Buzz
Creating your own chicken feed is an excellent way to save money while ensuring you're fully aware of what your chickens are consuming. If you prefer to feed them organic food, you can use organic ingredients. You can find the recipe for mixing feed for both egg-laying and meat chickens in this article. Both recipes are high in protein and nutrition.
Ingredients
Chicken Feed for Egg-Layers
- 49 kg of whole cornmeal
- 19 kg of soybeans
- 13 kg of fishmeal
- 14 kg of corn bran
- 5.9 kg of limestone powder
Prepare 100kg of Chicken Feed
Mix Feed for Meat Chickens
- 110kg of cracked corn
- 68kg of dried soybeans
- 11kg of rolled oats
- 11kg of alfalfa meal
- 11kg of fishmeal or bone meal
- 4.5kg of aragonite (calcium powder)
- 6.8kg of balanced poultry feed
Prepare 230kg of Chicken Feed
Steps
Mixing Feed for Egg-Laying Chickens
Measure all ingredients into a container. You'll need to add 49kg of whole cornmeal, 19kg of soybeans, 13kg of fishmeal, 14kg of corn bran, and 5.9kg of limestone powder into the container. This recipe will produce about 100kg of finished feed, so you’ll need a large bucket or container to mix and store the feed.
- If you want to feed your chickens organic food, use organic ingredients.
- You can purchase these ingredients at feed stores or agricultural supply shops.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly until they are evenly blended. Use a shovel to stir the ingredients until they are well mixed. This ensures that your chickens will receive a balanced blend of nutrients from each ingredient.
- Make sure to mix the ingredients at the bottom of the container as well.
- This process typically takes a few minutes, usually around 2-3 minutes for a large bucket of feed.
- If you need to mix a larger quantity of feed, consider using a hoe for better mixing.
Feed each chicken approximately 0.13kg of feed per day. Multiply this amount by the number of chickens to determine the total feed needed for the day. For example, 6 chickens x 0.13kg = 0.76kg of feed per day. Place the feed in a feeding trough or scatter it on the ground for the chickens to eat.
- If using a feeding trough, simply pour the feed into the top opening and allow it to fall into the trough below. You can purchase a feeding trough or make one yourself.
Store the feed in a dry, cool place for up to 6 months. A garage or storage shed is ideal for keeping the feed. Be sure to check the feed for any signs of rodent contamination or mold before feeding it to your chickens. If the feed is spoiled, it’s best to dispose of it.
- If you don’t have a storage shed, you can store the feed by sealing the container and placing it in a location away from direct sunlight.
Mixing Feed for Meat Chickens
Combine cracked corn and dried soybeans in a large container. Measure 110kg of cracked corn and 68kg of soybeans into the container. Use a shovel to mix them thoroughly until they are evenly blended.
- It's recommended to use a container with a lid for easier storage of the feed.
- If you don't have a container large enough for all the ingredients in this recipe, you can reduce the amount of ingredients by half.
- This recipe is excellent for meat chickens since it includes protein-rich ingredients to promote healthy growth.
- Choose organic ingredients if you wish to feed your chickens organic food.
Mix rolled oats, alfalfa meal, and fishmeal or bone meal into the mixture. Measure 11kg of rolled oats, 11kg of alfalfa meal, and 11kg of fishmeal or bone meal into the container. Stir well until all ingredients are evenly combined.
- These ingredients can be purchased from feed stores or agricultural supply shops.
Add aragonite powder and balanced poultry feed to the container. Measure 4.5kg of calcium powder and 6.8kg of balanced poultry feed into the container. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined. Balanced poultry feed is a vital ingredient as it ensures chickens get the necessary nutrients for rapid growth.
- If you can't find these ingredients locally, you can search online or inquire about distributors.
- Aragonite powder is a mineral found in limestone and is an excellent source of calcium.
Feed each chicken 0.27kg of feed per day. Multiply this by the number of chickens to determine the total amount of feed required for the day. You can place the feed in a trough or scatter it on the ground for the chickens to eat.
- You will use 1.4kg of feed for every 5 chickens.
- Note that overfeeding this mixture can potentially lead to heart issues and death. However, this is rare as chickens typically do not consume more food than they need.
Store chicken feed in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Seal the container and keep it in a cool, dry place, such as a garage or storage room, to prevent mold and pests from contaminating the feed.
- If you notice signs of rodent or insect infestation, it is best to discard the affected feed and prepare a new batch.
Advice
- As a general rule, all chicken feed should contain the basic components: protein, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, and fiber.
- Layer feed typically contains higher levels of calcium, while broiler feed is usually higher in protein.
