Every chicken food product sold in the US must include a nutrition tag with information about who the product is intended for and the amount of protein provided, along with whether its grain formula comes in pellet, crumble or mash form.
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Chick Starter/Grower
Chick starter/grower feed provides young birds with all of the nutrition necessary for rapid development. It contains high amounts of protein while being lower in calcium than layer feed (for eggshell development).
Regano, for instance, helps strengthen gut health, immune function and coccidiosis management.
Key ingredient of this type of feed is soybean meal, which provides an abundance of proteins. Chickens possess an exceptional digestive system which easily processes whole grains and plant proteins like the ones present in soybean meal.
Chicks are tiny creatures requiring lots of protein for healthy bones and organs. Chicks develop rapidly during their first month – doubling in weight in one week alone! Therefore it is crucial that they receive a starter-grower ration in order to reach their full potential.
Layer Rations
For those interested in keeping a small flock of egg laying chickens, choosing the appropriate feed is key. A layer ration provides support for egg production while providing essential calcium for strong shells and strong eggs.
The ration also contains additional proteins from non-ruminant meat and bone meal, in order to satisfy poultry’s omnivorous nature and ensure optimal mineral balance. Phosphate and salt supplements may be added for proper mineral balance.
Many commercial feed manufacturers provide both medicated and non-medicated versions of layer rations from them, with medicated versions usually including coccidiostat to help prevent intestinal parasite coccidiosis in laying chickens. It’s essential that you adhere to your manufacturer’s withdrawal time before beginning another batch of medicated feed.
Tucker Milling provides their bagged layer ration at independent feed stores throughout eight Southeastern states and via truck to companies such as Wayne Farms and Pilgrim’s. Each bag of feed carries an expiration date stamp to let customers know exactly when it was produced.
Game Mix
Game Mix is a traditional spring-sown mixture containing species that provide food and cover for small game and wild farm birds. For optimal results, this seed bed should be firm with no undulations; broadcast or drill sowing methods work best depending on soil conditions; it is particularly attractive to pheasants and partridges.
Curran Gehring of Chicken Whisperer Magazine will discuss Tucker Milling Feed in this episode of Backyard Poultry with the Chicken Whisperer. Join this engaging discussion of high quality poultry feed from Tucker Milling!
Tucker Milling offers a super layer 22% protein ration that’s ideal for flock-wide molting as well as quality scratch feed featuring porcine animal proteins for extra nutrients and the Norel Animal Nutrition Tru-EO essential oils, proven to improve health and performance.
Southern States Traditional Poultry Feed
The global poultry feed market is projected to experience rapid expansion over the coming years due to rising meat demand in developing economies as well as rising disposable incomes in emerging economies driving its expansion.
Commercially available rations may be ideal, but chicken farmers can create their own diets with locally-grown ingredients and whole grains to reduce costs. This method of feeding, known as “mash and grain,” involves mixing high protein feed with cheaper whole grains that cost less, which the farmer can produce themselves at home.
Many poultry feeds include antibiotics to enhance health and performance, coccidiostats to prevent disease, and mold inhibitors to avoid spoilage. Poultry feeds are usually designed to provide the optimal balance of nutrients at each stage in life – for instance chick starter/grower feeds should support rapid growth while protecting from diseases, while egg laying rations aim at increasing quality eggs while helping keep birds active and healthy.
