Champion friends may have felt worried because the chickens looked thin. Skinny chickens can be influenced by several factors, one of which is chicken feed. So that chickens are fat, healthy and of good quality, you have to pay attention to the feed they provide.
The following is an explanation of the causes of chickens becoming thin and what are the recommendations for the best chicken feed.
Causes of Skinny Chickens
Poor nutrition is a cause of thin chickens which is related to feeding. Feed that is unbalanced, poor quality, or insufficient can result in chickens not getting the nutrients they need for growth and development.
Apart from that, feed that is not suitable for the age, type or condition of the chicken can also cause the chicken to be thin. The characteristics of chickens that are malnourished apart from having a thin body are dry feathers, decreased appetite and stunted growth.
Chicken Feed Recommendations
Here are some recommendations for chicken feed that can make your chickens fat and healthy:
1. Ground corn
Ground corn is one of the most commonly used chicken feed ingredients. A studies explained that ground corn contains high carbohydrates, around 70%. Of course this can be a good source of energy for chickens. Apart from that, ground corn also contains protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.
2. Wheat waste
Another recommendation is wheat waste or pollard, namely the residue from milling wheat which becomes flour. Wheat waste contains quite high protein, around 18%, which can help muscle and feather growth in chickens.
Wheat waste also contains fiber, fat, vitamins and minerals which are useful for maintaining the health of your chickens.
3. Chopped sweet potato
One of the chicken feed ingredients that is cheap and easy to obtain is sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes contain very high fiber and protein, around 30%.
The benefits of this content can improve digestive health and chicken immunity. Apart from that, sweet potatoes also contain carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.
4. Sorghum
According to study, Sorghum can also be used as chicken feed. Its high carbohydrate content, around 65%, can be a substitute for corn as an energy source for chickens.
Other ingredients contained in sorghum are protein, fat, vitamins and minerals which are good for accelerating chicken growth.
5. Soybean meal
Next there is soybean meal, which is the residue from processing soybean oil which can be used as chicken feed. Soybean meal contains very high protein, around 44-51%, which can help the growth and development of chickens.
Not only that, soybean meal also contains fats, vitamins and minerals which are good for chickens. But, before giving it to the chickens, you have to process the soybean meal. The way to do this is by boiling or fermenting it first.
6. White rice
An alternative chicken feed ingredient that is easy to obtain and is liked by chickens is white rice. White rice has a high carbohydrate content, around 80%. Apart from that, white rice also contains protein, fat, vitamins and minerals which are good for chickens.
7. Cassava
Another recommended feed that is cheap and abundant is cassava. The high carbohydrate content in cassava, around 75%, can be a source of energy for chickens. Cassava also contains protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.
If you use cassava, you need to process it first, for example by boiling, drying, or fermenting it before giving it to the chickens.
8. Bran
Bran is the remainder of rice milling which can be used as chicken feed. The protein that is quite high in bran, around 12%, can help the growth and development of chickens. You can give bran directly or mix it with other feed ingredients.
9. Commercial Chicken Pellets
Commercial chicken pellets are a very popular feed recommendation among chicken breeders. This feed has balanced nutritional content and is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of chickens precisely.
You can choose the type of pellet feed that suits your chicken's development stage, such as broiler pellet feed or laying hen pellet feed. Also make sure you choose a brand that is trusted and has a nutritional composition that suits the type of chicken you keep, OK?
These are some recommendations for chicken feed that can make your chickens fat, healthy and of good quality. You can choose one or combine several of these feed ingredients according to your needs and availability.
Apart from that, you also have to pay attention to the amount and frequency of feeding, as well as providing clean and sufficient drinking water for your chickens. Hopefully this article is useful for you. Good luck!
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Reference:
1. Surianti. (2022). Corn Processing as Animal Feed. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. Volume 2 Number 1 May 2022, Pages 9-14.
2. Use of Sorghum as an Energy Source Feed Ingredient to Replace Corn in Broiler Chicken Rations. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361425358_Review_Penggunaan_Sorgum_sebagai_Bahan_Pakan_Sumber_Energi_Pengganti_Jagung_dalam_Ransum_Ayam_Pedaging (accessed 11/14/2023)
3. This is Broiler Chicken Feed to Get Fat Quickly. URL: https://mariternak.com/pakan-ayam-broiler-agar-cepat-gemuk/ (accessed 11/14/2023)