If you run a poultry farm you’ll be aware of the need to feed chickens in a clean environment that ensures a high level of biosecurity at all times. Compromising on quality when it comes to cleaning procedures, health checks and the equipment and products used to secure feeding areas in terms of cleanliness, health and poultry performance will only lead to a reduction in health and damage to your bottom line.
The nutrition and feeding of chickens is a central part of production for any poultry farm. Chickens can soak up nutrients from a wide range of sources, from insects, plants and worms when out on pasture. This can help poultry farm owners to reduce their costs and offer the chickens a varied diet, whilst also allowing for proper cleaning and [[[disinfecting]]] time within the proper chicken feeding areas.
Options for Chicken Feeding
There are a number of options for how to feed chicken as part of a poultry farm production process. The most common is to feed poultry using a balanced ration of pellets. This type of feeding offers flexibility of location as the chickens can be fed either indoor or outside. A regular diet for poultry farm consists of energy being produced through corn, protein supplied through soybean and a range of [[[supplements]]] for additional vitamins and minerals.
For many poultry farmers the need to increase the health of their chicken is vital to the end product and overall profit of the farm. With this in mind you’ll often find that commercial rations of food pellets will contain [[[antibiotics]]] and other disease combatants as standard, although there is always the choice of course to look after the health with medication through other forms, instead of as a catch all included in the diet.
Health and Water Supply
On top of access to pelleted food, allowing chickens to nibble as often as they like, making frequent trips to the feed trough and taking in small meals throughout the day to keep energy levels at their optimum, there is also a requirement for constant clean water. Dirty or stagnant water as part of a poultry farm plan can lead to contamination, malnutrition and ill health, which can quickly spread throughout a farm. Without constant fresh and clean water a poultry farm can very quickly be decimated.
Cleaning of Chicken Feeding Areas
Having access to quality detergents and equipment to secure the high levels of biosecurity required for competent feeding areas for poultry is an important factor when discussing the best ways to increase the health and performance of chickens. If you are responsible for the health of chickens on a poultry farm best practice is to find and work alongside a supplier that understands your specific needs and requirements. Specific detergents, cleaning processes and equipment can make a massive difference to the quality of life for chickens and ensure a smoother process all round for poultry farm owners.
Looking after the nutrition and the feeding areas of a poultry farm can keep your chickens healthy and boost production and long-term profits as a result. Guest post written by Yvette Langley.
