Submitted By: Ashley Bigge, Ph.D., Penn State Extension, Poultry Educator
Providing the correct feed is an essential part of maintaining the health and productivity of your birds. There are several factors that go into choosing the right feed and when to feed it.
Bird genetics are first and foremost. Turkeys, ducks, geese, and chickens all have different nutrient requirements, even though they are all birds. This is one reason why we caution against having mixed-species poultry flocks. If they are all in the same pen together, you will not be able to feed them exactly what each needs to live up to their genetic potential.
Even within species, there will be differences based on breed and strain. For example, laying hens and broilers are both chickens, but they have very different nutritional needs because they have been specially selected for different purposes. A layer needs specific nutrients to support egg production (such as higher calcium), whereas a broiler needs different nutrients to build muscle (such as higher protein).
The age of the bird is equally important, and feed formulations should be adjusted to best suit different stages of life. Feed mills and farm stores will stock several products for feeding chicks and adult poultry. Any custom recipes should be discussed with a poultry nutritionist.
Commercial meat birds (broilers and turkeys) are typically fed diets in starter, grower, and finisher stages. The starter diet is for chicks or poults and is often made of smaller crumbles that better fit small beaks. Grower and finisher diets tend to consist of larger pellets. Both types of feed ensure complete nutrition in every bite.
Commercial laying hens have more feed stages and can be even more optimized by adjustments within each stage. A typical laying hen will be fed starter, grower, developer, pre-lay, and lay rations as she matures. Crumbles are common for chick and pullet stages. Mature hens are more often fed a mash (a loose mixture) because of large calcium particles that make pelleting difficult. Everything leading up to the first egg is very important to get right. A bird whose body is not prepared for egg production properly will be a poor layer. Make sure chicks and pullets meet bodyweight targets before changing to the next stage of feed. Watch for the first egg to know when a high calcium lay ration should be fed. A special molt diet may also be used if the flock is molted for additional egg-laying cycles.
Feeding in stages not only ensures that your flock receives correct nutrition but also increases efficiency and health. Nutritional deficiencies and surpluses can both cause significant problems, such as poor flock uniformity, wet manure, and egg quality issues. Always consult a poultry nutritionist if you are mixing your own feed or have specific questions about your flock’s nutrition.
Also, keep biosecurity in mind when feed is delivered to your farm. Clean and disinfect vehicles and make sure visitors and service techs follow biosecurity protocols. Feed bins should be well-maintained and free of mold or other contaminants. There should also not be any spillage from the feed system to avoid attracting pest insects, rodents, or wild birds.
If you have questions about this topic, you can contact Dr. Ashley Bigge in Adams County via phone at (717) 334-6271 or by email at aeb6550@psu.edu. You can also contact your local extension office to connect with any member of our poultry team.
