As a poultry farmer, it is important to know if your broiler chickens are growing and doing well as regards their feed efficiency and weight. And to help broiler chickens grow fast you need to improve their feed efficiency. The growth rate of broiler chicken is between the period of 6-8 weeks old and during this period they must weigh at least 2.5kg.

What is Broiler Feed?

Broiler feed is the key nutrients the broiler needs to power their fast growth and develop muscle.

Types of Broiler Feed

Broiler feed is formulated to  meet their nutritional requirements for high quality of meat. We have different types of feed for different stages of growth

1. Starter Feed: This feed is for broiler chicks from 0-17 days old. The birds receive the vital nutrients for a healthy beginning which also includes protein that are needed for muscle development. This feed is consumed by broiler around 0 – 17 days old.
2. Grower Feed: This feed is for birds between 17-37 days old which assist them for growth and muscle development, developing them for the finishing stage.
3. Finisher Feed: From 37 days old until slaughter, this feed helps broiler chickens reach their target weight faster and adequately and it helps them produce a high quality meat.

What is the Right Type of Feeder to Use?

The right feeding tray is key for broiler chicks to help them stable their feed in one place when eating. One of the cheapest feeders to use for those that are starting small is to use a carton, you can cut holes in the carton with a cover for them to have easy access to feed or you can buy a feeder for chicken if you can afford it. The chicks need to be in a brooder about 3-5 weeks old until they feather out and get used to the temperature.

What are the important elements of broiler feed?

Broiler feed is formulated for the birds to supply them with the right balanced diet for growth and high meat quality. And giving the chicken too much feed or giving them the wrong type of feed can lead to too much fat and provide poor meat quality. The important elements of broiler feed include:

• Protein: Broiler feed has about 18-24% protein which is higher than other birds feed.
• Energy sources: Their feed also consists of carbohydrates and fats to give them energy needed for the birds growth and activities.
• Amino acids: It also consists of essential amino acids which include; lysine and methionine, this has an important role to play in them for muscle development and protein synthesis.
• Vitamins and Minerals: Broiler feed has Vitamins A, D, E, and the B-complex and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, selenium to support the birds in their health.

What is Feeding Management?

It is important to have productive feeding management to guarantee they receive proper feed nutrition. Do the following to have an adequate feeding management:

• Ensure you have a consistent feeding schedule, this helps broilers to receive the appropriate nutrients at the right time.
• Ensure you are monitoring their growth rate. And also regulate the feed you give to the bird to reach their target market weight within the duration.
• Ensure the birds have free access to clean and fresh water to always consume their feed for easy digestion.

What are the Benefits of High Quality Feed?

The broiler feed should consist of Calcium: Phosphorus ratio of 2:1 to keep the birds healthy and give them good mobility. Antioxidants and probiotics in broiler feed are important to aid the birds digestive health and their feed should be easy to eat and digest. In the first 6 weeks, broiler birds consume at least 4.5kg of feed and they consume about 1-1.8kg of feed the following week. Broilers have uncontrollable eating habits.

It is important to supply your birds with adequate high quality feed for healthy and rapid growth rate, the benefits of high quality feed include:

• It provides fast and effective growth rate, which helps broilers to reach their target market weight faster.
• When the birds are supplied with the proper nutrients they provide high quality meat with features that include, softness, good flavour and meeting the needs of customers.
• It decreases the whole cost of feed which makes broiler production economically feasible.
• High quality feed keeps the birds healthy which reduces the risk of diseases and high mortality, and it also helps to increase the profits of the bird.

Conclusion

To choose the appropriate feed for your broiler, you need to consider their age and health. And supplying the birds with adequate balanced diets at each growth stage helps to keep the birds healthy, productive and reach their target market weight at the right time. You can also try out minerals and vitamin supplements to meet their other needs. Broiler feed is important for a successful broiler farming. It is also important to understand key needs of broiler nutrition, choose the right type of feed, and using the appropriate feeding management are essential for the birds growth and meat quality.