Feeding Chickens Correctly Can Keep Them Producing Eggs in Great Quantities



Posted: Monday, February 01, 2010

by Joshua Hardingur
JMS

Chickens must be given the correct nutrients in their diet or they will lay very few eggs. If you do not offer them the needed elemental nutrients their egg production will decrease enormously, but if you provide them with the appropriate feed they will continue laying eggs steadily for a lot of years. Discover the ideal approach to feeding hens and keep them laying eggs daily.

Feeding chickens is more than simply providing some grains for your hens. If you would like to keep chickens that furnish you with top quality eggs on a regular basis you should be aware of several fundamentals about feeding chickens. When chickens first start laying eggs, during the early laying phase, they are still maturing. All through this phase they must be given a larger amount of protein. As the quantity of eggs begins to lessen their protein needs also decline.

Commercial chicken growers know that protein is costly so they keep an eye on protein levels meticulously when feeding chickens. They start by giving 18% protein for the initial 4 months of their laying period and then cut it to about 16% at around 4 months. Protein is decreased to 15% when the hens fall to roughly 65% production from their maximum.

Most small flock owners want to keep everything as easy as they can when feeding chickens and thus give their laying pullets the same feed all through the complete egg laying period. This is typically done with an all-mash diet that contains about 16% to 17% protein.

Mash is made from finely ground grains and can be offered in two principal ways. It can either be combined to provide all of the chicken's daily nutrient requirements or offered along with other grains. Providing birds a big amount of grains just previous to roost time can help them stay warmer and more comfy during the nighttime.

Grit usually comes in the manner of small stones or granite and must be offered to birds eating whole grains. Grit helps grind the grains and improving digestion. Birds will chomp on all sorts of stuff, including feathers, and grit should at all times be accessible to help pullets digest these different items, even when being offered an all-mash diet.

Grains, like corn and oats, will usually cause birds to put on added fat which will usually cause a decline in egg production, so it is imperative not to feed whole grains in disproportionate amounts. Furthermore, scratch feeds (grains) are typically lower in protein, containing approximately 10%, so the mash will have as much as 20% to 40% protein depending on how many grains are provided. A diet of mash and grains will provide a total protein level of approximately 16%.

To lower the feed cost kitchen table leftovers and garden excess can be added to a hen's diet. These sorts of food can be given as a substitute for a portion of the grains, but must be given in limited amounts as they will usually reduce the protein levels in the overall diet. Depending on the type of kitchen leftovers fed, they can cause bad tasting eggs. Supplying vegetable peelings or skins and green tops is suitable, but offering onions, fruit peelings or rind, and other strong-flavored foods are not.

Calcium is an exceptionally essential requirement in a layer's diet as it is required to make sturdy egg shells. Feeding pullets all-mash meals is most often adequate as all-mash diets most often contain around 3% or more calcium. If egg shell strength ever appears to diminish extra calcium should be added to their meals. Calcium is almost always offered in as oyster shells.

Clean water is another important item that should be on hand at all times. Egg Laying will suffer if chickens are not given water for even short periods of time. Keeping the water unsoiled by changing it every day is also vital as impure water can dissuade hens from drinking the necessary amounts. Soiled water can furthermore cause the spread of health disorders. To maintain top egg production chickens must have an adequate diet and ample amounts of fresh clean water.

Joshua has raised chickens for over two decades and is knowledgeable in getting maximum egg and meat production from his chickens. He maintains a site where you can learn more about chicken feeding, how to build an inexpensive chicken ark, and the importance of feeding chickens a good diet.
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