Nettle is widely used not only in cooking, but also for feeding livestock and poultry. At the same time, many owners use greens only to reduce the financial costs of feed, not knowing about all the benefits of grass. Consider the composition and valuable qualities of nettle, as well as ways of its correct use for feeding broiler chickens.

Chemical composition

100 g of greens contains 33 kcal.

The nutritional value of the same amount of the product is:

• proteins - 2.6 g;
• fats - 0.3 g;
• carbohydrates - 5.2 g.

Did you know? In the UK, nettle leaves are used to make wine. At the same time, only 67 kg of raw materials are enough for the manufacture of 5 thousand liters.

The plant contains many vitamins in its composition: A, C, E, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, K, H. Mineral composition: potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chlorine, phosphorus, copper, iron, manganese , zinc, selenium.

The greenery also contains phytoncides, tannins, phenolic acids, and essential oils.

The balanced composition, the presence of phytoncides, a large amount of vitamins and minerals allow the plant to be used to combat pathogenic flora and radiation.

The benefits of nettle

Greens allow not only to diversify the diet of broiler chickens, but also to save on expensive mineral and vitamin supplements.

It contains a whole range of substances that have a positive effect on both the immune system and digestion.

Important! The younger the nettle, the more vitamins it contains. Therefore, be careful when collecting raw materials.

Bone problems are typical for young broilers, since weight gain occurs several times faster than the formation of bones and tendons. Because of this, every 2-3 chicks suffer from problems with the musculoskeletal system.

The plant contains calcium, phosphorus and potassium, which strengthen the skeleton, and also contribute to its full development.

Also, the composition contains a relatively large amount of protein, while there are practically no fats. This allows not only to saturate the body of chickens with vitamins and minerals, but also to increase the total calorie content of the diet.

How and in what form should be given

Greens begin to give to young animals from three days of age. At the same time, the leaves are not fed in their pure form, but the product is evenly mixed with liquid porridge. Preliminarily, the leaves are finely cut by hand just before feeding, since together with the liquid the nettle loses its beneficial substances.

It is not recommended to use a blender or similar technique when slicing.

Important! In 6-7 hours after cutting, the greens lose half of their vitamin composition.

In order for the food of young animals to be not only nutritious, but also useful, the proportion of nettle should not exceed 20%. For example, if you give a bird 100 g of porridge, then only 25 g of nettle should be added to it.

In order not to be mistaken with the norms, use the table.

Nettle is given to both young and grown birds (always in crushed form). This is primarily due to the presence of formic acid in the plant. It is she who has a scalding effect.

When mixed with other food, the crushed leaves quickly pass through sensitive areas. If you give greens without preliminary grinding, then the bird may choke, or the mucous membranes of the bird's food tract may swell greatly.

How to prepare for the winter

If you have a large freezer on your farm, then freezing valuable greens for the winter is the best option. In this case, the nettle will retain most of all nutrients. However, if this option is not suitable, then you can use one of the following procurement methods.

Granulation. In a warm period, large volumes of nettles are collected, after which they are finely chopped and passed through a grass cutter. The result is a finely ground mass. Next, a granulator is used, which can be purchased in specialized stores, or made at home.

After pelleting, you get valuable feed that can be stored for a long time, and will be a salvation in winter, when the bird lacks vitamins. Also, during pelleting, you can add chalk, fish oil, or other feed to the mixture. Thus, you get a complete nutritional mix.

Herbal flour. The collected greens are washed, dried, and then stored in bags. To save space, as well as to correctly calculate the dose, dry grass is ground into flour, which later acts as an excellent addition to any feed.

Did you know? Nettle greens can be used to store food in the absence of a refrigerator. It is enough to wrap meat or fish in leaves, and they will not deteriorate even in the heat.

Nettle is an excellent vitamin supplement not only for green soup, but also for the daily diet of poultry. It allows you to abandon antibiotics and vitamin mixtures in the warm season, significantly reducing the cost of keeping broilers. And raw materials prepared in summer in time will help enrich the poultry's leaner winter diet.

Today, many farmers are engaged in breeding domestic animals. The most important thing is to know how to do it correctly. Any poultry farmer knows that proper feeding plays an important role in raising chickens. Only if chickens are fed a balanced, wholesome diet can a farmer be able to get quality produce. In this article, we will try to figure out what can not be fed to chickens, how to improve their egg production through nutrition, and whether flour products can be given to birds.

What is better to give to pets?

So what do you need to know about this? Many novice farmers are interested in what can and cannot be fed to domestic chickens. Typically, garden and kitchen waste is used for this purpose. Potatoes that are unusable can be fed to the bird. Green, too small, or sprouted tubers will do. Chickens are also given potato peelings. One bird can eat 50-100 grams of this feed per day.

It is also desirable to give chickens dry or soaked bread. The diet can also include crushed bones, meat leftovers, fish offal. Beet and carrot tops, the remains of berries and fruits are excellent for laying hens. A mash can be made from these ingredients.

Protein nutrition

What is its peculiarity? What can and cannot be fed to chickens? Experienced farmers' advice often mentions protein foods.

It includes:

• buttermilk;
• milk;
• cottage cheese;
• serum;
• curdled milk;
• fish or meat waste;
• small fish;
• shellfish.

For the preparation of chicken mash, cake and meal from agricultural crops are often taken. Small amphibians, May beetles and worms can be used as a source of protein in the diet.

Application of compound feed

Is it worth it or not? The owners of large farms talk about the convenience of using compound feed. It is recommended that you select a specific food that is appropriate for your type of poultry. For example, there are certain feeds on sale today that increase egg production. If you are raising meat breeds, then the feed should not contain components that reduce weight gain.

In terms of nutritional value and composition, ready-made feeds are in no way inferior to natural ones. From 60 to 70% of the composition is oats, bran, millet and barley. 20-30% are maize and legumes. The food also contains berries, vegetables, vitamins and minerals, bone meal, milk powder and dried herbs.

What shouldn't be given to poultry?

If you want to successfully manage the farm, you definitely need to know what to feed the chickens absolutely. These birds are almost omnivorous. Many breeders take advantage of this. They use stale and spoiled food as feed. This can lead to disease and eating disorders in birds. With such feeding, there is also a high risk of contracting fungal diseases of the respiratory system.

How to prepare food?

Correct feeding of chickens involves thorough grinding of all components. Carrots, beets and other root vegetables should be given to birds in grated raw form. Boil the potatoes first. This will get rid of the excess starch. The use of green potatoes often leads to food poisoning. Also, make sure that vegetables, grains and herbs are free of dirt and debris.

Prohibited foods

What can and cannot be fed to chickens? The advice of experienced farmers prescribes not to include muffins and sweets in the chicken diet. In small quantities, it is permissible to give chickens grain bread. In addition, food should not contain excess salt. If you want to flavor your food with fish oil, then choose only the highest quality product. Poor raw materials can cause unpleasant odors from chicken products.

Eating a lot of whole milk can cause dysbiosis in birds. The list of prohibited products also includes sausages, smoked meats, mushrooms, sausages, cheese, butter, spices, semi-finished fish products, confectionery and jam.

Greens for laying hens

What is its use? In the warm season, half of the diet of poultry can be fresh herbs. This approach will help provide chickens with all the necessary components and micronutrients. In addition, such a fresh diet can significantly improve productivity. Economics is also an advantage of herbal feeding. Green food helps to improve the taste of eggs. The yolk from this feeding will be brighter. Grass is easily digested by birds and easier to digest than artificial food.

What kind of greens is better for chickens? What cannot be fed to laying hens? Experts recommend using alfalfa in the diet of birds. It contains a lot of vitamin A, which has a great effect on the vision of laying hens. Wheat grains are high in vitamin E. It is responsible for the immunity and productivity of chickens. Eating clover can help replenish your protein needs. Sorrel is used to saturate the body of chickens with vitamin C.

What grass to give to adults?

The feed mixture may contain 15-30% green components. Adults should be given herbs such as plantain, nettle, alfalfa, woodlice, dandelion, wheatgrass, clover, cereals, euphorbia, sorrel. You can also include legumes and hard vegetables in the diet of chickens. Cabbage leaves are a good source of vitamins. Chicken feathers, dill, and parsley can also be included in the chicken diet. Amaranth is high in healthy proteins.

How to serve the herb?

Birds can either peck greens on their own in the place where they grow, or use them together with the feed mixture. Experts recommend hanging bunches of grass near the feeding area. This will prevent the hens from trampling them. As a rule, birds independently choose which greenery suits them best. Feel free to give them herbs and weeds. The only exceptions are poisonous plants. In winter, when there is not enough greenery, you can feed the birds with dried coniferous flour and wheat.

Unsuitable for feeding

What are they? How to feed the laying hens? Prohibited foods include a number of herbs. To eliminate the likelihood of poisoning, experienced farmers recommend limiting the area where chickens are walking. Poisonous herbs must be dug up together with the roots, otherwise they will germinate again. What plants are considered dangerous to birds? These are elderberry, spotted hemlock, broom, cicuta, potato inflorescences, henbane, belladonna, hellebore, black nightshade, juniper, horse chestnut. If a bird eats any plant from the above list, it can become seriously ill or even die. It is imperative to monitor the walking of chickens. You also need to know about herbs. To completely exclude the possibility of harmful plants getting into food, it is better to keep chickens in closed enclosures and give them greens only with food.

Can bread be given?

The main requirement for a balanced diet for chickens is the availability of nutritious and beneficial elements such as fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. In this regard, a completely natural question arises: "Is it possible to give bread to chickens?" Opinions on this matter differ greatly. The type of baking is of great importance here. If you mix bread with bran, cottage cheese, meat, herbs and potatoes, you get a good complete bird food. Such food will not harm the health of the chickens and will have a good effect on the level of egg production. As for fresh bread, it is not recommended to give it to birds. Such a product can adversely affect the health of the chicken, as well as reduce immunity.

The fact is that in chicken stomachs, fresh bread swells and turns into a dense lump. It can even kill the bird. Black breads are especially dangerous. They contain salt and yeast and are also highly acidic. Such a composition helps to activate the fermentation mechanism, which reduces egg production.

Many household owners believe that spoiled bread can be fed to chickens. However, moldy baked goods can seriously harm birds. It can lead to poisoning and metabolic problems. To remove the negative impact from moldy baked goods, you need to hold it in the oven.

Can any bread be given to birds? What should not be fed to chickens? In no case is it recommended to give sweet buns and pastries with various fillings. This type of diet helps to thicken the blood and can lead to digestive upsets. Since white bread is also high in carbohydrates, it can only be given in the form of rusks. But even in this form with feeding, you should not be zealous. During the winter season, bread can be an excellent source of energy for birds. However, if chickens are kept in cages or small enclosures, it is better not to use this food. Such food, combined with lack of movement, can cause vascular blockage.

Conclusion

The productivity and egg production of chickens primarily depend on the diet. What should not be fed to chickens? What to give to hens to improve egg quality? How to properly form a diet? The main requirement in this case is nutritional value and the presence of useful components. Chickens are omnivorous. They can willingly eat any food, be it mixed feed or leftovers. But in order to get high levels of productivity, you need to choose the right food. Only in this case will the hens be healthy and be able to lay at full strength. A balanced chicken feed should include grains and legumes, fresh herbs, vegetables, berries, fruits, cottage cheese and meat. For a good giving of eggs, you can use both ready-made mixtures and a mash made at home.

Feeding chickens

The paradox associated with nutrition: the smaller the bird, the more it requires food. Scientists cannot explain this strange pattern. It seems that the stomach is small, but they eat everything without knowing the norm. Especially in winter. And the successful breeding of poultry depends precisely on the feeding regime..

In winter, adult birds should be fed 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening. In the morning you need to give soft and warm food, in the evening - dry grain. Compliance with this rule is very important, as in winter there are short days and long nights. During the night sitting on the perches, birds that have eaten hard grains feel less the influence of frost, since the activity of the digestive organs continues. Between morning and evening feedings, you can allow the birds to peck on cabbage or greens by hanging them on the walls or hanging them from the ceiling of the house so that food can be reached. Greens do not contribute to obesity, and birds peck it with great pleasure.

In the warm season, feeding can be done in different modes. Where birds use spacious, vegetated walks, it is enough to feed them once a day - in the morning. They won't get hungry in a short night.

In autumn, when birds can feed on grains for stubble, there is no need to feed them. Where there are no spacious walks, you need to feed the birds more often than in winter - 3 times a day.

Chicks should be fed as often as possible: in the first days of life - 5-6 times a day. Then, until Z-H-week age - Z-H times a day. As they grow, the number of feedings is determined depending on whether the chickens have the opportunity to get some of their food themselves.

Birds should be given as much feed as needed to keep them healthy and productive. Lack of feed weakens the body and lowers productivity, while excess feed leads to obesity and decreased productivity. Determining the required portion of feed depends on the experience and observation of the owner. Experienced poultry farmers advise giving so much feed so that the birds do not eat their fill and greedily take feed in the next dacha. If they are taken sluggishly for food, being quite healthy, the portion should be reduced.

Depending on the properties of the feed, it should be given in more or less quantity. Poultry eat less dry grain than soft feed, vegetables and herbs. It is impossible to compare the giving of grain feed and, for example, bran mixed with water. The latter will need much more to deliver a small amount of nutrients to the bird.

Great importance is attached to the variety of feed. It is better to give grain of one or two types as the main food, diversifying it with soft food in another dacha, and also additionally feed vegetables, herbs, and meat.

Chickens require much more varied feed. In the first days of life, they should be fed with animals and soft food, while giving them one or two types of grain. As the grain grows, the portions of the grain are increased, and the portions of the animal feed are reduced. Gradually, the number of feed components is reduced, and the bird is content with those few of its species to which it is most accustomed recently.

Chickens should be fed according to a strictly established daily routine, at the same hours. If the routine is disrupted, chickens become restless; they lose weight and rush worse.

For feeding the birds, experts make up daily rations.

But for chickens of the general use type, the standard diet needs to be slightly changed, namely:

1) increase the amount of grain-flour feed by 16-18 g;

2) increase the amount of roots or juicy greens by 15-20 g.

For pullet hens, nutritional norms (from autumn to March) should be increased by 15%, as their body continues to develop.

Feed quality and bird health

With a lack of nutrients, animals grow slowly, gain weight poorly, and their egg production and appetite decrease. With a lack of amino acids and hormones, typical symptoms appear, such as abnormal egg shell formation, poor or abnormal feathering, or rickets. The quantity and quality of feed affects the color of the yolk. With intensive maintenance and high egg production, the color of the yolk is light if there were no yellow or red components in the feed. These are, for example, corn or green grass flour, peppers and other vegetables with bright colors. Consumers in Germany prefer the yellow-colored yolk, believing that with this color of the yolk the egg also acquires good taste and nutritional value. A similar situation is with brown shells - brown is more pleasant for the eye.

Carotene affects the color of the shell. The taste and smell of eggs depends not so much on the composition of the feed, but on the external conditions, such as storage and processing of food. For example, careless handling of an egg (for example, storing it with other food with a pungent smell) leads to the fact that it acquires a bad taste.

Feeding technique for chickens

Chickens are usually fed with one type of feed or a combination. No additives are required during mono-feed feeding. Combo feeding provides supplemental grain feed.

Feeding with one type of feed.

This type of feeding is convenient, since birds always have this feed at their disposal in auto feeders, and the poultry farmer does not need to follow the feeding regime. It is necessary to constantly monitor that the troughs are only 1/3 full, or at least half full, otherwise a lot of feed will rot. Chickens cannot find expensive ready-made meal in the form of flour in the flooring, and it disappears. With a loss of only 5 g of such feed per year for each chicken, the total loss will be 1.5-2 kg of feed.

Combined feeding.

For this type of feeding, it is recommended to use commercial cereal feed. Accurate dosing of feed is important and this means a great time dependence of the owner. It is advisable that the food is dispensed at the same time, preferably in the evening. For each chicken, approximately 50 g per day is provided with free access to flour for layers (supplementary feed for layers).

Care should be taken to ensure that the chickens receive a sufficient amount of protein feed, which is necessary for good egg production; a certain amount of feed must be freely available. Grain should only be poured in the amount indicated above. We advise you to weigh a portion of grain once, then it will be easier to pour it in for the whole day.

If there is too much grain in the feed, the chickens fatten quickly and reduce egg production. When keeping animals for walking, it must be remembered that the food that the birds are looking for for themselves is only additional food and does not really matter.

Chickens quickly get used to the evening portion of grain. If the grain is scattered in a thin layer on the floor, the chickens, raking the flooring, make it loose and soft, it remains dry. Another advantage of evening feeding is that the chickens go to bed with a full goiter and the digestive system is active all night.

Basic feed for chickens

Poultry feeds mainly on grain. In addition, she eats various herbs and their seeds, leaves of many trees and shrubs, vegetables, berries, fruits of many plants, as well as worms, slugs, insects and their larvae, frogs, meat, fish, crushed bones.

In the diet of poultry, depending on the species and age, grain is from 60 to 75%. It is easily digested both in whole and in crushed form. It should be noted that there is no need to give the bird carefully processed grain, weaned and refined. The husk of the grains contains a significant part of the minerals necessary for the formation of the skeleton and feathers. Therefore, a bird in villages can exist without getting anything but bran, husk from buckwheat and oatmeal, scalded with boiling water and occasionally flavored with rye flour. Many weed seeds come across in unweathered grain, and the bird eats it more readily. It goes without saying that the grain feed must be of good quality, that is, not rotted, not spoiled, not burnt, etc.

Influence of feed on product quality

Such feeds as millet, oats, barley contribute to the growth of meat, an increase in egg production, and wheat, corn and buckwheat - to the deposition of fat. The former are more suitable in the warm season, the latter - in the cold. If, for example, chickens that are kept warm are poured into one and the other feed, then they will peck mainly on millet, but in a cold room, the same chickens will prefer wheat as a more warming feed.

Greens, vegetables, berries, etc. do not have any special nutritional properties, but are useful as stimulating the digestion of poultry and as a medicine.

Animal feed is more nutritious, but it is also impossible to keep a bird on it alone, as well as on greenery alone. Animal feed is a good feeding aid. In the warm season, poultry walking in the open finds animal feed for themselves, but in winter it is useful to introduce meat from domestic animals or waste obtained during slaughter into its diet. The meat is boiled, cut into small pieces and given to the birds 2 to 3 times a week in the amount of 30-40 g per 1 head. If given more often and more, the birds will stop eating this food. Meat given in small quantities maintains energy and stimulates the sexual activity of birds, and, therefore, affects their egg production.

Crushed raw bones are also considered animal feed. They significantly affect the laying of eggs, help maintain the health and vigor of the bird. In addition, eggs from chickens fed with crushed bones will almost all be fertilized and produce the strongest chicks.

Fish, just like meat, helps to strengthen the egg clutch. It is useful for molting hens and chickens, enhances the growth of their feathers and stimulates the body's activity.

To give fish to chickens or chickens must be deboned, boiled or fried, crushed or crushed, mixed with feed.

Certain types of feed products specifically affect the quality of poultry products. For example, fish imparts an unpleasant taste to eggs and meat. If you constantly introduce onions into the diet of chickens, then the taste of onions appears in the eggs.

The meat and eggs of chickens, constantly looking for food near the fallen needles of the needles, acquire a bitter taste. Some substances stimulate the nervous system of the bird. These include ginger, mustard, nettle and hemp seeds. They are sometimes used to stimulate the laying of eggs.

It is also known that the same food, but in different species, affects the bird differently. Oats, barley, millet, given in the form of hard grain, contribute to the deposition of meat and an increase in egg production, but the same feed, given in the form of flour, contributes to the obesity of poultry.

Hard grain gives dense meat and fat, while flour, on the contrary, produces tender meat and fat. In chickens that feed mainly on greens and animal food, eggs are not able to survive for a long time. This is noticeable in the conditions of household farms, where chickens almost completely provide themselves with food in the summer. Therefore, the issue of feed and feeding methods is one of the important issues and deserves due attention.

Mineral dressing

The bird receives the minerals missing in feed from table salt, chalk, limestone, sea and river shells, ash, bone meal and gravel.

For the body of a bird, those minerals that are in ordinary feed are not enough, and they use pebbles, a shell. All poultry farmers know that birds need them, but their meaning is one-sidedly interpreted. It is believed that the pebbles and shells serve to grind food in the stomach. But it is not so. First, chickens and other poultry swallow pebbles, shells even when they receive soft food. Pebbles and shells are found only in the muscular stomach of the bird, they are not at all in the goiter and glandular stomach, where the food softens and turns into gruel, so that it does not need grinding. In the stomach, where the pebbles are located, the food comes already in an almost processed form. The pebbles and shells swallowed by the bird, if not all, then most, dissolve in the stomach and go to maintain the skeleton. A free-walking bird has 30-50 g of pebbles and sand in its stomach.

Corn

Grain is the main feed for poultry. It should be at least half of the diet. For a short digestive tract of a bird and a high metabolic rate in its body, grain with its high concentration of nutrients is the most suitable feed. However, the insufficient protein content in the grain and its amino acid composition do not satisfy the poultry's needs for productive feed. Therefore, it is necessary to enter the diet as an additive protein concentrate.

Hemp seedis intoxicating and should sometimes be given in small quantities at noon, especially to roosters. During the cessation and beginning of egg-laying, giving it is obligatory, as well as during molting, since it accelerates the molting and makes the plumage of the bird brilliant.

Flax-seedhas the same properties as hemp. But chickens do not peck it dry, so it should be given steamed in a mixture with soft food.

Sunflower seedhas the same properties as hemp and linseed, and is given in the same amount and at the same time as hemp.

The best grain feed for young and adult poultry is corn, which contains a lot of carbohydrates, fats and starches. In terms of nutritional value, it surpasses all other types of grain and is a very good food in winter, especially in severe frosts. It should be given in the evening, approximately O, H kg for four chickens (2 kg of weight). However, large quantities of corn can cause obesity.

Barleyfor enrichment with B vitamins, germinate. When fattening young stock with barley, juicy, tender and tasty white meat is obtained.

The bird readily eats millet, but it contains a lot of fiber. Young animals in the first 5-10 days of life are fed it in the form of millet.

The bird is given wheat waste. Wheat branare rich in minerals, vitamins E and B. But due to the high content of crude fiber, it is recommended to feed bran in young animals and poultry in a limited amount.

An adult bird is fed rye- 10% of the weight of concentrated feed, young animals - up to 5%.

Oats -a very valuable feed, but still in the diet of an adult bird it should be no more than 20-30% of the total grain feed. It should also be remembered that oats have a lot of films, and they are almost indigestible (especially a lot of films in shriveled oats). Therefore, the bird needs to be fed full-fledged oats, and even better - shastany (from which awn and part of the films are beaten off). It is useful to give some oats in sprouted or steamed form (for chickens - up to 25 g per day).

For germination, oats are poured into a tub and filled with water; after a day, the water is drained, and the swollen grain is scattered in a layer of 6-8 cm (on plywood, on boards, in boxes or on the floor). At a temperature of 22-27 ° C, oats will soon "bite", after which germination can be stopped.

Oats are also very good food for chickens. But it must be given without shells, in the form of purely sifted cereals or flour. Oat shells are harmful to young animals, as they clog the stomach and intestines.

Buckwheatits composition is close to oats. In large quantities, whole unpeeled buckwheat can be harmful to poultry. Buckwheat is a very good food, but also very expensive.

Peas, lentils and beansmust be recognized as one of the best pathogens of egg-laying. These foods make birds stronger, healthier and sexually more productive. Peas and lentils, until the chickens get used to them, should be given by steaming strongly with boiling water, then they can be given dry. The beans are given crushed and steamed or cooked until tender.

Good protein feeds are peas and fodder lupine.

Acorns.With an abundance of oak forests in some areas, dried and ground acorns can replenish forage resources. Acorns are poor in protein but high in carbohydrates and fats. When acorns are fed to hens, the yolk becomes darkish in color. It is better to give acorns to chickens and ducks when fattening, or to feed the bird when it is not rushing.

Oilcakes and meal are valuable additives to feed for adult poultry and chickens of all age groups. These foods are rich in protein. They contain up to 41-43% protein.

Hay flour and dust. For the preparation of the most valuable hay flour, it is best to take alfalfa and clover hay (not coarse); this flour is used both in dry and wet forage mash. The best quality dust is obtained from coarse (early harvested) clover hay; it is used most often in winter. Very useful for young animals.

Dried nettleis fed not only to adult birds, but also to chickens. For this, dried nettles are finely chopped, then steamed and added to the mash. Only young nettles are dried, without coarse stems. Cut or mown nettles must first be tied up in small brooms and hung in the attic or in a shed (preferably in a draft) to dry, and then they should be dried at 60-70 ° C.

Sunflower, linseed and soybean cakesAre plant foods rich in proteins. Oilcakes are sometimes used to replace part of animal feed.

Grain slices(grain waste) is very diverse in quality. The less foreign impurities (straw particles, chaff, earth, dust) are in them, the more nutritious they are. The composition of wheat and rye saws used for poultry feed varies within the following limits: broken and coarse grain - 20-44%; weed seeds - 19-68%; various impurities - 5-45%.

Flour dustit is a mixture of flour and bran with an admixture of earth, dust, etc. The most nutritious is white dust, less nutritious - gray and least nutritious dust with a large admixture of earth particles. Flour dust, preferably white, can replace some of the grains in the diet, especially when birds are about to lay their eggs.

Malt sproutsare obtained by germinating barley. They are added to the grain diet. The sprouts contain a special substance called lecithin, which is rich in phosphorus. They must be given to layers and males to obtain breeding eggs of high fertility and subsequent viability of the embryos.

Yeast,as a small supplement to the diet, they are the main source of vitamin B1 for poultry. Dry yeast composition: protein - 48.1%; carbohydrates - 29.3%; water - 10.8%; fiber - 2.6%; minerals - 2.6%; fats - 1%.

Yeast is mainly introduced into the diet of chickens raised without walking in the amount of 1-5%.

Silagecan be included in the diet of chickens as a juicy feed rich in vitamins. For poultry, only good quality silage prepared from non-stagnant plants is suitable. The most suitable are silage rich in protein from leguminous crops (clover, alfalfa), as well as silage from haulm and cut off heads of sugar beets, corn, steamed potatoes. Chickens are given 20-25 g of silage per day for 1 head. During the laying of the breeding egg, no more than 10-15 g of silage should be given. Silage can be added to moist mash or fed mixed with bran or barley flour.

When feeding with silage, you should carefully monitor the cleanliness of the feeders and often rinse them with hot liquor, removing from the feeders the feed scattered during the meal, which quickly deteriorates. In addition, to neutralize the acids in the silage, the birds need to be fed 3–5% chalk, while providing free access to mineral feed.

Green feed

Green forage is a source of vitamins and, in part, minerals. They are included in the diet in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the concentrates. Birds consume greens while they are walking. The green parts of young plants are of the greatest value for them. Alfalfa, clover, peas in the budding stage are used in large quantities.

The leaves and young stems of nettle, which has long been considered bird food, contain many valuable nutrients: proteins, carotene, vitamins A, B, C, K, etc. It is better to feed the nettle in spring or early summer, when its leaves and stems are not yet hardened and especially rich in various nutrients.

Kale produces green mass from late July to early August, when all herbs are coarse and therefore poorly eaten. Using it, you can provide the bird with a green vitamin feed until winter.

Small chopped cabbage is fed in a mixture with flour feed. You can give carefully chopped beet and carrot tops, having previously well cleaned it of the earth and washed it. As a rule, it is included in the composition of wet mash.

Leaves of trees and needles are also good green fodder. Spruce and pine needles contain a lot of vitamin C and carotene. When using needles as a vitamin supplement, birds improve appetite, increase egg production, increase the quality of eggs, the vitality of young animals and the intensity of feeding.

Greens and vegetables of all kinds, mixed with bran, should always be given lightly boiled and finely chopped; dining room and kitchen leftovers - the same.

The quality of the greens on the run depends on the composition and age of the herbs. Good greens should consist of a mixture of so-called sweet cereals with a sufficient admixture of legumes (clover, alfalfa, vetch), which, in addition to proteins, are rich in calcium and phosphorus. Since the bird does not digest fiber well, old coarse grass is unsuitable for it, therefore, during the summer it is necessary to give young greens of good botanical composition.

Roots

Birds are fed carrots, beets, turnips, pumpkins, etc. Root crops, with the exception of carrots, are poor in carotene. Carrots, especially of bright red color, contain a lot of it, which is very valuable when growing young animals. Red carrots in the amount of 7.5% of the diet may well replace 1.6% of fish oil as a source of vitamin A.

Carrots are given to birds in dried and milled form, adding them to the mash. In the diet of laying hens, 25-30 g of raw carrots per head per day, and 6-8 g of dried carrots can be given. Root crops are fed raw and usually chopped.

Sugar beet can partially replace grain. It is usually fed raw in an amount of 50-60% of the weight of dry feed. Pumpkin is a good source of carotene and is chopped or cut in half.

From root tubers, you can give small and damaged potato tubers that do not go to human food, be sure to boil them. Potatoes are eagerly eaten by birds and are well digested. Up to 100 g of potatoes per day can be introduced into the diet of chickens; chickens begin to feed it from 15-20 days of age.

They also give watermelons and ripe tomatoes, no more than 20-30 g per head.

Plenty of food for birds and in the garden. A drop of apples and pears can be given to adult chickens in chopped form, 15-20 g per head per day.

In winter, cabbage heads should be hung on a rope in the chicken coops - at such a height that the chickens can peck them freely. Do not give soaked black bread. It should be given constantly dry, cut into small pieces.

Hay

The source of vitamins in winter is the hay of cultivated plants (clover, alfalfa, cereals) and wild herbs (young nettle, quinoa, etc.). The best quality hay is obtained when drying grass in the shade - under a canopy, in free buildings. Turn it over carefully so that the leaves are not sprinkled. It is necessary to store shade-dried hay in a dark place, tightly packed.

Animal feed

Of the protein-rich feeds, animal feed, or, as they are also called, animal feed, is more useful for birds. Let's list the main ones.

Milk and dairy products- the most valuable feed, especially for chickens and turkey poults. Whole milk is, of course, rarely fed to poultry; more often skim milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, churning (liquid waste obtained when butter is churned) and even whey are used. Whey is poor in protein compared to other dairy products, but it contains easily digestible minerals. Therefore, it should be given to both chickens and laying hens. Usually whey is given instead of water.

Remember the rule: dairy products should not be served in galvanized dishes.

Meat and meat and bone mealmade from animal carcasses rejected for human food. Store flour only in a dry, cool place (preferably in hanging bags, not in boxes).

Fresh meat and meat waste,passed through a meat grinder. Raw waste is given only if there is complete confidence that the meat is from a non-infectious animal.

Fish flour- a valuable protein feed, it contains up to 5060% protein, it is also rich in phosphorus and calcium. Fishmeal is made in different ways, but only one made from fresh fish is suitable for birds.

Blood meal- this is dried and crushed fresh blood; flour is made in slaughterhouses.

Various, well-cooked and chopped food:frog meat, choked chickens, animal traces.

May beetles. They are harvested in May by shaking off the trees. The collected beetles are dried in an oven and stored in a dry place, preferably in tightly closed jars.

Earthworms.To breed them, you can make special "worms". Dig a hole 50-70 cm deep, put straw manure (preferably horse manure) in a layer of 5

10 cm, and on it there is a layer of rotted manure of the same thickness. Place a dozen large earthworms in it for divorce. Put a layer of straw manure on top again, then a layer of rotted manure with worms, etc. until the pit is full. After that, cover the pit with wet straw. The straw should be watered periodically, depending on the weather. After one and a half to two months, the worms will multiply. You can store worms for the winter.

Hard and soft food

There are two main types of food: hard and soft. The first type includes mainly grains or grass seeds in their natural state, soft - flour made from these grains, as well as vegetables, herbs and animal feed. Grains and seeds soaked in water or scalded with boiling water should also be counted as soft food. Often soft food is made up of different varieties of flour, as well as bran with the addition of various boiled vegetables and herbs. Greens and vegetables are always given in chopped form, both boiled and raw. Mash is made from flour in milk, whey or water.

Soft feed in the body of a bird is digested faster, therefore it is mainly used for fattening and raising chickens. It can be given to molting and convalescent birds in cases where enhanced and varied nutrition is required. Soft food is also fed in the case of increased egg laying, but moderately out of fear of obesity of the bird. It is good to mix ginger and mustard with it, but with great care. First, give a small pinch, and then gradually increase the dose.

Soft food is used both cold and warm. In the warm season, it can be cold, and in the cold - warm, so that there is no heat loss in the body, the consumption of which at this time is higher than usual. The feed temperature should not exceed 40 ° C.

Soft food is given in a dish that is convenient for pecking; solid feed can be given by scattering it on the floor of the room. This method of feeding is preferable, since the birds collecting it, at the same time, produce some exercise, which is very important in winter, especially for birds that are deprived of walking. Food should not be thrown onto snow or frozen ground, or given chilled in the cold. Compliance with these rules prevents disease.

Collapse

Any poultry farmer knows about the omnivorous nature of chickens. But, like any poultry, their food must be nutritious and balanced. Greens are an important part of a proper chicken diet.

But not all of it is useful, so you need to know what kind of grass you can give to laying hens so as not to harm them. Greens are a natural source of vitamins and minerals that increase immunity and improve the overall health of the bird.

Why greens are useful for layers

If birds graze on a walk, they know what kind of grass they like and they will find it themselves. But when birds are kept in a pen and do not have access to green fodder, they are deprived of many useful substances. Therefore, poultry farmers need to take care that layers always have the opportunity to nibble on fresh plants.

In summer, green forage can reach 50% of the daily diet of chickens, some poultry farmers bring this figure even higher. In addition to vitamins, greens can save a lot on the cost of purchased feed.

The introduction of grass into the diet reduces the risk of vitamin deficiency, and increases the productivity of layers. Also, greens improve marketability (the color of the yolk is brighter and richer) and the taste of eggs, promotes good digestion in chickens.

Alfalfa is good for the vision of birds, due to the high content of vitamin A. Sprouted grains of wheat are rich in vitamin E, which increases productivity, strengthening the body of layers. Sorrel is rich in vitamin C, clover and alfalfa are rich sources of protein.

Another argument for feeding chickens with fresh herbs is the use of plants to prevent and treat certain diseases in chickens.

For example, tansy and yarrow help with worms. Vitamin D, which is contained in sprouted grains, helps against rickets.

But, not all greens are useful for laying hens, there can be poisonous plants on forbs. Therefore, when adding green additives to the feed, you need to monitor the quality of the grass.

Herbs for adult layers

On average, green forage should make up 15-30% of the diet of laying hens. In summer, when there is plenty of greenery, this figure can reach 50%. Although, the percentage of the herb content depends on the composition of the diet - it should be balanced.

What grass do adult chickens like:

• dandelion;
• clover;
• nettle;
• sorrel;
• wood lice;
• spurge;
• wheatgrass;
• plantain;
• alfalfa;
• leaves of cereals.

In addition, birds are very fond of legumes, they eat hard vegetables. A good source of vitamins is cabbage, and you can feed chickens with leaves and heads of cabbage.

Beet tops, dill, parsley, onion feathers - all this chicken will eat with pleasure. Poultry farmers recommend giving birds woodlice - this is a medicinal plant that strengthens the skeleton. A good source of protein is amaranth.

The grass can be finely chopped, mixing into the feed, or you can feed it whole. To prevent the chickens from trampling the greens, it is best to tie them into bunches and hang them. You can make special feeders. To do this, simply cover any suitable container with a large mesh.

Many farmers feed weeds and herbs to their chickens. If there are no harmful plants in the total mass, you don't have to worry, the birds themselves know what kind of grass they like, so they will choose the greens that they need.

In winter, the lack of fresh greens is compensated for by dried ones. Sprouted grains and pine flour are good substitutes for herbs.

What greens to give chickens

As with adult chickens, young layers should be fed with fresh grass. In this case, it is important to know what kind of grass can be fed to chickens and how.

Chickens start feeding greens from the first day after hatching. Many poultry breeders question whether it is possible to feed chickens this bait so early. But in practice, finely chopped green onion feathers improve digestion and prevent intestinal diseases. But this must be done carefully - up to 5 days, the norm of greens is 1 g per chicken.

From day 5, the body becomes more strengthened, so this rate can be increased and diversified.

Norms of greens for chickens:

• from 0 to 5 days - 1g;
• 6 -10 - 3g:
• 11-20 - 7g;
• 21-30 - 10g;
• 31-40 - 15g;
• 41-50 - 17g.

All greens should be washed and finely chopped. For prevention, you can scald it with boiling water. You need to cook the grass just before feeding, if the greens lie for a long time after mowing, there will be few vitamins in it. Give it either by mixing with a mash, or separately.

Chickens love nettles

What grass do chickens like:

• Dandelion - rich in vitamins, has medicinal properties.
• Salad - high in minerals.
• Green onions - disease prevention, many vitamins.
• Sorrel - rich in vitamin C.
• Nettle - prevention of digestion.
• Clover - contains protein.
• Plantain is a medicinal plant.

So that the chicks hatched in winter do not suffer from a lack of vitamins, you can prepare plant supplies in the summer. To do this, the cut grass must be tied in bunches and hung for drying.

In winter, it should be given crushed. When raising young animals, it is important to know what kind of grass chickens like so as not to give them too much.

Poisonous plants for layers

In order not to poison the chickens, it is imperative to inspect the place where they are walking. Usually chickens themselves are able to distinguish useful vegetation from harmful, but it is better to keep this question under control. If poisonous plants are found on grazing, they should be removed. It is best to dig up by the root - it is less likely that they will germinate again.

Harmful herb for chickens:

• broom;
• cockle;
• black nightshade;
• henbane;
• hemlock;
• horse chestnut;
• spotted hemlock;
• belladonna;
• levkoy jaundice;
• hellebore;
• elder;
• inflorescences of potatoes;
• juniper.

All these plants can provoke disease, or death of birds. Therefore, you need to keep the walking area clean, be able to identify poisonous plants and know what kind of grass hens like. Another option is not to let the hens out of the pen by adding to the diet only those components in the benefits of which there is no doubt.

In order for chicks to develop well and layers to be healthy and productive, their diet must necessarily include fresh herbs. In addition to the vitamin content, plants serve as a preventive measure against many diseases.

They also strengthen the immune system. But before adding green supplements to the diet, you need to know if the selected herbs can be given to chickens and what effect to expect from them.

Video

Finally, a video about feeding chickens with milkweed and woodlice:

← Previous article Next article →

Hello dear readers! Every poultry farmer understands the importance of a balanced diet for females. Today we will talk about feeding chickens with nettles. There are a huge number of products that can be useful to the feathered family. Therefore, it is worth using all the available wealth of nature to make the chicken diet as balanced as possible.

We will talk about one of these useful products, which are very fond of clucks, in today's article. Consider feeding nettles to layers in winter and summer.

Nettle is an excellent food for birds. Firstly, it costs nothing, and secondly, it is rich in nutrients that chickens need for good health.

Let's take a look at what this herb contains.

1. Carbohydrates and protein. Moreover, 75% are carbohydrates, and the remaining 25% is protein. This combination is very successful because protein helps maintain and gain muscle mass, and carbohydrates provide the necessary energy.
2. Among the macronutrients that this tasty herb contains are large amounts of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium. This is all that every hen needs to form testicles.
3. Among the trace elements present, the most useful are iodine and iron. These are the components that are responsible for the proper functioning of the immune system and promote growth.
4. And of course, this plant is. Most of all contains vitamins A, C, PP, as well as several from group B.

Feeding an adult herd

The adult flock is fed fresh during the green season. If chickens have the opportunity to graze in green thickets. But, it is much more effective to give the grouse a plucked plant, or rather its leaves. Here are the basic rules for feeding.

1. As for the quantity, nettles can be fed to chickens in such quantities as your herd can eat. There are no restrictions. In some farms, birds are kept on almost one green forage in warm weather, and at the same time they are healthy.
2. It is important to understand that the bird from the plant eats only the leaves - the stems are not interesting to her. But, picking off the leaves separately, especially if you need a lot of them, is not very convenient. Therefore, a practical solution can be applied - bundling the plants. In this form, the clucks will peck off the green part, and it will be easier for you to dispose of the stems.
3. You can make a vitamin cocktail - grind fresh leaves and add to a wet mash. But, it is important to understand that during heat treatment, most of the nutrients are destroyed.

Nettle feeding chicks

Grass in the diet of chickens is not only nutritious, but also versatile. It can be used with equal success in the diet of both an adult herd and chickens. This is one of the few types of greenery that they are allowed.

But, it is necessary to give the kids greens only in a washed form. Considering that babies still have weak beaks, they are served all the food chopped to make it easier to eat.

How to prepare nettles for chickens for the winter

How to make harvesting nettles for the winter? Feeding chickens with nettles is a very profitable and convenient way, because such a product can be used all year round. It is necessary to prepare for the most difficult season in the life of birds even in warm weather. In winter, the feathered herd requires increased attention and, unfortunately, in our climatic conditions, it is much more difficult to implement.
But, if you try, it is possible. Experienced poultry farmers are engaged in the preparation of vitamin feed throughout the summer. How to harvest greens for future use?

• The first method is the most convenient, but it requires special equipment. Fresh and juicy nettle bushes are plucked in advance, dried thoroughly, interrupted and sent to a granulator. After that, ready-made granules of dried grass are obtained, which must be stored in a dry and cool place. Moisture is unacceptable, as it can mold all feed and become unusable. In winter, the finished granules are steamed with hot broth, and a wet mash is prepared with them, which the hens eat with great pleasure.

• The second method is a bit simpler and is the most popular in poultry circles. At the height of the season, the plant is mowed in large quantities, allowed to dry completely and ground into a fine powder, due to which a herbal flour is obtained - rich in vitamins and minerals. Studies have shown that in the process of harvesting by natural drying, raw materials lose only 5% of their nutrients, so they remain the same useful throughout the year. But, such flour can also lose its properties and even become dangerous if the storage conditions are violated and the humidity in the room where it is located is allowed to increase.

Product benefits

1. Firstly, it is worth noting that poultry farmers get such food absolutely free. Thanks to this, you can significantly reduce the costs associated with the maintenance of birds.
2. Thanks to this vitamin supplement, chickens can show the highest productivity indicators. It is especially good to feed the hens in the winter so that they rush more actively.
3. Nettle helps chickens to grow and develop faster, and also helps to form the immune system.
4. And the most important advantage is that it can be used all year round, both fresh and dried or concentrated. It perfectly retains all its properties, therefore it brings maximum benefit to the birds.

Adding the product in question to the diet of the winged family has many advantages and not a single contraindication or disadvantage. Irreplaceable greens are available to every poultry farmer, and they cost nothing, and besides that, they can be prepared for future use. That's all there is to say about this wonderful herb!

Did you like the article? Share with your friends on social networks:

Join us on VKontakte, read about chickens!