ArticleBliss Directory
Free Article Directory
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Actions
Print Article
BookMark Article
Author Login 
Important
Existing members will have to use the lost password facility to get new username and new password
Welcome Guest! Please login or create an account.
If you do not have an account yet, you can register ( Here ), or you may retrieve a lost user/pass ( Here ).
Navigation 
- Home
- Privacy Policy
- Terms Of Use
- Submit Guidelines
- Learn More
- Top Articles
- Ebay UK Store
- Ebay US Store
Author Highlights 
Antony Wilson
London
Deepak Bisht
Nainital
"Born on Friday the 13th"
Tom Thomas
Nottingham
"Tom T Thomas is associated with Best Mobile Phone Deals and Write Articles for Mobile..."
Other Websites 
Feeding Chickens Correctly Will Keep Them Producing Eggs In Great Numbers
Author : Joshua Hardingur
Feeding chickens is more than merely putting out some grains for your hens. If you expect to keep chickens that furnish you with top quality eggs on a regular basis you need to understand a few fundamentals about chicken feeding. When pullets first start laying eggs, during the initial laying stage, they are still maturing. All through this stage they must have an increased quantity of protein. As the quantity of eggs begins to lessen their protein requirements also diminish.
Commercial growers know that protein is costly so they pay attention to protein quantities carefully when feeding chickens. They start by giving 18% protein for the initial 4 months of their egg laying cycle and then decrease it to 16% at about 4 months. Protein is reduced to 15% when the pullets decline to approximately 65% production from their maximum.
Most small backyard chicken raisers aim to keep everything as basic as they can and as a result give their hens a constant diet throughout the full egg laying cycle. This is customarily done with an all-mash diet that contains about 16% or 17% protein levels.
Mash is prepared from finely crushed grains and is provided in two principal ways. It is either mixed to supply all of the chicken's daily nutrient requirements or offered in addition to other grains. Feeding pullets a considerable percentage of grains immediately before roost time can help them stay warmer and more comfy during the nighttime.
Grit most commonly is provided in the manner of small stones or granite and must be offered to pullets consuming grains. Grit helps grind the whole grains and improving digestion. Chickens will consume all types of stuff, as well as feathers, and grit must at all times be accessible to help hens digest these different substances, even when being offered all of their diet by way of an all-mash feed.
Grains will normally cause hens to put on additional fat which will normally cause egg laying to drop, so it is essential not to give grains in large amounts. Additionally, whole grains, also named scratch feeds, are typically lower in protein, having around 10%, so the mash will include as much as 20% up to 40% protein depending on how many grains are given. A diet of mash and grains will supply total protein of around 16%.
To lower the feed cost kitchen table scraps and garden surplus can be given as a substitute for grains. These types of food can be used as a substitute for some of the grains, but should be fed in small-sized amounts as they will normally reduce the protein quantities in the overall total diet. Depending on the type of table scraps given, they can be the cause of bad tasting eggs. Offering vegetable peelings or skins and green tops is good, but providing onions, fruit peelings, and other strong-flavored items are not.
Calcium is an exceptionally crucial requirement in an egg-layer's diet as it is needed to form strong egg shells. Giving chickens all-mash meals is normally sufficient as all-mash diets most often include about 3% or more calcium. If egg shell quality ever appears to diminish extra calcium must be added to their meals. Calcium is most often provided in as oyster shells.
Fresh clean water is another indispensable item that must be offered at all times. Egg production will drop if pullets are not given water for even short periods of time. Making certain the water is clean by changing it daily is also vital as sullied water can dissuade pullets from drinking the required amount. Polluted water can also cause the spread of disease. To maintain top egg production pullets must have a suitable diet and ample amounts of fresh clean water.
Author's Resource Box
Joshua has successfully grown chickens for over two decades and is an authority in getting top egg production from his birds. He has a website where you can learn more concerning chicken feeding, how to build a top-notch chicken ark, and the importance of feeding chickens the correct diet.
Article Source:
Articlebliss
Tags: feeding chickens, chicken feeding, chicken ark, chicken arks, chicken coop, chicken coops, chickens
Author RSS Feed
Category RSS Feed
Submitted : 2010-02-03 Word Count : 792 Popularity: 148