Key Technical Points for Rearing Chicken Feed and Feeding Management

Rearing chickens have a relatively strong digestive capacity. Switching from chick feed to rearing chicken feed mainly involves lowering the protein level of the diet to prevent premature laying, and also to reduce non-productive feed costs. The feed change should have a 1-week transition period, gradually transitioning from chick feed to rearing feed, so that the chickens have an adaptation process.

Since rearing chickens are in a period of vigorous development of muscles, bones, respiratory system, digestive system and reproductive system, although the feed quality can be slightly reduced, the proportions of various nutrients must be balanced, otherwise it will affect the normal development of the entire chicken body. Especially for young chickens under cage-rearing conditions, if they cannot get nutritionally balanced feed, the qualification rate of rearing chickens will be reduced, and they will not be able to give full play to their due production performance in the future.

In the nutritional composition of rearing chicken feed for 7-12 weeks of age, the crude protein level should reach 15.5%, and the metabolizable energy should be 2800 kcal/kg; for rearing chickens of 13-18 weeks of age, the crude protein of the rearing chicken feed is 14%, and the metabolizable energy is 2800 kcal/kg. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus must be balanced. Calcium deficiency makes chickens prone to rickets, and excessive calcium hinders chick growth. During the rearing stage, the calcium level should not exceed 0.8%-1.0%, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is preferably 1.2:1.

Of course, if the flock becomes ill or management is improper, body weight may not necessarily fall within this range. But in any case, the body weight of 80% of the chickens should be within 10% above and below the average.

Each feeding must be uniform. Check frequently. If it is found that some sections of the trough have more accumulated feed and some sections have no feed left, the feed should often be spread evenly to prevent some chickens from eating too much and some chickens from eating too little. To make the flock develop uniformly, doing a good job of spreading the feed evenly is very important. It is best to spread the feed evenly once between two feedings.

Always pay attention to picking out the smaller and weaker chickens for separate care, and feed them appropriately more feed so that they can catch up with the stronger chickens. As long as some effort is put into this aspect, after a period of care, the weight gain and overall development of these weak and small chickens will be significantly improved.

Because metabolism is vigorous and digestive capacity is strong, they also defecate more. During the rearing period, rearing chickens constantly replace their feathers, and the chicken house is relatively dirty with more dust. Manure should be cleaned frequently and the floor swept, water troughs and feed troughs should be scrubbed regularly, and attention should be paid to doing a good job of environmental sanitation around the chicken house.