How to do it :Mixing chicken feeds

How we feed is reflected by our health. Chicken are not any different. What you feed them defines their health. Whereas chicken may forage for their food, one can opt to prepare them a meal that is balanced in nutrients.

You can make chicken mash. This is a mixture of a number of edibles, which could even be left overs. They include cassava, maize, bread and banana peels. However, it is important to bear in mind the type of the chicken and its stage in growth. Zam Nansamba, of Mutima Best Quality Feeds, explains, “Birds react to what they like and what they don’t. Thus, it is important to notice this. It is recommended that the meals should contain nutrients such as calcium, proteins and vitamins.”
Here is a breakdown of the kind of feeds for different types and ages.

Broilers
Day one to three weeks: Feed them on broiler starter. Chicken starter feeds can be purchased in both medicated and unmedicated varieties though the medicated ones that contain amprollium, protect chicks from coccidiosis, a common and deadly intestinal disease.
Mix 100 kilos of maize bran, 30 kilos of cotton grained seeds, 30 kilos of fish, 10 kilos of crushed shells, a half-kilo of pre-mix, and one kilo of refined salt.

Three weeks to the day of sale: The chicken are fed on broiler finisher. For this, mix 100 kilos of maize bran, 25 kilos of cotton grained seeds, 25 kilos of fish, 10 kilos of crushed shells, a half-kilo of pre-mix, one kilo of refined salt, and 10 kilos of broken maize to help them gain more weight.

Layers
One day to two weeks: The chicken have to be treated to avoid coccidiosis and should contain at least 20 percent of the proteins.
Mix 100 kilos of maize bran, 20 kilos of cotton grained seeds, 20 kilos of fish, 10 kilos of shells, a half-kilo of pre-mix, and one kilo of refined salt.

Two to four months: Feed on growers’ mash that contains proteins and calcium for eggshell production.
Mix 100 kilos of maize bran, 12 kilos of cotton grained seeds, 12 kilos of fish, 10 kilos of shells, eight kilos of sunflower, a half-kilo of pre-mix, one kilo of refined salt.

Four months to the market day, during the egg-laying period: Feed them on layers’ mash. Sunflower is normally used to reduce the fat in the layers thus boosting egg production, according to Nansamba.
Mix 100 kilos of maize bran, 15 kilos of cotton grained seeds, 15 kilos of fish, 15 kilos of crushed shells, 15 kilos of sunflower, a half-kilo of pre-mix, and one kilo of refined salt

All these feeds should be well mixed. They can either be mixed with a spade or a clean big stick. However, before one starts mixing the feeds, he or she should make sure that the place where he or she is using from is very clean to maintain hygiene.

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