Every poultry owner wants their hens to be productive. Many keep laying hens, and their high egg production is a sign of proper care and maintenance at home. Poultry farmers often complain about low egg production in their hens, especially with the onset of cold weather. In this article, we'll explain how to increase egg production in poultry and how to properly feed laying hens.
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Laying hens and their feeding characteristics
Chicken productivity affects the profitability of the owners who keep them. This is very important when purchasing chickens. choose the right breed with high egg productionIt's important to note that these breeds typically have high care and feeding requirements. They are susceptible to environmental conditions and diseases. Feeding laying hens and maintaining a consistent feeding schedule are crucial.
Understanding the basic rules for feeding layers will determine the final result. Egg production is influenced by age, diet, and breed, in addition to diet and breed. Layers begin laying after 26 weeks of age. Their active production period occurs between 26 and 49 weeks of age. Chickens are considered easy to care for and feed, but feeding standards must be followed. This will increase the productivity of layers. Feed should be rich in:
- vitamins;
- squirrel;
- be complete and easily digestible.
Livestock experts believe that the best stimulants for chicken laying are legumesThis includes:
- lentils;
- peas;
- beans.
Chickens are usually not accustomed to this type of food, so they need some help starting out. Legumes should be steamed beforehand and then added to the birds' food.
Feeding standards and diet
If you provide laying hens with the right food, they will be able to lay eggs year-round. This is easy to do at home. Most poultry farmers prepare poultry feed with your own handsWhat should you feed laying hens at home? Their diet should include:
- mineral supplements;
- vitamins;
- compound feed;
- corn.
All these important components in a bird's diet will help them lay eggs well. These days, feed is easy to find and readily available.
It is believed that birds should be fed twice a day, and each daily portion should contain a specific composition of all the necessary nutrients. In addition to these components, other foods left over from family meals can also be given. Chickens are easy-to-eat pets, so table scraps will always find a use. In villages, people prepare a special mash, which has a good consistency immediately after preparation. If left to sit for too long, it can quickly spoil. This type of feed is best prepared for one-time feeding of the birds. Feeders should be filled to 1/3 of their capacity to prevent the chickens from trampling the food.
Plants from the garden plot and vegetable garden are often used as vitamin supplements in feed:
- vegetable tops,
- herbs;
- greens from the garden.
It's recommended to feed young laying hens three times a day, not twice. This applies to hens aged 48 weeks. The amount of feed will depend not only on the hen's age or breed, but also on how much she spends outside. If the bird spends the day outside on fresh, green grass, the amount of feed should be reduced. It's important to remember that hens have a keen appetite and can consume a lot of food. If they eat more than the recommended amount, they will quickly gain weight and their egg production will decrease.
Feeding rules
Any breed needs to be fed evenly and regularly. The quantity and quality of eggs undoubtedly the quality of food affects, the number of feedings and food portions, as well as different feeding times. When owners don't feed their birds on time, they're constantly hungry and wander around the yard looking for food. In reality, these animals quickly adapt to a daily routine, and if fed at regular times, they'll rest peacefully between meals.
The first feeding should begin in the morning, as soon as the birds wake up. If it's winter, consider using supplemental lighting to extend the hens' daylight hours. Feeding times should not be changed to avoid disrupting the birds' routine. Morning diet can consist of a mixture with the following products:
- ground grains;
- boiled potatoes;
- crushed eggshells;
- bran;
- food waste;
- fish and bone meal;
- salt.
The evening feeding should be 1 hour before the hens begin to roost. There is no need to give them large portions.Otherwise, they won't be able to roost on time. In the evening, the diet should definitely include whole grains, and a variety of them. It's best to feed specific grains on different days. For example, wheat on Monday, corn on Tuesday, barley on Wednesday, etc. Feeding rates directly affect the quality and quantity of eggs. A laying hen can produce a maximum of 100 eggs per year.
If an adult bird doesn't get enough essential nutrients in its feed, it won't lay eggs properly. If it's fed incorrectly, the feed ration will have to be increased. If fed regularly and with the right feed, an adult hen's daily ration will be 250 grams. If fed incorrectly, this amount can double. The eggs' taste will also be reduced, and they will be smaller.
This is especially important in the spring. During this time, many owners select eggs for incubation. Incorrect feeding and regimen will result in weak chicks.
Feeding laying hens at home
The nutrition of laying hens must correspond to their natural needs. In natural conditions Domestic birds most often eat:
grains;- grass;
- vegetables,
- leaves of shrubs;
- seeds;
- small stones;
- worms;
- larvae.
grains;It's best to prepare your own daily feed for laying hens. During winter, portions should be increased to ensure they have enough energy to stay warm. Ideally, equip chicken coops with waterers, feeders, and thus save on expensive products. The birds' daily diet should consist of the following:
- cereals - 120 g (wheat 20 g, corn 40 g, barley and oats 30 g each);
- wet mash - 30 g;
- green potatoes - 100 g;
- cake - 7 g;
- chalk - 3 g;
- salt - 0.5 g;
- yeast - 1 g;
- bone meal - 2 g
This amount of food for laying hens at home will increase the activity of the birds and their egg production.
Approximate diet and weight norm for poultry
It is best to give it to domestic chickens in the morning hours. wet mash, boiled potatoes, crushed shells, bone meal, ground grain, salt, and food scraps. Grain should be provided in the evening, but do not mix different types. The diet should be supplemented with any other foods the chickens may have missed during the day.
The above diet is calculated for the weight of an average-sized chicken. Some breeds may vary in weight and egg production. For a chicken weighing up to 1.8 kg and producing 100 eggs per year, 125 grams of feed per day is needed. An additional 10 grams is added to this amount for every 250 grams of weight over 1.8 kg. Consider the breed's egg production: for every 30 eggs over 100, an additional 100 grams is added.
Winter feeding
Particular attention should be paid to the diet of domestic chickens during the winter. With the onset of winter, birds often become ill and die. This occurs due to a lack of vitamins and other nutrients, as well as malnutrition. Every farmer should be aware that birds have a particular need for certain foods during the winter. the norm of which should be:
- grain - not less than 50 g;
- mash - not less than 30 g;
- potatoes - 1 medium boiled root vegetable;
- cake - at the level of 7 g;
- nettle and hay - 10 grams per layer;
- whey or curdled milk - 100 g;
- shells, chalk - 3 g;
- bone meal - 2 g;
- salt - 0.5 g
grain - not less than 50 g;When the winter period ends, it is necessary switch to a normal regime and dietBirds should spend more time outdoors and eat green grass. With the arrival of spring, birds need more vitamin B, so it's worth buying brewer's yeast, which contains it. Sprouted grains, which are rich in vitamin E, should also be given.
Because chickens are omnivorous pets, they are very easy to keep in the summer. When they roam the yard, they find plenty of natural food on their own.
