1. Poultry Care and Feed

2. Different Breeds – Different Purposes
Laying Breeds
Known for egg-laying capacity
Common: White Leghorn, Red Sex Link and Black Sex Link
will lay for several years
start laying weeks of age
molt at about 14 months of age, do not lay during molt

3. Different Breeds – Different Purposes
Meat Breeds
Efficient at converting feed to meat
Approx. 1 pound of bodyweight for every 2 pounds of feed they eat
Popular breed: cornish game hen
grow and feather rapidly
Broilers and fryers are butchered at 3 ½ - 5 lbs.
roaster is butchered at 6-8 lbs.

4. Different Breeds – Different Purposes
Dual-Purpose Breeds
Classic backyard chicken
Hardy, self-reliant, large bodied
Common breeds: Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire breeds

5. Different Breeds – Different Purposes
Turkeys, Game Birds, Ducks, other
Produce eggs
raised for meat

6. Feed The Right Ration
To know which ration is best for your flock, you need to know the answers to these questions: 1. What age birds are you feeding? 2. What kind of birds are you feeding? 3. Are the birds being raised for meat or to produce eggs?

7. Feed The Right Ration
Do not give young birds a layer ration. The calcium level is excessively high for young birds. Do not mix scratch grain with a complete commercial ration. By mixing cracked corn with a complete commercial grower ration, you dilute (reduce) the protein level as well as the vitamin and mineral content of the diet. The birds will not grow as well or lay many eggs and will also be less resistant to disease. Nutrient deficiencies may lead to feather picking, lameness, sores or even death.

8. Feed The Right Ration
The second most common mistake is not feeding enough of the appropriate type feed. Feed them free choice.

9. Chicken Digestive Tract
Mouth Esophagus (gullet) – transports food from mouth to stomach

10. Chicken Digestive Tract
Crop – temporarily stores food Stomach – food broken into smaller units - gizzard uses grit to grind grains and fiber into smaller particles

11. Chicken Digestive Tract
Small intestine – nutrient absorption Liver – aids in metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein Ceca – helps break down undigested food

12. Chicken Digestive Tract
Large intestine – absorbs water, dry out indigestible foods Cloaca – where digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts meet

13. Chicken Digestive Tract
Urinary system – 2 kidneys and 2 ureters - kidneys are located in pelvic bones - filter waste and pass through ureter to outside Vent – external opening of cloaca that passes waste to outside

14. Feed Considerations
Seventy percent of the cost of raising chickens goes for feed. This is an investment rather than an expense because the better the birds are fed, the more productive they will be.

15. Feed Considerations
The importance of giving plenty of cool, clean water cannot be over-emphasized. Water is a major part of both eggs and meat. Provide your flock with fresh water and a complete balanced ration, and they will reward you and your family with fresh eggs or meat.

16. Feed Consideration Chickens
Supplement laying hens with oyster shell for calcium – hardness of egg shells
grit to help digest food
Occasional treat of scratch grain will satisfy pecking instinct and keep them busy

17. Avg. Feed Needed Per Bird
This is very bird size dependent; another way is to figure 3:1 conversion. Also consider the weather. For hens this is roughly a ¼ pound per day bigger hens will eat more and in cold they will eat more.

18. Care Tips for Healthy Chickens
Coop should have:
minimum of 4 sq. ft. of space per hen
- one perch
one next box for every 4-5 hens
6 inch layer of shavings or sawdust to absorb droppings
be free of cold winter drafts
have good ventilation
Require a good, sturdy fence around outside runs to protect from predators
close door each evening after your flock roosts

19. Daily Management Checklist
Feed available at all times
Clean, fresh water available at all times
Proper temperature and ventilation
Brooder and coop conditions
Litter conditions
Flock appearance and health
Eggs gathered
Records updated

20. Nutrena NaturalWise
Natural poultry feed

21. Nutrena Country Feeds
Nutrena Poultry Feed