Broilers are among the most popular types of poultry. The main reason for such popularity is that in a short time they are able to gain quite a lot of weight (up to 6 kg). Broiler meat is valuable for its taste, tenderness and health benefits. The basis for breeding healthy birds is a properly selected diet.
Features of feeding broilers
Since broilers gain weight quickly, chickens are able to consume complete feed as early as 2 weeks.
Inexperienced breeders often use only compound feed for feeding broilers, as it is convenient and simple. But this cannot be done. The diet of chickens should be balanced and complete.
Broiler
Chicken food should include the vitamins and minerals needed for the broilers to grow quickly and be healthy. The basis of the diet of birds are the following products:
- fruits vegetables;
- grain crops;
- food waste.
It will not be superfluous to include boiled potatoes and other root vegetables in the diet of young animals, which are very easy to get at home. They contain a large amount of minerals and vitamins that contribute to the rapid weight gain of the bird.
To improve appetite, experienced breeders recommend using yeast mash when feeding. The recipe for their preparation is quite varied. They are mainly added to grain mixtures, mixed with vegetables and root crops.
Many breeders use mash, which has a moist consistency, to feed young animals. Chickens need to be taught to them gradually. To do this, at 7 days, the chicks are given pumpkin or carrots crushed on a grater. After 2 weeks, a variety of cereals, bread and boiled potatoes are introduced into the diet. After another 5 days, the chickens can be given mineral feed.
Broiler chicks happily eat young dandelion leaves. With the onset of cold weather, green food can be replaced with hay or dried nettles.
It should be noted that dairy products containing calcium and protein are of great value for young broilers, which are necessary for the formation of a bone skeleton and muscle growth. These feed mixtures should be given to the chickens immediately after preparation. We must not forget that dairy products will replace water for birds. Drinking bowls should always have clean and fresh water.
Bird Probiotics
To ensure rapid weight gain for broilers, to ensure their health and egg production, experts recommend using probiotics. The principle of their operation is quite simple. The intestines of birds contain a large number of harmless bacteria. When probiotics are used, they are replaced by beneficial bacteria that are part of the drug.
Lactobifadol
It is especially important to use probiotics for broilers during diet changes, vaccinations, disease development, poor egg production and slow weight gain.In these situations, the bacterial balance in birds changes, which negatively affects the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the microflora of which becomes pathogenic. The use of probiotics for broiler chickens and adults makes it possible to restore the bacterial balance and direct the vital activity of birds in the right direction.
After using the probiotic preparation, it takes effect after a short time. The body of birds gets useful microelements that stimulate the functioning of the defense mechanisms of birds in the fight against pathogenic microflora. In addition, the components that make up probiotics have a positive effect on metabolic processes and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract in general, improve the process of enzyme formation, the synthesis of biologically active substances. Lactic acid, which is part of probiotics, contributes to the creation of an unfavorable environment for pathogenic microorganisms.
Chictonik
Modern manufacturers offer probiotics for broilers, the name of which makes up a fairly extensive list. Among the most famous probiotics among poultry farmers are the following:
- lactobifadol.
- chiktonik.
- bioximin chicken.
- olin and others.
To get a positive result when using probiotics, you must strictly adhere to the dosage instructions for their use. You can buy these drugs at your veterinary pharmacy.
Use of compound feed when feeding broilers
Combined feed must be included in the diet of poultry. Depending on the age of broilers, all compound feeds are divided into the following types:
- Prelaunch. Used for feeding chicks from 0 to 7 days.
- Starter feed for broilers. Chickens are given from 7 to 30 days of age.
- Rostova. Used during the period of active growth of chicks.
- Finishing. Used for feeding adult broilers.
Compound feed
All of them differ in their composition, ingredients, nutritional value, and the presence of additional components necessary for broilers of a certain age category.
Pre-start feed sets the pace and proper functioning of the chicks' digestive tract. Its main purpose is to prepare chicks for the use of complete food and dry food.
Broiler start is used from the first week. At this time, the chicks' gastrointestinal system is already formed. The use of this type of compound feed is aimed at preparing chicks for rapid growth and development, as well as the formation of the body's immunity. This period is considered one of the most important for the further growing of broilers. Young poultry farmers are interested in the question: how many days to feed broilers with starter feed? It can be used to feed chicks after they reach 30 days of age.
From 30 days until slaughter, broilers are encouraged to feed the finish. At this time, the birds reach the final stage of feeding. Finish feed for broilers:
- corn;
- wheat;
- sunflower cake or meal;
- bone flour;
- herbal flour;
- fat;
- yeast;
- a piece of chalk.
Finisher feed promotes rapid weight gain.
Chicks in the first days should be fed every 2 hours. The dry mixture is gradually poured into the chicks' feeders. When the chicks reach the age of 14 days, the number of feedings is reduced to 6. Feed should be given so much that they eat it immediately, but at the same time, the daily norm should not be exceeded. On average, a healthy broiler chicken will eat up to 25 g of feed per day.
Feed table
The market for combo poultry foods is quite diverse. It's hard to decide which manufacturer's feed is better. It is difficult to answer this question. It is worth paying attention to the following brands of combined feed for broilers:
- Growth feed for broilers. Used to feed chicks from 2 to 4 weeks of age.Its use promotes the rapid formation of muscle fibers in chicks. It comes in the form of granules, which speeds up the digestion process. Composition of Growth feed for broilers supplemented with vegetable oil, lysine and meat and bone meal. This allows chicks to gain weight quickly.
- Best food for broilers. Used as a starter from 2 to 3 weeks. He prepares the digestive tract of chickens for the transition to growth feed. Produced as grains. Its feature is a low feed conversion rate. It contains such components as corn flour, milled wheat and soybeans, sunflower processed products, bone meal, salt, vitamins and mineral premixes.
- Bogdanovich feed for broilers. The main feature of this type of feed is its balance in the amount of proteins, microelements, vitamins, macronutrients and metabolic energy. It also includes enzymes that contribute to the rapid assimilation of feed. It is produced by the Bogdanovichi feed mill. From 1 to 28 days of age, broiler chickens are recommended to be given only this feed, without the use of any additives. From 29 to 35 days, the feed can be mixed with fresh chopped grass. Its use contributes to the rapid weight gain of broilers.
Compound feed Bogdanovich
- Purina starter for broilers. This food not only ensures normal growth of chicks, but also stimulates their excellent appetite. It contains such components as cereals, sunflower and soybean meal, vegetable fats, bone meal, animal proteins. Such components provide a normal daily increase in livestock.
When choosing one or another type of combined feed, it is necessary to take into account the age of broiler chicks, as well as their state of health. Only in this case can you achieve rapid growth.
