laying hens, as they are a substitute for fish oil and increase egg production. The daily intake of carrots is 20 grams per head in raw form and 7 grams per head in dried form.
Pumpkin
Potato

Not all vegetables can be given to birds. be careful

All vegetables must be grated before feeding, regardless of whether they are boiled or served raw. It is recommended to give vegetables along with chopped herbs and bran.

4. Animal feed

What to feed laying hens to provide them with a sufficient amount of amino acids that affect egg production and bird growth? These useful products include:

1. Milk. It is especially useful for chickens. It could be kefir or cottage cheese. Whey can be given to laying hens instead of water.
2. Meat and bone meal. It is added when mash is prepared.
3. Meat waste. They are given to chickens in boiled and chopped form to increase productivity.
4. Fish and fishmeal. Enriches the laying hen's body with calcium and phosphorus, which makes the eggshell harder.
5. Bones. They are given to poultry in crushed form. Increase egg production.
6. Worms. They should be given to laying hens if they do not walk in nature and do not get them themselves.

5. Mineral supplements

These include ash, chalk, salt, limestone, gravel and shell rock. If a laying hen walks, she herself replenishes her body with these beneficial substances. If not, you will have to pour them into her feeder.

Vital components in the diet of laying hens are gravel and water. They should never be forgotten. Bird drinkers should always have clean water, which changes as it gets dirty.

What are the feeding standards for laying hens?

How to fatten laying hens correctly and safely? For this purpose, you need to create a diet and set feeding standards per day. It all depends on the age, productivity of the chicken and time of year.
Please note that laying hens should not be overfed, otherwise they will become fat and stop laying eggs. The optimal amount of feeding them is 2-3 times, depending on the regime you set.

We present to your attention one of the possible options for the daily menu of laying hens:

1. Corn – 20 grams
2. Wheat – 30 grams
3. Bran – 5 grams
4. Barley – 30 grams
5. Sunflower cake (pressed grain) – 10 grams
6. Mineral supplement (at your discretion) – 0.5 grams
7. Salt – 0.5 grams

Feeding hens at different times of the year

The daily diet option in the summer (per individual) is as follows:

Grain (any) – 55 grams
Sunflower cake – 35 grams
Animal feed (your choice) – 6 grams
Green food and root vegetables – 60 grams
Mineral supplements (at your discretion) – 5 grams
Salt – 1 gram
Flour mixture - 35 grams
You can also give eggshells - this will lead to increased egg production.

The cold season is a rather difficult period for laying hens, so in winter it is worth paying special, even scrupulous, attention to the diet and its component standards. It includes:

Grain – 50 grams
Mash – 30 grams
Potatoes – 1 medium-sized root vegetable
Sunflower cake – 7 grams
Dried nettle or chopped hay – 10 grams
Whey – 100 grams
Shells and chalk – 3 grams
Bone meal – 2 grams
Salt – 0.5 grams

The diet is designed for one individual. The cooler the room where laying hens are kept, the more often and better the feeding should be. If, on the contrary, the heating is good, then you need to pay attention to the bird’s intensive drinking.

Water should be at room temperature

In the winter season, fodder beets, turnips and cabbage should be given periodically. It is worth taking special care to ensure that the bird does not become overgrown with fat. In winter, the egg production of chickens noticeably decreases, BUT DON’T WORRY! Everything will gradually recover with the arrival of warmth and increasing daylight hours.

Sprouted grain – 40 grams
Baker's yeast – 3 grams
Grain (of your choice) – 50 grams
Straw or hay (chopped) – 15 grams
Cake (sunflower) – 15 grams
Seashells or eggshells – 25 grams
Bone meal – 3 grams
Salt – 3 grams
.
In the autumn season, during the molting period, it is very important to correctly formulate the diet of laying hens. In the future, this will help to avoid significant losses in productivity and egg production, which are significantly reduced during this rainy season.

In autumn, the bird becomes somewhat weakened, and almost all metabolic processes in the body suffer. That is why everyone who breeds birds must properly balance and diversify their diet. For this we recommend:

1. increase the amount of protein consumed
2. include more meat waste
3. fortify the feed
4. more greens, vegetables and root vegetables

To the main feed you need to add:

Cottage cheese
Well crushed eggshells
Beet tops
Cabbage
Legumes
Chalk
Shells
Pumpkin seeds
Boiled potatoes
Baker's yeast

For example, if in summer chickens could be fed 2 times a day, then in autumn the number of feedings was no less than 3 times a day.

What should not be fed to laying hens?

The following products fall into the category prohibited for consumption by laying hens:

1. White bread, loaf. Bread can be given to chickens only black and pre-dried. Before feeding, it is soaked either in water or milk.
2. Salted or fresh fish. It is best to give laying hens boiled fish or fish waste, mixing them with the main feed.
3. Beetroot. It is not recommended to give the vegetable itself to birds. It can cause severe diarrhea. But beets can be safely given as fodder or as tops.
4. Citrus fruits and their peels.
5. Tomato tops.
6. Celandine.
7. Sweet and salty foods.

1. To ensure that chickens do not lose their productivity and egg production throughout the year, it is very important to feed them in a balanced and correct manner. The bird should receive food three times a day.

2. The time intervals between feeding should be the same. Try to set feeding hours that are convenient for you and stick to this schedule. During cold weather, water and mash should be at room temperature, that is, warm.

3. Don't overfeed your chickens. Otherwise, their egg production will decrease or they will stop laying altogether.

4. The water in the drinking bowls is always fresh and clean. Change it when it gets dirty.

5. During the molting period, in the fall, it is very important to diversify the food of laying hens. It is recommended to add sulfur and eggshells to the feeders.

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