Feed and Water

Feed and Water

By Belinda Grundling and Jessica Lewis

Feed:

• It is important to check feed daily and containers used for feed should be cleaned completely at the beginning of each week.
• The feed given to poultry needs to meet their growing needs and stage of life.
• Red Hen is a good balanced feed that has a variety of grain. This or equivalent feed is recommended.
• Poultry are usually fed pellets, crumbles and a variety of seeds or mash.
• Poultry can be fed by using grain feeders or simply by attaching a feed and water container to their cages.
• Feed can be stored in feed bins and under a roof to prevent spoilage.
• The way protein is supplied in the chooks feed is by including:

1. Fishmeal
2. Sunflower Meal
3. Soybean Meal
4. Meat Meal.

• During the early brooding and rearing period there is a high demand for protein for body growth and development.
• When the chickens increase their age there is also an increased demand for energy, warmth and activity.
• During the chickens laying period their requirements for protein are decreasing.

  

The main five feed requirements for poultry are:

1. Protein
2. Fats
3. Vitamins
4. Minerals
5. Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are supplied by grains such as:

1. Wheat
2. Maize
3. Barley
4. Sorghum
5. Oats

• Fats are not usually added to poultry diets except for meat birds.
• Minerals are needed in poultry diets for egg production and growth.
• Vitamins are needed if the poultry bird is housed away from sunlight.
• The most important vitamins for poultry are vitamin A, B2 and D3.
• Vitamins can be added to feed or mixed daily in their drinking water.
• Layer hens need calcium to produce a hard eggshell.

Water:

• Poultry drinking water needs to be clean and fresh, checked daily.
• Dewormers, antibiotics and vitamins can be given through their drinking water if required.
• Ducks can be given small ponds to swim in.