HOME MADE FEED FOR INDEGINOUS CHICKENS
Important tips on feed preparations
When making homemade feed rations, it is important to do experimental trials, by isolating a
number of chickens, feeding them and observing their performance. If the feed rations are right,
the chickens will grow fast. Farmers need to be very careful with the quality of the feed
ingredients or raw materials. Because the different production of these raw materials will result
in different qualities which has an effect in production.
Poor quality feeds lead to slow growth in chickens, disease or even death. Making poultry feed
on the farm is one of the best ways to maintain quality.
Stages of the birds and their nutrient requirements
Each stage of the bird has different nutrient requirements.
Baby chickens need to consume two things in order to grow into healthy happy adult chickens.
1. Fresh water. They should have fresh water 24/7. It should be frequently checked to
ensure that no manure or bedding has been picked up into the water and thus has
contaminated it.
2. Primary source of baby chicken is starter feed. This feed should be designed to have the
right nutrients growing chickens need.
So for chickens from day old to 4 weeks total protein feed expected in the feed is 16 to 22%
Allow for free range after 4 weeks. To enable the chickens to feed on worms and insects.
Usually early morning or late afternoon.
For chickens from 8 to 18 weeks reduce protein to 16 to 17%. This is to prevent the chickens
from suffering from fatty liver which mostly causes mortality in chickens
For chickens 18 weeks and over mantain 16% protein in diet.
INGREDIENTS USED FOR FEED MAKING
Maize
Mapfunde
Soya beans
Fishmeal
Salt
Fibre(maize bran. Casaava peels)
Sunflower seed
Peanuts
Processed feed
Vitamin suppliments
You can choose from the whole range of these ingredient. You do not necessarily
have to use all of them.
For example
MIXING FOR STARTER 50 kgs
30 kg of crashed maize
10 kg of soyabeans
4 kg Finely crashed eggshells (bonemeal)
5 kg Mesh or creshes
100g salt
Plus vitamin suppliment
Mix together these ingredients and feed your baby chickens AD LIB( without schedule as per
demard)
NB* MAKE SURE THESE CHICKENS ARE EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT AND FREE RANGE
MIXING FOR GROWER 50 KG
Increase amount of crashed maize and reduce amount of soya beans
32 kg crashed maize
8 kg soya beans
4 kg crashed eggshells
5kg mesh or cresh
100g salt
Add vitamin suppliment
NB* ALLOW FREE RANGING AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK. AND ALSO PREPARE WHAT
IS KNOWN AS CHICKEN SCRETCH. Its not he same as feed. Its a treat for your chickens. Its
a combination of cracked corn( chibage) and other grains peanuts, sunflower seeds or processed
pellets of grower feed. It is a great source of energy helps keep your chicken warm especially in
winter.
MIXING FOR PRODUCTION AND GROWTH 50 kg
Just do the same as for grower
Use finisher pellets for chicken scretch
Lower amount ot soyabeans from time to time
NB* allow for free ranging
Points to consider overaly when mixing your feed.
1. Medicate your feed to avoid diseases such as coccidiosis and others.
2. Always expose your flock to sunlight for vitamins
3. Ensure good stocking space for number of birds
4. Always roast your Soyabeans and slightly crash your grains inoder to expose nutrients when
feeding. If you do not roast your soya your chickens will not grow and might die.
5. Use vitamin suppliments and also alternate ingredients if desired results are not visible.
6. Avoid contamination of feed hen mixing. And ensure storage is clean