Pellets, crumbles, and scratches are different forms of finisher chicken feed. Learn which one works best for your flock. These alternatives also have positive effects on the microbial counts in the cecal and litter. They also improve the efficiency of the farm. Here’s some information about each one. And remember, if you have a question, just ask! We’re here to help. And we’ll answer all your questions!
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Pellets
While many breeds of chicken prefer to eat mash, baby chicks may find pellets harder to digest. Smaller breeds of chicken will also find pellets more difficult to eat because of their coarse grain. On the other hand, mash is a much cheaper alternative to pellets because it has less processing involved. If you’re looking for a low-waste and low-mess solution, pellets are an excellent choice. A good pellet is composed of a mixture of corn, oats, and molasses, which chickens will force feed themselves.
A study published in J. Appl. Poultry Research in 2003 found that pellets can improve broiler performance by six points when fed to finishers. The authors found that pellets increased the FI by 116 grams per bird and reduced LWG by 22 grams. In addition, the birds consumed 70% pellets and had six-point improvements in their FCR. Such findings should encourage feed manufacturers to invest in improving the pellet quality.
Mash
One of the most popular choices for finisher chicken feed is mash. Mash is a finely ground blend of protein meal and crushed grain. It is designed to be digestible by chickens of all ages, and is especially beneficial for young birds. It can be mixed with hot water to create a porridge-like texture for chickens. However, it is important to choose the proper amount of protein in your mash for your chickens.
The particle size of mash is one way to judge its quality. In studies, an increase in particle size corresponds positively to broiler growth. Nir and Lecierc found that broiler growth was positively correlated with feed particle size. Both authors showed that while dominant birds prefer coarser particles, they also ate smaller ones. Overall, the balance of particle selection was similar between concentrates and whole feed.
Crumble
If you are considering changing your flock’s diet, you may be wondering what crumble finisher chicken feed is all about. Crumble finisher chicken feed is similar to mash but is semi-loose and coarser than pellets. Many people use crumble as a transition feed from mash to pellets. It is easy to mix crumble with pellets to provide a varied diet for your flock.
A recent study investigated the effects of different feed forms on broiler performance. Two types of diets, each with varying levels of protein and energy, were fed to 2800 male broiler chicks. Feed form and protein level had an effect on body weight and Feed conversion rate. The crumble-pellet diet significantly increased bodyweight and decreased Feed conversion rate compared to the mash-based diet.
Scratch
Although commercial layer feed is balanced with fifteen to eighteen percent protein, scratch grain mixes are not. Instead of corn and other grains, scratch grain mixes are made mostly of cracked corn. These feeds are high in carbs and can weigh as much as an entire chicken. They are also high in fiber and nutrients. But you must be careful when choosing scratch grains for your chickens. You should only feed them as a supplement, after they have finished eating regular feed.
The best time to feed scratch grains to your chickens is late afternoon, when they are already full from regular feed. Since scratch grains are high in fat and carbohydrates, you should limit the amount per chicken. You may want to consider giving your chickens only a couple of tablespoons at a time. Remember that the unscratched grains will attract mice and other rodents. And because scratch grains are high in calories, you should never give them more than one serving per day.
