Tuesday 31 July 2012

Feeding Chickens in Your Chicken Coop The right Way Can Increase Egg Production


Chickens need the proper nutrients in their diet or they will quit laying eggs. If you do not give them the necessary fundamental nutrients their egg production will lessen immensely, but if you feed them properly they will continue to lay eggs steadily for lots of years. Learn the proper way to feed hens and keep them producing eggs dependably.Chicken feeding is more than simply putting out some grains for your hens. If you would like to grow chickens that produce high quality eggs on a consistent basis you should know several fundamentals about feeding chickens. When chickens first begin producing eggs, all through the initial laying phase, they are still maturing. During this period they must be given an increased quantity of protein. As the quantity of eggs starts to dwindle their protein requirements also lessen. Commercial growers know that protein is costly so they pay attention to protein levels carefully when feeding chickens. They begin by offering 18% protein for the earliest 4 months of their laying cycle and then lessen it to approximately 16% at around 4 months. Protein is reduced to 15% when the hens drop to roughly 60% production from their peak.Most small flock owners like to keep things as basic as they can when feeding chickens and consequently provide their hens the identical feed all through the complete laying cycle. This is routinely done with an all-mash diet that includes about 16% to 17% protein levels. Mash is prepared from finely crushed grains and is offered in two ways. It is either mixed to provide all of the chicken's day by day nutrient requirements or offered as a supplement to other grains. Providing hens a large amount of whole grains immediately previous to roost time can help them stay warmer and more comfy all through the night. Grit typically is supplied in the form of small stones or granite material and should always be offered to pullets eating whole grains. Grit helps grind the grains and improving digestion. Pullets will eat all kinds of stuff, as well as feathers, and grit must continuously be available to help pullets assimilate these assorted items, even if being offered an all-mash diet.Grains, like corn and oats, can cause hens to put on extra fat which can cause egg production to decline, so it is a good idea not to provide too many whole grains. Moreover, scratch feeds (grains) are generally lower in protein, containing around 10%, so the mash will contain as much as 20% up to 40% protein depending on how many whole grains are added to the diet. A diet of mash and whole grains need to provide total protein of around 16%. To reduce the feed bill kitchen table leftovers and backyard garden surplus can be added to a hen's diet. These kinds of foods can be supplied as a replacement for a portion of the whole grains, but need to be given in small-sized amounts as they can lessen the protein levels in the overall diet. Depending on the type of table leftovers fed, they can lead to bad tasting eggs. Offering vegetable skins and green tops is good, but giving onions, fruit peelings, and other strong-flavored food is not.Calcium is a very important requirement in an egg-layer's diet because it is necessary to form strong egg shells. Feeding hens an all-mash diet is usually suitable because all-mash diets usually include around 3% or more calcium. If egg shell quality ever appears to become reduced more calcium must be added to their feed. Calcium is classically provided in as oyster shells.Clean water is another important item that must be available at all times. Egg production will fall if chickens are not provided water for even a short period of time. Making certain the water is unpolluted by changing it on a daily basis is also essential because impure water can deter pullets from drinking the required amount. Soiled water can furthermore cause the spread of sickness and disease. To maintain high egg laying production chickens should be given a high quality diet and plenty of uncontaminated water.

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