What Feed Is Best for Laying Hens? A Detailed Guide to Scientific Feeding Methods
Protein feed, energy feed, green feed and the like are all feeds that laying hens need to eat. Feeding them in scientifically proportioned rations can boost egg production. In addition, there are root and tuber feeds and melon feeds, as well as silage. Root, tuber and melon feeds such as sweet potato, potato, sugar beet, carrot and pumpkin are generally used only under free-range systems.
1. Protein feed
According to their origin, protein feeds can be divided into four major categories: plant protein feeds, animal protein feeds, single-cell protein feeds and non-protein nitrogen feeds. There appear to be many types, but in fact oilseed meal and cake feeds are the main source of protein feed in the farming industry, such as soybean meal, soybean cake and cottonseed cake.
2. Energy feed
Energy feed refers to feed in which the crude fiber content of the absolutely dry matter is below 18% and the crude protein is below 20%. Examples include cereal grains, bran and middlings, starchy roots and tubers, distillers' and brewer's residues, as well as liquid molasses, whey and oils and fats.
3. Green and succulent feed
Green feed is defined as fresh forage and pasture grass with a natural moisture content above 60%. This type of feed has a wide range of sources, high yields and low cost, and is rich in vitamins; it is young and tender, succulent and highly palatable, such as alfalfa, chicory, ryegrass, aquatic green feed and vegetables.
4. Grams of feed required by laying hens
For chickens younger than 10 days of age, the age in days + 2 is the number of grams of feed the keeper needs to feed each laying hen per day; from 10 to 20 days of age, the age in days + 1 is the number of grams of feed to be fed; from 20 to 50 days of age, the age in days is the number of grams of feed to be fed; from 51 to 150 days of age, the age in days - 50, then divided by 2, then plus 50, is the number of grams of feed the keeper needs to provide each chicken per day. For example, on day 100, 50 + (100 - 50) / 2 = 75 grams; for laying hens over 150 days of age, which are generally pullets, the keeper needs to ensure that each chicken receives more than 100 grams of feed per day.