how to make chicken feed？

Table of Contents

In the egg-laying chicken rearing industry, high-quality chicken feed is a key factor in ensuring the healthy growth of chickens and improving breeding efficiency. Reasonable production of chicken feed requires full consideration of the nutritional requirements of chickens at different growth stages, careful selection of raw materials, scientific design of formulas, and following strict processing and production procedures.

how to make chicken feed？

Nutritional requirements of laying hens at different growth stages

Chick stage (0 - 6 weeks old)

Chickens have just hatched and their digestive systems are not fully developed, but they grow very fast and have very strict nutritional requirements. At this time, high-energy, high-protein and easily digestible feed is needed. The protein content should be around 20% – 23% to meet the amino acid requirements of the rapid growth of chicks, especially essential amino acids such as methionine and lysine. For example, methionine is essential for the growth of chick feathers and body metabolism. Lack of methionine will lead to slow growth and poor feather development of chicks. At the same time, chicks also have high requirements for vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, D, E, K, as well as calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin A helps the development of chick vision and the integrity of epithelial tissues, while calcium and phosphorus are key elements for bone development.

Growing chicken stage (7 - 20 weeks old)

As chicks grow and enter the growing chicken stage, their digestive systems gradually develop and their growth rate is still fast, but their demand for protein is relatively reduced, while their demand for energy increases. The protein content in the feed can be adjusted to 15% – 18%, and the proportion of carbohydrates should be appropriately increased to provide sufficient energy to support growth. However, it is still necessary to ensure the reasonable supply of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to ensure the normal development of bones and the health of the body. The calcium-phosphorus ratio should be kept in an appropriate range, generally 1.5 – 2:1, to promote bone calcification and strength.

Laying chicken stage

  • Early egg-laying period (21-24 weeks): The reproductive system of chickens develops rapidly at this time, and feed nutrition needs to be prepared for the upcoming peak egg-laying period. The protein content needs to be increased to about 18%-20%, and sufficient calcium and phosphorus supply must be ensured. The calcium content can be around 3%, and sufficient calcium sources are reserved for egg-laying to ensure the quality of the eggshell.
  • Peak egg-laying period (25-42 weeks): The chicken’s nutritional demand reaches its peak at this stage. The protein content needs to be stabilized at 18%-20%, and the calcium content is increased to 3.5%-4% to meet the calcium demand for large-scale egg-laying. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure a balanced supply of other nutrients, such as vitamin D, which helps the absorption and utilization of calcium. If vitamin D is lacking, even if the calcium content in the feed is sufficient, the eggshell quality may decline.
  • Late egg-laying period (after 43 weeks of age): As the chickens age, their egg-laying performance gradually declines, and their nutritional needs also change. The protein content can be appropriately reduced to 16% – 18%, but the calcium supply must still be guaranteed to maintain the eggshell quality. At the same time, some antioxidants, such as vitamin E, can be appropriately added to help alleviate the oxidative stress of the chicken body and prolong the egg-laying period.

Selection of feed raw materials

Energy feed

Corn: It is the most commonly used energy source in chicken feed. It has high energy content, rich starch content, and a digestibility of more than 90%. The metabolizable energy of corn is about 13.5-14.0 MJ/kg, and it contains a certain amount of protein, vitamins and minerals. High-quality corn is golden in color, with full grains, and no mildew, insect infestation, etc. When choosing corn, pay attention to its moisture content, which should generally be controlled below 14% to prevent mold and deterioration during storage.

Wheat: The energy content of wheat is slightly lower than that of corn, but the protein content is higher, generally around 12%-14%. Its amino acid composition is more balanced than corn, especially the lysine content is higher. The digestibility of wheat is also higher, and it can partially replace corn in chicken feed. However, wheat contains a certain amount of non-starch polysaccharides, which may affect the digestion and absorption of chickens. Therefore, enzyme preparations such as xylanase can be appropriately added when using it to improve its digestibility.

why do they use corn in animalfeed？

Energy feed

Protein feed

Soybean meal: It is the main source of plant protein in chicken feed, with a protein content of up to 44% – 48%, and a balanced amino acid composition, especially rich in lysine. When used with corn, it can achieve amino acid complementarity. High-quality soybean meal is light yellow to light brown in color, has the inherent aroma of soybean meal, and is free of mold and odor. When choosing soybean meal, pay attention to the detection of its urease activity. Excessive urease activity may cause indigestion in chickens. Generally, urease activity should be controlled between 0.05 – 0.3 units / gram.

Fish meal: It is a high-quality animal protein feed with a protein content of up to 60% – 70%, and an extremely balanced amino acid composition. It is rich in essential amino acids such as methionine and lysine, and also rich in nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium, and phosphorus. The digestibility of fish meal is extremely high, and it is an important source of protein supplement in chick and laying hen feed. However, the price of fish meal is relatively high, and the quality varies on the market. When choosing, pay attention to distinguishing the authenticity and quality. High-quality fish meal is yellow-brown or yellow-brown in color, has the normal smell of fish meal, no odor, and no impurities.

fishmeal

Protein feed

Mineral feed

Stone powder: The main component is calcium carbonate, which is the main source of calcium in chicken feed. The calcium content of stone powder is generally around 35% – 38%. It is added in large amounts in laying hen feed and can be adjusted according to the growth stage and egg-laying situation of the chicken. When choosing stone powder, pay attention to its particle size. Generally, the particle size of stone powder used for laying hens is 2 – 4 mm, which can not only ensure the slow release of calcium, but also facilitate the feeding and digestion of chickens.

Calcium hydrogen phosphate: It is an important source of phosphorus in chicken feed and also contains a certain amount of calcium. Its calcium content is about 21% and its phosphorus content is about 16%. Adding calcium hydrogen phosphate to chicken feed can effectively meet the chicken’s demand for phosphorus and adjust the calcium-phosphorus ratio. High-quality calcium hydrogen phosphate is white or off-white in color, without lumps and odor.

Vitamin feed

Vitamin premix: Since chickens cannot synthesize most vitamins themselves, they need to obtain them from feed. Vitamin premix is ​​an additive made by mixing multiple vitamins in a certain proportion. It can be selected according to the different growth stages and breeding environment of chickens. When choosing vitamin premix, pay attention to its content, shelf life and the reputation of the manufacturer. High-quality vitamin premix should ensure the stability and effectiveness of various vitamins and be able to meet the nutritional needs of chickens at different growth stages.

Design of feed formula

Determine nutritional indicators

Determine the nutritional indicators of feed formula according to the nutritional needs of chickens at different growth stages. For example, the metabolic energy of chick feed should reach 12.1-12.5 MJ/kg, protein content 20%-23%, calcium content 0.8%-1.2%, phosphorus content 0.4%-0.6%, etc.; the metabolic energy of laying hens’ peak feed should reach 11.5-12.0 MJ/kg, protein content 18%-20%, calcium content 3.5%-4%, phosphorus content 0.4%-0.6%, etc. These nutritional indicators are the basis for feed formula design.

Select raw materials and calculate the proportion

According to the determined nutritional indicators and the nutrient content of various feed raw materials, select appropriate raw materials and calculate their proportion in the formula. This process usually requires the use of professional feed formula software or mathematical methods such as linear programming for calculation. For example, when designing a chick feed formula, if corn, soybean meal, fish meal, stone powder, calcium hydrogen phosphate, etc. are used as the main raw materials, it can be determined by calculation that the proportion of corn is about 55% – 60%, the proportion of soybean meal is about 25% – 30%, the proportion of fish meal is about 3% – 5%, the proportion of stone powder is about 1% – 2%, and the proportion of calcium hydrogen phosphate is about 1% – 2%. In the calculation process, factors such as the cost of raw materials, supply stability, and the interaction of nutrients should be fully considered.

Consider other factors

In addition to meeting nutritional needs, other factors should be considered when designing feed formulas. For example, the palatability of feed should choose raw materials that chickens like to eat, and avoid using raw materials with odor or poor taste. At the same time, the processing performance of the feed, such as the particle size and fluidity of the raw materials, should be considered to ensure the smooth processing of the feed. In addition, the formula needs to be appropriately adjusted according to factors such as the feeding environment and the health status of the chickens. For example, in a high temperature environment, the feed intake of chickens will decrease, and the nutrient concentration of the feed can be appropriately increased to ensure that the chickens get enough nutrition.

Feed processing and production

Raw material crushing

Crush various feed raw materials to improve their digestibility and mixing uniformity. Different raw materials have different crushing particle size requirements. For example, the crushing particle size of energy feeds such as corn and wheat is generally controlled at about 1-2 mm, and the crushing particle size of protein feeds such as soybean meal and fish meal can be appropriately finer, controlled at about 0.5-1 mm. Hammer mills, roller mills, etc. can be used for crushing equipment. During the crushing process, attention should be paid to the maintenance and maintenance of the equipment, and the wear of components such as hammers and screens should be checked regularly and replaced in time to ensure the crushing effect and production efficiency.

Mixing

Fully mix the various crushed raw materials according to the formula ratio to ensure that the various nutrients in the feed are evenly distributed. Mixing equipment can be selected from horizontal ribbon mixers, vertical planetary mixers, etc. The control of mixing time is very critical. Too long or too short mixing time may lead to uneven mixing. Generally speaking, the mixing time of horizontal ribbon mixers is 5-10 minutes, and the mixing time of vertical planetary mixers is 10-15 minutes. During the mixing process, the mixing uniformity can be checked by regular sampling, chemical analysis or microscopic examination to see if it meets the requirements.

Granulation (optional step, recommended)

For some situations where pellet feed is required, the mixed powdered feed can be pelletized. Pelletizing can improve the palatability of feed, reduce feed waste, and facilitate storage and transportation. The pelletizing equipment mainly includes ring die pelletizer and flat die pelletizer. By adjusting the parameters of the pelletizer such as die hole diameter and compression ratio, pellet feed of different specifications and quality can be produced. For example, the diameter of chick pellet feed is generally 2-3 mm, and the diameter of laying hen pellet feed is generally 4-5 mm.
How to make laying hen feed?

Layer feed pellets

Bagging and storage

The processed feed is bagged, and the packaging materials can be plastic woven bags, composite plastic bags, etc. The name, production date, shelf life, nutritional ingredients, and usage of the feed should be marked on the package. The feed should be stored in a dry, ventilated, and cool place, away from direct sunlight and humidity. The quality of the feed should be checked regularly during storage. If mold, odor, caking, etc. are found, they should be handled in time to prevent the feed from spoiling and affecting the health of the chickens.
Making chicken feed is a systematic project that requires comprehensive consideration of the nutritional needs of chickens, raw material selection, formula design, and processing and production. Only by careful production can we provide high-quality and balanced feed for the chickens, ensure the healthy growth of the chickens, and improve the breeding efficiency. In the actual production process, it is also necessary to continuously summarize experience, optimize and improve the feed production process according to market changes and the development of breeding technology, so as to meet the development needs of the chicken industry.

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